Vikings Have Hope That 2020 Will Be Their Year, But 2021 Season Seems More Realistic

Every NFL team goes into the next season with the hope that this will be the year that the team exceeds expectations and reaches its maximum potential. For some, that could merely mean a winning season, while others could reach the playoffs and the elite teams hold out hope for the Vince Lombardi Trophy and Super Bowl glory.

The Vikings have been chasing the NFL’s top prize since the 1970 season, when they won their lone NFL title before losing Super Bowl IV to the Kansas City Chiefs. That was the last championship game that matched the winner of the NFL against the winner of the American Football League.

Bud Grant’s powerful team was short-circuited by a very good and exciting team led by head coach Hank Stram and quarterback Len Dawson on that day, and the Vikings would lose three more Super Bowls in the 1970s to the Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders.

As every loyal Vikings fan knows, they have not been back to the Super Bowl since the 32-14 defeat to the Raiders in Super Bowl XI.

Will hope turn into reality in 2020? The realistic answer is that it will not.

In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic that threatens to wreak havoc on the entire season, it does not appear that the Vikings are as strong a team as they were at this point a year ago.

Free-agent losses in the current offseason are a big part of that conclusion, and so is the trade that sent wideout Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills. Throw in a potential holdout this summer for All-Pro running back Dalvin Cook and the Vikings appear to have more than their share of trouble.

The Cook holdout does not have to last a long time, and the team’s potential problem areas at wide receiver and at cornerback could get resolved. However, the likelihood is that the team may struggle to get past the .500 mark this season.

While both the offense and defense have issues, there is a chance that the 2021 season is one that could see the Vikings rise above expectations.

The big reason for that is the 15 draft choices had in this year’s selection meeting. That’s a huge haul for a draft that only lasts seven rounds. General manager Rick Spielman knew he had to make a splash after trading Diggs and losing Linval Joseph, Stephen Weatherly, Mackensie Alexander and others to free agency, and this year’s draft may be just that.

First-round selections WR Justin Jefferson and CB Jeff Gladney could turn out to be game-changing players, but it’s unlikely that either one will reach that status in Year 1. The story could be vastly different a year from now when both have a full season under their belts (presumably) and are ready to dominate at their positions.

The same holds for second-round OT Ezra Cleveland and third-round CB Cameron Dantzler. It would not be a surprise to see either or both of those players contribute in their rookie seasons, but it will likely take one or two full seasons of competition to reach a level that provides the coaching staff with full confidence.

There is no doubt that head coach Mike Zimmer understands what it takes for the defense to perform at a level that leads to postseason victories. He is a disciplined man who designs outstanding defensive gameplans.

Gary Kubiak can do the same thing on the offensive side of the ball. Kubiak and Zimmer are in lock step when it comes to their belief in the importance of the running game for the Vikings, and if Cook is in camp in a reasonable amount of time, the Vikings can boast one of the best ground games in the league.

But offensive versatility is required to win even if the ground game is the featured aspect. Adam Thielen is an excellent option and the Vikings appear to be set at tight end with veteran Kyle Rudolph and rising star Irv Smith Jr. However, asking Jefferson to step into Diggs’ shoes at this point is a major reach.

Hope spring eternal with all teams in the 2020 season, including the Vikings. However, that faith may have a better chance of getting rewarded in 2021.