Vikings/NFL 2021 predictions

Do I still care?

About the Vikings, sure. About the greater NFL? I'm not so sure.

The 2020 NFL season, and particularly the playoffs, I have not forgotten. The open, blatant rigging of the whole damn thing for Tom Brady. Even now when I hear or see a reference to what occurred I get furious. We have an illegitimate defending champion.

The league did this and nobody cared. The NFL manipulated their product to get the exact outcome they always wanted. They knew the day Brady went to Tampa what would happen. And make no mistake, they know who will win the next super bowl too. It's just a question over what storyline they want.

Do they want a Brady repeat? To have him become the first QB to win multiple super bowls with multiple teams?

Or is the story the NFL wants that Aaron Rodgers, in his theoretical last ride with the Packers, goes out on top by finally getting back to the super bowl and winning?

Or does the NFL want a Patrick Mahomes redemption arc, leading the Chiefs back to the title?

Do they want the much hyped LA Rams to finally deliver a championship to the market in their own stadium?

Is there a Ben Roethlisberger going out on top arc?

How about a feel good story with the Bills or Browns or Titans winning their first super bowl?

I think those first 3 are really the only outcomes I can picture. Now, in my gut I feel like the NFL is going to hand #8 to Brady. Last playoffs they clearly showed that they value the Brady hagiography over all else. Are they ever going to allow this nightmare Brady era to end with him NOT holding up a Lombardi Trophy? 

The NFC is loaded with good teams. Only the Eagles, Lions, and Panthers seem like teams that really have no shot at making the field. The NFC West seriously could get all 4 teams in.

In the AFC, the Chiefs are the clear favorites. Only the super bowl loser curse stands in their way. I think that a lot of the rest of the AFC is overhyped. The Bills and Browns had breakthrough years but I'm not sure they even win their own divisions again. The Ravens, Titans and Colts (if Wentz gets back) are contenders. I'm not buying the Chargers hype. There's a lot of teams who seem to have a fringe wild card berth as their ceiling.

I was going to go division by division, but nah.

My cynical guess here is that the NFL wants a Packers vs Chiefs super bowl, with the Packers winning it all. Brady will never leave, so the NFL can give him another title another year. 

Okay, on that cheery note, on to the Vikings.

I obviously do not have the Vikings winning the super bowl. Oh no, the NFL has NO interest in that. 

I had them winning the division before training camp, and not just because Rodgers status was undecided. But the last 6 weeks has been just one warning sign after another.

The Kirk Cousins vaccination drama. The Rick Dennison drama. The Christian Darrisaw surgery. A Justin Jeffferson injury. A season ending injury to Irv Smith. And 3 at best middling preseason performances.

Some of that matters more than other things, but fact is the vibes ain't good. And for the first time in years now I approach a season unsure if the Vikings can make the playoffs. 

Assuming Cousins is on the field, he should be extremely productive again. If the OL looks solid (they did in August) Kirk could put up major numbers and major points. This could be an amazing offense. Even without Irv there are a lot of weapons. Managing a 17 game workload for Dalvin will be important.

This defense is not going to be 2017. That's an unfair  expectation to have them suddenly be THAT good.  But I also think a lot of people are UNDERestimating just how bad it got last year. Most of the guys we had out there at the end of last season are either backups on other teams or just out of the league. 

People forget that Zimmer was working miracles in the middle of the season, until the Kendricks injury proved one obstacle too many.

Now he has Danielle Hunter back. He has greater pass rushing depth with the returns of Everson Griffen and Stephen Weatherly. The DL interior gets Michael Pierce, Dalvin Tomlinson and Sheldon Richardson. DJ Wonnum should only be better in year 2. 

The linebacking core gets Kendricks back. Sounds like Barr is ready to go. And we have added depth there.

The secondary is a complete overhaul. Only Harrison Smith remains in his same role. And with Xavier Woods on the other side. 

I have loved everything I have seen and heard about Patrick Peterson. I think he is going to be one of the best free agent signings we have ever had, on and off the field. Him, Bashaud Breeland and Mackenzie Alexander are all huge upgrades at the corner spots. 

This defense is going to see a year to year improvement like nothing we have ever seen.

The kicking game is an evergreen concern,  but I actually kind of like that they didn't freak out and cut Greg Joseph after missing a couple of 50 yarders in August. I'll be nervous for every kick all year, but that's life as a Vikings fan. 

There is also the unsung factor of the Vikings getting back one of the biggest home field advantages in the NFL. It's hardly a coincidence the Vikings had their first losing home record in a decade last year playing in front of empty seats. You think a home crowd doesn't turn the tide in one or more of those close home defeats last year? 

So why the overall skepticism? Cause I just feel it in my damn gut. I was counting on injury luck being cyclical as it usually is. Doesn't look like it may be that way. And this COVID thing is going to be a problem. It feels predestined that Kirk is going to at some point miss a game due to either a positive test or a close contact. And this is a tough schedule with only a few games I look at as anything close to gimmies.

And the NFC is tough. I feel like only a couple teams could possibly be allowed to get to the super bowl, but I think a LOT could make the playoffs and only 7 can. The Vikings could win 10 games and not get it. It's possible.

I haven't thrown in the towel. On paper this team could do some special things. On paper this could be the most complete team we've had since 2009.

If I have to make it official....fuck it. WE MAKE THE PLAYOFFS! 

AND WE MAKE SOME NOISE!

LET'S GO! 🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈