Mandatory Credit: Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Purple Gang was a playoff team this past season but still hasn’t been to the Super Bowl in more than four decades. What are the next moves for the Minnesota Vikings?
At times this past season, Mike Zimmer’s club looked as good as any in the NFL. Led by a potent offense featuring quarterback Kirk Cousins, running back Dalvin Cook and the pass catching trio Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen and Kyle Rudolph, the Minnesota Vikings appeared on track to bounce back from their disappointing 8-7-1 showing in 2018.
And that’s exactly what happened…sort of.
The Purple Gang owned a 10-4 mark entering the final two weeks of 2019 and prepared for a pair of home games vs. the rival Packers and Bears. The team looked flat in a Monday night loss to Green Bay and with nothing to play for six days later, rest Cousins and others in what was a setback to Chicago. But then came the improbable in an overtime upset of the Saints at the Superdome. Still, it would all end a week later in a humbling loss to the 49ers in the divisional round.
The Vikings haven’t been to the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 2008 and ’09. So what does revamped team need to make that possible and this time, go far deeper?
5. Find help at cornerback
This won’t be the first time an aspect of the Minnesota defense gets a mention. It’s worth noting that cornerbacks Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander are now members of the Cincinnati Bengals while three-time Pro Bowler Bowler Xavier Rhodes, cut loose by Minnesota this offseason, recently latched on with the Indianapolis Colts. In 2018, the club allowed the third-fewest passing yards in the league and just 15 TD passes.
This past year, Rhodes has his ups and downs and the Vikings finished 15th in the NFL in passing yards allowed and surrendered 23 touchdown passes. Could general manager Rick Spielman use one of the team’s first-round picks on the position?