The key word for the Vikings coming into 2021 is consistency, something the franchise has struggled with over the past decade.Consistency in the draft, consistency in the front office, consistency on the field. This offseason and leading into Sunday’s Noon matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals the Vikings have shown progress on two of those three categories with one make holding the keys to the on the field success.
Adding Christian Darrisaw in the first round of the draft to back up Rahod Hill at Right Tackle made sense and after one of the worst defensive seasons under Head Coach Mike Zimmer, adding defensive help in the draft and in free agency should make a big difference. With both Danielle Hunter and Anthony Barr coming off injuries that hamperted them last season and the return of Everson Griffin the Vikings pass rush, and overall defense, should be much improved. Add in the fact that the Vikings are returning breakout stars in Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson with Dalvin Cook in the backfield, every piece seems to be in place for a competitive season.
The question of consistency now lands squarely on the unvaccinated shoulders of one Kirk Daniel Cousins. Kirk Cousins has been one of the most consistently inconsistent quarterbacks in recent Vikings memory. There are some quarters, or games, where he will look like a top ten quarterback. Wheeling and dealing. Putting the ball wherever it needs to be and making whichever Pro Bowl wideout he’s targeting look like a star. Then there are other times when he won’t look down field at all and instead be laser focused on a Tight End that will pick up six yards when the offense needs eight to continue the drive.
At least when guys like Joe Webb and Christian Ponder were missing wide receivers it was because they couldn’t get the ball there. Fans knew what to expect when it came to the underwhelming performances.
For Viking fans, it’s now time for Cousins to prove that he was worth the 150 million dollars that he’s been able to get from the Vikings over the past two contracts. Minnesota drafted four year starter out of Texas A&M, Kellen Mond, to be the potential quarterback-in-waiting, adding pressure to a QB that notoriously seems to need it to show any flashes of greatness.
Even with Cousins throwing 35 touchdown passes last season, the most TDs in his career, many fans felt like he was the thing that was holding the offense back. With targets like Thielen and Jefferson, Viking fans are expecting more than Cousins being than just an average game manager. Instead, they want someone who can challenge Aaron Rodgers for QB supremacy in the division.
If you stop and think about it, the Viking have not had the best QB in the division to start a season in almost 30. You’d have to go back to Rich Gannon in 1992 for a time when the Vikings opened up the season with quarterback supremacy.
Sunday when Minnesota travels to Cincinnati, they open up as a three point road favorites. The story will be about sophomore quarterback Joe Burrow and his former college teammates Ja’Marr Chase and if they can have the same success they had on their way to a National Championship in 2020.
The storyline you need to be watching for is how Dalvin Cook is used. Cook has been a great NFL running back, even after the ACL injury that robbed him early in his career. Last season, Cook had career highs in rushing yards and touchdowns, but also attempts. I’d be curious to see if Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak uses Cook as much or if third year running back Alexander Mattison takes more of the conventional carries and save Cook for more of the passing game.
I expect the Vikings to open the season with a win, with Cook again showing to be the team MVP once again and Cousins being his normal self. Over 250 yards passing, a TD and at least one head scratching turnover. Consistency.
My Prediction: Vikings 24 Bengals 17