Vikings Territory: Vikings Get One Final National Snub As Training Camp Begins

Press release from Vikings Territory:

July 28, 2021

Ask an everyday Minnesota Vikings fan about the team’s offseason doings. Most will commend the franchise for fixing the defense and drafting key offensive line pieces plus a potential franchise quarterback.

Three years ago, Spielman signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to get the team “over the top,” but to date, one stunning playoff win at New Orleans in 2019 is the only fruit of that transaction. Cousins’ first year with the team was thwarted by a team-wide faceplant down the stretch in 2018. Then in 2020, injuries uncharacteristically ravaged the defensive section of the depth chart, causing Mike Zimmer’s defense to finish 29th in the league for points allowed.

Not bad for an organization that takes heat for allotting Cousins a fat contract. A frequent criticism of Spielman is that he “can’t sign free agents” due to the heft of the Cousins’ deal. Well, take a look at the list above — and reevaluate that argument.

“It’s time to put up or shut up for Kirk Cousins, Mike Zimmer and the Minnesota Vikings. Cousins has long been a quarterback who puts up solid numbers. But three seasons into his Vikings tenure, Cousins is 25-21-1 as the team’s starter and just 1-2 in the postseason. That’s not much return on an investment of well over $80 million. Zimmer, on the other hand, is entering his eighth season as the team’s head coach. There has been some success to be sure—Zimmer’s Vikings teams are 17 games over .500. But there have been just three postseason trips and one appearance in the NFC Championship Game. Now, do the quarterback or the head coach bear all the responsibility for the team’s inability to get over the proverbial hump? No. But if Minnesota misses the postseason again in 2021, the future of both men in the Twin Cities is going to be on shaky ground. In fact, just a one-and-done appearance may not be enough. Given the team’s issues on the offensive line and defense, the odds of a deep playoff run aren’t especially good.“

Las Vegas sportsbooks expect Minnesota to win around eight or nine games, so perhaps the lack of enthusiasm conveyed by Bleacher Report does not have exclusivity.

What’s more, the team’s offensive line must finally perform at an average-or-better level. For too long, the Vikings settle for putrid pass protection with a sidedish of modest run-blocking. Spielman used the last four drafts to correct the malady — but now that actually has to come to fruition on the field. Stay tuned.

This press release was produced by Vikings Territory. The views expressed here are the author’s own.