Green Bay Packers: Ranking NFC North opponents for 2018
By Hunter Noll
Minnesota Vikings
Who the biggest threat in the NFC North is at the moment is pretty clear. The Minnesota Vikings got all the way to the NFC Championship Game — and they did it without their starting running back. They also had Case Keenum at quarterback (take that how you want to).
Admittedly, I’m not super-high on Kirk Cousins. I know a lot of people are, but there are a few concerning points to me. His high-level performances haven’t been great. The lone playoff start wasn’t pretty, and when the Washington Redskins needed to win in the final week of 2016, he fell apart.
Aside from that, there are a few shaky parts of his game, but Cousins is definitely an upgrade. The Vikings don’t have the same depth at the position this year though. If Cousins gets injured, there’s not much help behind him.
Minnesota’s receivers should put up numbers with him at the helm. Particularly, Stefon Diggs is primed for a career-year. Meanwhile, a healthy Dalvin Cook makes the offense that much more dangerous. Of course, the defense is the money maker for Minnesota. The Vikings ranked first in the NFL in yards allowed (4,415) and points per game allowed (15.8).
Basically, if Cousins can come in and come even close to the expectations that some have for him — this team is dangerous. Not just “dangerous” dangerous though, but “Super Bowl favorites” dangerous.
How will Cook return from the injury though? Will Cousins meet those expectations and will the offense groove with a new quarterback? The biggest problem for the Packers is that those are the only two big questions for Minnesota.
Grade: A