Minnesota Vikings: 3 Lessons learned from Super Bowl 54
1. Passing game key in the big games
Perhaps the biggest lesson that the Minnesota Vikings should have learned while watching the Super Bowl matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night in Miami is that the passing game is key and is a difference-maker in being able to step up in the big games.
Throughout the course of the game on Sunday in Super Bowl 54, there were numerous large-yardage chunk plays that took place in the contest that shifted momentum and changed the course of things for each offense.
Especially in the fourth-quarter comeback, which saw Kansas City outscore San Francisco 21-0 in the final frame behind the performance of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City passing game, that was key in the Chiefs being able to exit the game as NFL Champions.
When it comes to the Vikings, they have often times relied on their talented running game and have leaned on the talented running back group led by Dalvin Cook and company. Cook’s performance in 2019 alone is an example of why Minnesota has relied on him and the rest of the running back group heavily and their talent coming out of the backfield should result in the Vikings giving them the ball more often than not.
But on the other hand, the Vikings need to be able to ultimately take games over behind veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and the talented passing attack, and an example of that was put on full display in the Super Bowl on Sunday.
Yes, Minnesota should focus on its rushing attack out of the backfield as long as Cook is on the roster, but the Vikings also need to be able to have their highly-paid quarterback and the rest of the pass offense show that they can step up in the big games and help Minnesota crawl back into games when it is trailing.
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Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs passing game was a huge reason why Kansas City was crowned Super Bowl Champions this season, and the Vikings should have learned that they need to try and work on containing a more balanced offense and also be able to rely on their offense when things matter most and when they need the passing game to step up late.