6 NFL teams that will make the playoffs in 2021 after missing last season

5. Minnesota Vikings

All of the talk in the AFC North seems to be centered around the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears — and for good reason.

Green Bay has a dilemma on their hands with Aaron Rodgers unhappy and reportedly wanted to be traded. Then in Chicago, they just got their star quarterback after trading up to secure the rights to Justin Fields from Ohio State.

But with all that attention going to them, it’s allowed the Minnesota Vikings to fly under the radar. After a 7-9 campaign, people have just sort of forgotten about the fact that this team has always been competitive under head coach Mike Zimmer.

In fact, that was only the second time in his career that Zimmer had a losing record — the last being his first year as the coach in Minnesota — and he responded with an 11-5 campaign in 2015.

Zimmer also had one of the worst defenses he’s ever had, ranking 29th in points and 27th in yards. This is just one season after he led them to a top-five finish in terms of scoring defense.

Expect the defensive-minded coach to get their defenders playing well again and the offense should be even better in 2021. Not only has Kirk Cousins been underappreciated but he and running back Dalvin Cook have even more help with Christian Darrisaw and Wyatt Davis joining an offensive line that really needed an infusion of talent.

Don’t be surprised to see a bounce-back from this team as they get back to the playoffs in 2021.