Back in mid-November, I watched the Minnesota Vikings thoroughly handle a very talented Los Angeles Rams squad in a 24-7 win, and from that point on the Vikings have been my pick to win the Super Bowl.
After narrowly beating the Saints Sunday on the heels of the “Minnesota Miracle,” the Vikings are still my pick. They are simply the most complete team in the NFL in my opinion.
It begins with their defense. The Vikings front seven is as long, multiple and athletic as any other team in the league, which puts consistent pressure on the quarterback both inside and out and smothers opposing rushing attacks. Plus they have a great secondary led by Harrison Smith and Xavier Rhodes on the back end that rarely makes mistakes yet still makes plays on the ball.
Offensively, they do what great offenses do — stay on track. Football, at every level, typically comes down to third down. When offenses get in third-and-long, which is considered third-and-6 or longer, their percentage of picking up a first down drops dramatically. But Minnesota rarely finds itself in those situations.
They have a tough running game with Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon behind a solid offensive line, a quarterback that gets the ball out quick in Case Keenum and steady receivers in Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen who run great routes, create separation, rarely drop passes and have the ability to make big plays after the catch. All of that leads to the third-most efficient offense in the league, converting on 44 percent of third downs.
That is why I’m picking the Vikings to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship and the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Super Bowl. Yes, the Jaguars, not the New England Patriots.
Many people throughout the league and the media have been made to eat their words by the great Tom Brady. I get it, he’s the GOAT. But there was a game in Week 14 that made me believe the Patriots are vulnerable this season; it just takes a team with the right personnel to pull it off.
Back in Week 14, the 10-2 Patriots were beat by the 5-7 Miami Dolphins 27-20. Many experts wondered aloud if the Dolphins had just provided the blueprint to stifle the Patriots offense — play press-man coverage, pressure Brady up the middle and contain New England’s running backs in the passing game. I didn’t watch the game live, so me being the sports nerd I am went back and watched the All-22 coaches film of the game.
That blueprint was definitely evident when I watched the game over. Granted, Rob Gronkowski — the Patriots great equalizer — wasn’t playing, though. But it hasn’t been Gronkowski’s reassertion back in the lineup that has kept that blueprint from being repeated in the games since; it has been the teams the Patriots have played not having the defensive personnel to pull it off.
The thing with that blueprint is you need at least two long, physical and athletic corners that can play press-man. You need multiple inside rushers that can harass Brady and keep him from manipulating the pocket — something he is the best in the league at. Lastly, you need fast linebackers that can play sideline to sideline to keep the backs from doing damage on check downs.
The Dolphins had all of that and so do the Jaguars. Two great corners — Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye — check. Inside rushers — Calais Campbell and Malik Jackson — check. Fast linebackers — Telvin Smith and Myles Jack — check. That’s why I think the Jaguars are going to pull off what may end up being one of the biggest postseason upsets in NFL history and take on the Vikings in the Super Bowl.
However, the Vikings are simply better than the Jaguars and would become the first team in NFL history to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium since U.S. Bank Stadium is the host for Super Bowl LII. Minnesota is one of the loudest places to play in the NFL, if not the loudest. Give that defense a home-field advantage in the Super Bowl, and the Vikings will hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy Feb. 4 on their home turf.
