Bellus’ Betting Breakdown: Is it Finally the Year for Minnesota?

Sometimes there are teams that just call my name. 

And this season, Kirk Cousins and his Minnesota Vikings won’t leave me alone. 

For years I have watched this team and cursed their head coach, Mike Zimmer. 

Zimmer wasn’t a bad head coach, he had a .562 winning percentage over eight years, and even won a few playoff games. 

But Zimmer also wasn’t a great coach. At times, the Vikings felt like an uninspired group, with an uninspiring person at the helm. 

But things have changed. 

Zimmer was fired following an 8-9 campaign in 2021, missing the playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons and bringing an end to his tenure in Minnesota that often left people scratching their heads. 

Now, fresh off winning a Super Bowl as an offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams, Kevin O’Connell is in command of the Vikings in 2022. 

And he takes over a team that needs to be more efficient on offence. 

Despite having Dalvin Cook go for 1,383 yards from scrimmage, Minnesota was one of the worst rushing teams in the NFL last season in terms of efficiency. Closing the year 28th in the league in expected points added via rushing (-36.9 EPA) while ranking 17th in yards per carry. 

Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins enters Year 11 looking to do more Kirk Cousins-like things. 

Since 2018, Cousins has eclipsed the 4,200-yard mark three times and his 4,221 yards from last season ranked ninth in the league. 

During those four seasons, Cousins ranks seventh among all quarterbacks in passing yards. 

I like this Vikings roster. I mean, how could you not? 

The team made some key signings on defence during the off-season, adding linebackers Jordan Hicks and Za'Darius Smith, and bolstered their D-line with nose tackle Harrison Phillips. 

The team also