The Minnesota Vikings lost several defensive starters during the 2020 offseason, mostly due to contractual differences and age. Speculation suggested that the team’s longstanding defensive supremacy would tumble but probably not to the bowels of the NFL. Head coach Mike Zimmer was supposed to be able to coach anybody to respectability on defense. Instead, the Vikings finished 2020 ranked 29th in defensive via points allowed while the offense checked in at 11th in the points-scored metric. Unlike ever before under Zimmer, Minnesota had an offense-only operation.
Las Vegas sportsbooks slated the Vikings to win about nine games and contend for the NFC North with the Green Bay Packers.