The Minnesota Vikings have spent months getting treated like the NFC North’s afterthought, but ESPN’s Benjamin Solak isn’t buying the idea that they’re stuck at the bottom of the pile.
In a set of 10 predictions for the season, Solak singled out the Vikings and went with a bold call: he thinks they’ll win the division in 2026.
His case leans heavily on the defense and on Brian Flores, who serves as the team’s coordinator. Solak also points to the overall quality of the roster, arguing that Minnesota looks too strong to be written off as the clear fourth-place team in the division.
He put it plainly: "I'm not particularly down on the Lions or Bears (though a little dubious of the Packers), so any outcome in the NFC North wouldn't surprise me much. I just don't think the Vikings deserve to be a clear fourth in the pecking order of what should be a highly competitive group once again."
That’s the crux of it. The NFC North has the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Chicago Bears drawing most of the attention, and all three have a path to the top. But Solak’s prediction keeps Minnesota squarely in the conversation.
The Vikings could wind up near the bottom of the division. They could also be right in the thick of the race.
As Solak sees it, the deciding factors are health and quarterback play. If those two pieces fall into place, Minnesota has a chance to make him look very smart.
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