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NFL 2017 preview: Looking at strengths, weaknesses and X-factors for all 32 teams

By Peter Panacy

Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) greet each other following the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers/Appleton Post Crescent via USA TODAY NETWORK
Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) greet each other following the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers/Appleton Post Crescent via USA TODAY NETWORK /
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Nov 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) catches a pass and tries to avoid Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) catches a pass and tries to avoid Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /

Minnesota Vikings

2016 Record: 8-8, Second Place in NFC North

The 2016 Minnesota Vikings went as far as their offensive line would carry them, and that wasn’t particularly great.

Especially down the stretch.

This offseason saw some upgrades, and those will help keep quarterback Sam Bradford upright for most of the year. At least one can hope.

Minnesota’s defense also doesn’t get a lot of recognition, but this same group will be called upon to handle a pretty high-flying NFC North division this year. That won’t be easy.

Offensively, the addition of running back Dalvin Cook and center Pat Elflein in Rounds 2 and 3, respectively, of the NFL Draft should make the Vikings offense more prolific and not so reliant upon Bradford and his rapport with Stefon Diggs.

With free-agent O-line additions too, maybe Minnesota gets back to challenging the Packers for a playoff berth in 2017.

Strengths

The Bradford-Diggs connection was fun to watch last season, and it should be again. Plus, the addition of Cook makes the Vikings offense just about as exciting as it was when Adrian Peterson, in his prime, was in town.

Not long ago, some might have viewed Cook as the best collegiate tailback coming out in the draft. He slipped, but the talent is there.

And that defense? Yeah. It’s pretty good.

Weaknesses

Even though the O-line is better, it’s still far from a perfect unit. The new additions may help. But O-lines typically take a while to jell. And it isn’t as if there’s adequate depth here. Not yet at least.

Things fell apart quickly after a hot start in 2016, largely due to the O-line. But there were other issues as well. Minnesota couldn’t get its running game together, which puts even more pressure on Cook to deliver immediately.

Is he up for the task?

X-Factors

Cook is obviously one. The Vikings finished 2016 with the league’s worst rushing offense. And when the rapport between Bradford and Diggs fell off a bit later in the season, the Vikings offense started to go flat.

Bradford — along with his health and ability to find legitimate targets — will also be a deciding factor in who comes away with the division crown.