NFL power rankings: Stacking up all 32 teams amid 2018 training camp

Had it not been for the No. 1 team in our NFL power rankings, the Minnesota Vikings would have reached the Super Bowl a season ago.

Sure, they’re a bit lucky they got over the Saints in the NFC divisional round. But thanks to the “Minnesota Miracle,” the Vikings remain a key team to beat in the conference this season.

And they get better in 2018 too.

Grabbing Kirk Cousins in free agency immediately upgrades the quarterback situation. Nothing against 2017 hero, Case Keenum, but Cousins is far more accomplished and has a more impressive resume. While Cousins might take a bit to adjust to the new faces around him, he’ll at least benefit from a healthy return of second-year running back Dalvin Cook, who should add his level of explosiveness to Minnesota’s ground attack.

Cousins’ top receiving targets — tight end Kyle Rudolph and wide receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs — are better than anything the quarterback had in Washington last year too.

Yet the big story will be seeing if the Vikings’ No. 1-ranked defense can maintain continuity and effectiveness into 2018.

There’s little reason to assume it can’t.