Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: Post-preseason 32-team breakdown before Week 1

By Peter Panacy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 24: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 24: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 18: Pam Oliver interviews Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of the preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 18, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Seahawks 25-19. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 18: Pam Oliver interviews Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of the preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 18, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Seahawks 25-19. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

. . Previous: . Minnesota Vikings. 12. team. 60

The Minnesota Vikings are going to be an interesting team to watch this season for a number of reasons.

They’re on pace to be the second best team within the NFC North, but quarterback Kirk Cousins will finally have to prove he can be the guy. That’s what Minnesota was hoping for when it brought Cousins aboard on a lucrative free-agent deal a season ago, and the first-year results left a lot to be desired. Sure, the stats were fine. But Cousins was expected to carry the load and “win the big games.”

Going 8-7-1 last season is all the evidence needed to suggest he wasn’t.

Pressure is also on running back Dalvin Cook, who endured an injury-plagued and less-used campaign in 2018. That should change under offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, who wants to balance out the Vikings offense more this season. Maybe that takes some pressure off Cousins, too, which is a bonus.

If Minnesota’s defense remains stout, and the offense picks it up a notch this season, the Vikings could be risers in NFL power rankings.

But if it goes wrong, Cousins will continue to be under scrutiny despite some solid preseason efforts.