How the Vikings overcame huge injuries to clinch NFC North title

The proverbial injury bug was well acquainted with the Minnesota Vikings this season. Starting quarterback Sam Bradford and rookie running back Dalvin Cook landed on injured reserve due to knee injures. Teddy Bridgewater was still recovering from his knee injury last offseason.

Without two quarterbacks and their top running back, the Vikings had to turn to an unexpected player to galvanize the franchise and lead it to the postseason: Case Keenum.

Keenum’s stellar play turned some of his doubters into believers. But his performance, along with Minnesota’s physical defense, did something even better: help lead the Vikings to the NFC North title, and the playoffs.

Keenum’s job as the Vikings’ starting quarterback was simple: avoid turnovers and make a few plays. Since Minnesota has one of the best defenses in football, Keenum had to play mistake-free football and help score enough points to win.

Keenum did just that. In 2016, the Vikings offense — led by Bradford — finished 28th in the league. This season, however, Minnesota is in the top 10 in total offense.

It’s a stark contrast from the season Keenum had with the Los Angeles Rams a year ago. Keenum threw for 2,169 yards to go along with nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions in nine games as the starter. He was later benched for Jared Goff.

In 13 games this season, Keenum has 3,219 yards, 20 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

The Vikings’ No. 2 defense is surrendering fewer than 18 points per game. But even though the Vikings are stout on defense, their offense had to make plays and score points to take the pressure off the defense. And Keenum is a huge reason why the Vikings’ offense is scary.

What does this mean for the rest of the NFC North? Minnesota is the class of the NFC North this season, but the Green Bay Packers will always have a chance at competing with Aaron Rodgers at the helm. But Rodgers missed the bulk of the season due to a broken collarbone before returning to the lineup Sunday against the Panthers.

Getting in to the postseason is a long shot after a loss to the Panthers, though, with Rodgers throwing three interceptions in his first game back.

The Detroit Lions have a better shot in the wild card race, but even with a win over the Bears on Sunday, they’re on the outside of the playoff picture at 8-6. Matthew Stafford is one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks, but he’s only led Detroit to the playoffs three times in nine years. The Lions haven’t won the division or a playoff game in over 20 years.

The Chicago Bears won’t pose a threat to the Vikings — or anyone else at the top of the NFC North — for a while. The team is rebuilding around rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and running back Jordan Howard. Defensively, the Bears have some talented players who could be difference-makers in the future, but the Chicago offense needs more playmakers before it could even think about competing for a division crown.