Daily Norseman
We’ve now entered the summer, when news and updates about our favorite team are scarce until training camp. So…what’s a DN contributor to do? How about a look at the NFC North for 2026? That works!
I’ve already made my prediction for the good guys this upcoming season: 12-5 (this time I’m serious!). That would be good for first place in the NFC North and certainly in the discussion for the conference’s sole playoff bye. But what about our rivals? Let’s break it down.
1st Place – Minnesota Vikings (12-5) (NFC North Champs)
Key additions (FA): QB Kyler Murray; CB James Pierre; WR Jauan Jennings; OT Ryan Van Demark; P Johnny Hekker.
Key additions (Draft, RDS 1-2): Rd1 DL Caleb Banks, Rd2 LB Jake Golday
Key losses: EDGE Jonathan Greenard (traded); DL Jonathan Allen; DL Javon Hargrave; WR Jalen Nailor; S Harrison Smith (TBD)
Reasons for optimism: The Vikings went 9-8 and missed the playoffs by ½ a game, despite having the most inconsistent quarterback play since 2013, or perhaps even 2007. Even then, those offenses were built around Adrian Peterson. KOC is KOC, so the offense should be a heck of a lot better than their 20.2 ppg in 2025. The addition of Jauan Jennings could make this offense outright scary.
Brian Flores is back, which means an elite defense will take tremendous pressure off the offense. I don’t envision this team in many shootouts. A mere 20 points should be enough to win plenty of games. Losing Greenard stinks, but the combo of Dallas Turner and perhaps a training camp addition of a proven pass rusher should be enough to fill the considerable gap. Cornerback James Pierre could be another under-the-radar signing that pays huge dividends, similar to Isaiah Rodgers.
We have that somewhat predictable, if tedious, “make-the-playoffs, miss-the-playoffs” year-to-year pattern in our favor in 2026.
Last, but certainly not least, we have Will Reichard’s unmatched aura in a revenge storyline arc after “Wiregate” that would make John Wick blush.
Reasons for concern: Beyond being the Minnesota Vikings, which is always a reason for concern because the team is nearly 50 years removed from its last Super Bowl appearance, the biggest cloud of potential doom hanging over the 2026 season is the simple fact that we only know what we know.
I certainly believe, and the consensus seems to agree, that Kyler Murray’s underwhelming tenure with the Arizona Cardinals was more a matter of the franchise failing an incredibly talented quarterback than the other way around. That said, I’ve seen the opposing view on more than one occasion. He is 38-48-1 as an NFL starter. That’s all that matters up to this point – winning games. Some offensive talent has been there at WR and TE. KOC, the best 1-2-3 WR duo in the league, and Brian Flores’ defense are factors that should tip the scales dramatically in the positive direction, but we don’t know that as we enter July. All we have is hope, coupled with a...
