The Vikings can do no wrong

At the beginning of the season, everyone had predicted the Twins to have a subpar year, nothing special. For the past several years, actually, it seems that most have thought poorly of the Twins chances, especially those in Minnesota. Even after it was clear the Twins would be in the post season, most everyone says things like “big deal, they can’t win in the playoffs”, Granted, they weren’t so good in the playoff series, but isn’t the major part of success getting to the playoffs? After that, there is a lot more luck involved in getting through a short series than there is through a long season. Note that St. Louis won the World Series after barely finishing over .500 in 2005.
In the NFL, it takes a greater degree of team wide talent and a little less luck. It’s usually teams with three or four losses all season that end up deep in the playoffs and in the Super Bowl. The prevailing hype is that the Vikings are a dark horse for Super Bowl contention, and Minnesota fans seem to think they are a lock for the big game. Last year, the team went 8-8, earning 8 wins because of a fantastic defense and losing 8 games because of an absolutely terrible offense. Yes, the Vikings should end up in the playoffs this year, but how can anyone, let alone multiple people say that this team, a team that has done nothing to address their core problems (passing game, receiving corps, quarterback)* is going to be so much better than they are going to win the Super Bowl this year? I think we’re going to learn that the Vikings are pretenders by week 2.
The problem I have, though, is with Minnesotans. Why do so many drink the Kool-Aid on the Vikings? What have they ever done? They were mediocre last year and have never won anything. They’ve only been to the playoffs in a league where 12/32 teams make the playoffs once since 2000. The Twins have missed the playoffs twice in that same time in a league in which only 8/30 teams make the playoffs, yet are doubted annually. I don’t get it.

* Yes, the Vikings signed Bernard Berrian. Yes, he is a “deep threat”. Deep threats are only effective if you have an underneath threat and good hands. Berrian has neither. Ask Bears fans. The Bears even opted for Devin Hester, a corner back, to take his place.