Minnesota Vikings profile: Mike Zimmer’s men looking to create history and play in a home Super Bowl
Here is SunSport's lowdown on the Minnesota Vikings ahead of the play-offs
MINNESOTA are on course to make history and be the first team to ever play in a home Super Bowl.
SunSport runs the rule over the kings of the NFC North hoping to make it to a special showpiece next month.
SEASON SUMMARY
Minnesota's offence and defence have both impressed this season despite very different paths to success.
On offence they lost impressive rookie running back Dalvin Cook early and saw Sam Bradford go down with a knee injury.
Case Keenum, though, has played lights out since stepping in at quarterback and has one of the best pairs of receivers in the league in Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs.
The defence, on the other hand, has gone from strength to strength and powered them to eight straight wins, and 11 wins in their last 12 games.
TURNING POINT
In week five, the Vikings travelled to division rivals Chicago with a 2-2 record in the NFC North.
Quarterback Sam Bradford had swelling on a knee that was previously operated on, and Minnesota's season was threatening to go nowhere.
Case Keenum stepped in for the second half at Soldier Field and the team haven't looked back since, playing impressive offensive football to go with their dominant defence.
KEY MAN
They say defence wins championships, and if Minnesota want to win one this year it will be thanks to theirs.
Xavier Rhodes has developed into a shutdown corner, taking care of an opposing passing game's biggest weapon and allowing the rest of the defence to tee off and make plays.
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X FACTOR
Adam Thielen has played wide receiver as well as anyone in the league this year.
Despite two different quarterbacks and a run-first playbook, Thielen is keeping elite company in the top five in receiving yards this season.
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QUICK FACTS
Regular-season record: 13-3 (1st in NFC North)
Location: Minneapolis (MN)
Stadium: US Bank Stadium (66,655)
Head coach: Mike Zimmer
Best performance: 1969 NFL champions