I think there are some parallels here that can give us Vikings fans some hope.
1. Denver won with great defense.
The old adage "defense wins championships" proved true again. Of the last 11 teams to go into the Super Bowl with the Number One defense, 10 of them have won.
Vikings takeaway: Vikings brass have placed their top emphasis on building a championship-caliber defense. As we continue to improve defensively, so do our chances of winning a championship.
2. Denver won with a barely functioning offense.
The Broncos did not have a single sustained drive that resulted in a touchdown, yet they won by 14.
Vikings takeaway: I would dare say that the Vikings' offense, even as maddeningly inconsistent as it was in 2015, was better than what we saw on the field for Denver last night. Fix the O-line, and we have a real shot with our defense.
3. Teddy may not have Cam's skill, swagger, or athletic ability, but he has an important strength that Cam doesn't: POISE.
This article says it all. For all Cam's bravado, for all his ability, for all his dancing and showing off, he fell apart when faced with an opponent who would hit him in the mouth.
Vikings takeaway: This is where Teddy shines. Oh sure, there have been games -- like the first Seattle contest -- where Teddy has gone into a shell. But most of those came as a rookie. And let's not forget that Teddy had one of the best performances of his career in the second half of our game against these same Broncos. That came following a first half where he was knocked around pretty good. The ability to "take it, shrug it off, and move on" could serve Teddy well.At 6-foot-5, 245 pounds – with two inches on Miller – he thrives on winning physical confrontations. What would happen if he didn't, though? A guy like Brady has learned to take it, shrug it off and move on. Cam might be different.
4. This isn't a direct parallel, but let me say this -- Blair Walsh was more of a man than Cam after losing.
Read the transcript of Cam's postgame presser. It'll take you less than 10 seconds.
When Blair Walsh missed the field goal, he answered all questions. He took the heat and manned up. Only after they were done asking him questions did he break down. Cam, as usual, went into a shell when he lost. I'm not a psychic, but I'd say that no Viking would ever do what Cam did after a tough loss. Zimmer's influence is big here. Ron Rivera has been with Cam for five seasons, yet Cam continues to act like a baby when he loses, and a teenager when he wins. That's your Coach of the Year and your MVP.
In summary
I think the Super Bowl yesterday highlights the fact that you can win in this league with a great defense. Obviously, the worse your offense is, the better your defense must be, so it's imperative that the Vikings improve the offense. But given the outcomes of the past several Super Bowls, I feel like the Vikings are on the right track. It may be a passing-scoring league in the regular season, but the further you get in the playoffs, the better your defense must be. And your offense, particularly your quarterback, has to be able to hang tough in the face of those defenses. I like the direction the Vikings are headed.