It would be an understatement to say that the 2018 Minnesota Vikings have been a disappointment. They entered the season with a talented roster on both sides of the ball, including newly-signed $84-million dollar man in quarterback Kirk Cousins. Instead, the Vikings have floundered to a 7-6-1 record and fired offensive coordinator John DeFilippo.

Yet, the Vikings can still make the playoffs. Here are three reasons they should not be overlooked heading into Week 16:

Dalvin Cook, Vikings
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Renewed running game

The Vikings enter Week 16 with the 29th-ranked running game in the NFL (95 YPG). Their troubled running game is one reasons why the team has failed to meet expectations. However, the Vikings showed signs of renewal during their 41-17 win over the Miami Dolphins last Sunday.

Running back Dalvin Cook rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries, and Latavius Murray added 68 yards and a touchdown. Overall, the Vikings rushed for 220 yards in their obliteration of the Dolphins.

The counterargument for this resurgence is that the Dolphins currently rank 31st against the run. They've been letting anyone and everyone run all over them. Fair point.

Still, the Vikings have had this potential all season. They've flashed potential all year, and with DeFilippo gone, the Vikings running game fans saw last year returned. Minnesota's best chance at a playoff run is with a balanced offense.

If Cook and Murray can get into a groove throughout the rest of the season, the Vikings will be tough to beat.

Adam Thielen, Vikings
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Playmakers

Given the Vikings' offensive struggles, it's easy to forget that the Vikings feature one of the best receiver tandems in the NFL. Adam Thielen leads the Vikings with 105 catches for 1,255 yards and nine touchdowns. His partner-in-crime Stefon Diggs sits right behind him with 92 receptions for 964 yards and seven touchdowns.

The problem is that the lack of a running game for much of the year has led to Cousins relying more on short and intermediate routes instead of going deep more often. Basically, Thielen and Diggs have been stuck for much of the year.

Nonetheless, the potential is there. If the Vikings can continue their renewed focus on the running game, Thielen and Diggs will be open more. Add tight end Kyle Rudolph (51 catches for 493 yards) to the mix, and the Vikings suddenly have the offense that took them to the NFC Championship Game a year ago.

The only difference is Cousins. Case Keenum led the Vikings to the playoffs last year. Minnesota signed Cousins to pick up where Keenum left off and take Minnesota to the next level. The problem is that Keenum put up a career year. He's also more mobile than Cousins as well. The Vikings failed to adjust for this difference when they signed Cousins, which has led to a falling off of the offense.

However, Cousins possesses a better arm and makes better decisions than Keenum, for the most part. What he needs is a creative offense, which is something the Vikings have failed to put on the field in 2018.

The weapons are there. It's up to Cousins and crew to finally take the next step this season. If they can do that, these Vikings have the talent to beat anyone in the NFL, including the New Orleans Saints.

Everson Griffen, Vikings

Defense rules

The rule of thumb in the NFL has long been “defense wins championships.” Minnesota's defense ranks fourth in the NFL in total yards allowed with 314.3 per game. That fact has flown under the radar with the Vikings' offensive struggles this season. It also doesn't help that the Vikings have a knack for giving up points, despite shutting down opposing offenses for much of the season.

However, what should get attention is the Vikings' defensive performance over the last two games. Minnesota shut down the Seattle Seahawks offense for much of the 21-7 loss on Monday Night Football. It was only a Cousins fumble returned for a touchdown that took them out of the game. The Vikings held Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson to just 72 yards and registered two sacks and an interception in a game that was closer than it appeared when the final whistle blew.

Minnesota came back this weekend and took it to the Dolphins offensive line and quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The Vikings sacked Tannehill nine times and held him to only 108 passing yards. When this defense is on, it's one of the best in the league.  The Vikings now lead the league in sacks (47), and their front seven appears to be jelling at the right time.

Minnesota brought back much of the same roster that nearly represented the NFC in the Super Bowl in 2017. The weapons are there, as is the defense. Sometimes all it takes is getting in the playoffs, and a team will pull it together.

The potential is there for the Vikings to do the same this season. Beware of the Vikings in January.