Vikings figure to get bump from new OC

Firing a coordinator this late in the season might be the ultimate sign of desperation, but there is precedent for striking gold with the sudden change.

Almost six years ago to the day that the Vikings fired offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, Ravens coach John Harbaugh fired offensive coordinator Cam Cameron after a 31-28 loss to Redskins in 2012.

With Jim Caldwell taking over the offense, the move paid big dividends in the playoffs. Joe Flacco had a postseason for the ages (11 touchdowns, no interceptions, 117.2 passer rating), and the Ravens’ offense averaged 27.5 points in four victories en route to winning Super Bowl XLVIII over Jim Harbaugh’s 49ers.

With a strong defense and offensive weapons that made them a Super Bowl contender before the regular season, the Vikings are a candidate to at least get a bump from the coordinator change to quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski, if not make a deep run in the playoffs.

Despite subpar protection throughout the season, the Vikings’ offense has produced on occasion — 29 points vs. the Packers, 31 vs. the Rams, 37 vs. the Jets. Even 20 points vs. the Bears looks pretty good now.

And in Kirk Cousins — whose career started to blossom when he replaced Robert Griffin III in that Redskins-Ravens game that led to Cameron’s firing — they have the Flacco type who can get hot and carry a team to glory.

Pick: Vikings 30, Dolphins 17.