NFC North Forecast: The Minnesota Vikings

Pondering the 2013 Vikings

By: MaChez, TSZ Expert

Minnesota Vikings - Over/Under 7.5 Wins

2012: 10-6, 2^nd in the NFC North, 6^th in the NFC

The Vikings surprised a lot of people when they posted a 10-6 record in 2012, scraping into the playoffs after a 3-13 record in 2011.  The post-season excitement was short lived, but with one of the best drafts this off-season - fueled by a trio of first round picks - a lot of that excitement has carried over into this season.

In case game manager Chrisitan Ponder gets injured (AKA underperforms), the Vikings signed fellow game manager Matt Cassel who will bring his super-average play back to his preferred role of backup QB before likely taking over for Ponder mid-season. To make sure these guys had someone to throw to, the Vikings went and traded their most dynamic player, WR Percy Harvin, to Seattle for several draft picks and a handwritten apology from Harvin to Leslie Frazier for prior public outbursts against the coach.  It’s a huge loss, but they will try to fix it with rookie first-rounder Cordarrelle Patterson - a high-potential, developmental project - and "brainwashed” ex-Packer Greg Jennings who so far has only proven that he has the maturity of a thirteen-year old girl, which is only slightly more mature than a thirteen year-old boy. 

After that, they are left with a receiving corps of solid TE Kyle Rudolf (9 TDs last year), Jarius Wright (who?), and Jerome Simpson, whose career highlight on Vikings.com is when he flipped over a Cardinals defender at the goal line and perfectly stuck the landing for a TD. If only they were awarded points for acrobatics maybe they would have won a Super Bowl by now…  None of this really matters since this offense revolves around Adrian Peterson.  The Vikings did what they had to do to keep his O-Line and FB in place, and as long as the deer antlers holding his ACL together don't give way, Peterson should have another big year.

On the other side of the ball, things look pretty ordinary. Continuing the trend of dumping their most talented players, the Vikings cut highly-skilled CB Antoine Winfield and eliminated any veteran leadership in the secondary.  Left to man the starting CB roles are Chris Cook, Josh Robinson, and 2013 first-rounder Xavier Floyd.  At safety they have little known Jamarca Sanford and second-year player Harrison Smith. Career interceptions between these five DBs?  A whopping five. The rest of the division will pick this secondary apart.

The Vikings also picked up MLB Desmond Bishop after the Packers shockingly cut him.  He led the Packers in tackles in 2011 before sitting out all of 2012 with a hamstring injury, and if he comes back healthy he should be a huge pick-up for the Vikings.  The solid defensive line added first-rounder DT Sharrif Floyd to help out Jared Allen, who is now 31 and entering what will most likely be his last year as a Viking.  He should put up monster numbers trying to win one last big contract from elsewhere in the league, especially since the Packers' rookie LT has already promised him 10 sacks in exchange for “making me look good the rest of the time.”

After five of six losses came on the road last year, the Vikings start the season with three of four on the road, including two against division rivals and one in London against the Steelers (technically a home game but last I checked it's bloody far from Minneapolis).  After the bye it doesn't get any easier: In the span between Weeks 7 and 14, they have @NYG, GB, @DAL, WAS, @SEA, @GB, CHI, and @BAL.  Uh-oh.

One other stat to keep in mind:  Over the past 11 seasons, the Vikings have averaged 1.45 wins/year outdoors, including losing all five contests last year.  This year they have seven, all of which are against potential playoff teams (CHI, PIT, NYG, SEA, GB, BAL, and CIN).

Taking in to account this taxing schedule, the lack of an elite quarterback, and the inexperienced secondary, I find it hard to see AP carrying – see what I did there – the Vikings to another winning season.  They really need an upgrade at QB before the receivers maximize their potential and the team is consistently competitive. In the meantime I see them bringing up the rear of the NFC North with a 6-10 record and recommend taking the Under 7.5 Wins.  

NFC North Team Breakdowns: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, or Final Standings