When I look at the 2009 season and the Minnesota Vikings current roster, I have to admit that I get very optimistic. To a lot of guys around the net that want to have a negative outlook on the team, I know that will make me a “homer”… even though I don’t live in Minnesota… but I honestly have a good feeling about the Vikings this year.
The team has good players at pretty much every position on the field. We have the best running back in the game (no offense to Mr. Tomlinson), we have playmakers at receiver, we have a solid offensive line, a great defensive line, great linebackers, and good defensive backs. We have a good kicker and a good punter. Our special teams has made improvements over last year’s squad, and no matter what you think of Brett Favre, most would agree that he’s a step up from Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte, who led our team to a 10-6 record last year.
Looking over the schedule, I think the Vikings will go 11-5 this year.
I think they’ll finish 2-2 with Chicago and Green Bay combined, both of whom should be tough.
I also think that in the games with Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Arizona, Seattle, Carolina, and New York, the Vikings will come out 3-3.
That puts the Vikings at 5 and 5. I feel very confident in the Vikings beating the Lions both times to make it 7-5, and I also think the Vikes will handle Cleveland, San Fransisco, St. Louis, and Cincinnati just fine to give them the other 4 wins.
I’ll break down my thoughts a bit…
Week 1: Minnesota At Cleveland
I think the Vikings already have this one in the bag. The Browns are a struggling team with a new coach who had problems choosing his starting QB. Even though I think Mangini is a touch overrated as a “genius”, I think he’ll be able to turn the Browns into a decent team if he’s given time. I just don’t think it’ll start in week one. The Vikings are 1-0
Week2: Minnesota At Detroit
I was confident about this game before the season was even close. Detroit is coming off the worst season in NFL history. Detroit will not lose 16 games this year, and they’ve done a good job at cleaning up a lot on the team, from the very top down, but like Cleveland, I just don’t see the turnaround happening all at once, and I don’t see it happening against a team that’s stacked like the Vikings. The Vikings are 2-0
Week 3: Minnesota vs San Fransisco
The home opener, and Favre’s first official time in the dome! (I’ll be at this game!!) Another win for the Vikings, who will be off to a great start at this point. The 49ers are struggling at their quarterback position, and the Vikings don’t struggle against the run. Last time the 9ers played the Vikings, they held Peterson to something like 11 yards, but the nice thing about the roster this year is that even if they can somehow stop our run, we’ll have weapons in the passing game. That being said, they WON’T stop the run. They stopped it a couple years ago by putting 9 guys in the box. Favre would have a field day if that happened this year. The Vikings are 3-0
Week 4: Minnesota vs Green Bay: MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
I struggled with predicting this one. I really do think Green Bay is going to have a solid team this year, and I really do expect the Vikings to split with them. Logic would say that they’d each win at home, but for some reason I don’t think so. I think Rogers will come in hot, and I think it’ll be a shoot out on Monday night. I think the Vikings will look good, but I think the Pack will win this one. Rogers will have some bragging rights from beating Favre in their first meeting. The Vikings are 3-1
Week 5: Minnesota at St Louis
I think this is another “sure thing” for the Vikings. I think the Rams are going to struggle again this season, and they’re going to compete with the Lions and the Raiders for the spot as the worst team in football. Easy win for the Vikings. The Vikings are 4-1
Week 6: Minnesota vs. Baltimore
Tough game, mostly because of Baltimore’s defense. I think it’ll be a low scoring game. Baltimore will keep the Vikings offense in check, but they’ll have trouble scoring on the Vikings defense. I could see this game going to which ever team can score a defensive touchdown. I’m gonna give Baltimore the edge. The Vikings are 4-2
Week 7: Minnesota at Pittsburgh
Another tough game, and another defensive battle. I think the Vikings will have the toughest time running all year when they go to Pittsburgh. I do think, however, they’ll have a little more success in the passing game than they did against Baltimore the week before. I also think the Vikings defense will be able to control Willie Parker and whoever he may be sharing carries with. I think the Vikes will force Big Ben to try to beat them, and I don’t think he’ll be able to. I give this one to the Vikings. The Vikings are 5-2
Week 8: Minnesota at Green Bay
Favre’s triumphant return to Lambeau. I’m giving the Vikings this game, just because of that. Especially if the Packers beat them in week 4. I think Favre will come in fired up, and he’ll be ready to throw. I think the Packers will know that and try to prepare for that, which will give Adrian Peterson a free pass as well. Not only do I give this game to the Vikings, I think they’ll win big. The Vikings are 6-2
Week 10: Minnesota vs Detroit
I’m giving this one to the Vikings, because, well, it’s Detroit. I think Detroit will be fairing better at this point of the year, and they may even have a win or two under their belts, but in the end I think the Vikings will be too much for them. The Vikings are 7-2
Week 11: Minnesota vs Seattle
This could be a tough one, depending on how well Seattle’s offense is clicking. Hasslebeck, if he’s healthy, is able to put some big numbers up, and he might give the Vikings defense a little trouble if they can’t get pressure on him. I don’t think, though, they’ll be able to stop the Vikings running game, and I think Peterson has a big day. Vikings win. The Vikings are 8-2
Week 12: Minnesota vs. Chicago
A tough game… lives up to the “black and blue”. Peterson typically has good games against Chicago, which is a good thing. Chicago should have a better passing game this year, though, than they have in the past. Maybe they can keep their offense on the field a little longer? In the end, it won’t matter. Vikings Win. The Vikings are 9-2
Week 13: Minnesota at Arizona
A lot of people have the Super Bowl Runner-Ups having a down season this year, but I just don’t see it. They have two of the best receivers in football, and a quarterback that just won’t quit. We played them pretty well last year, but I think they’ll be tougher this year. Kurt Warner gets better when he’s under pressure, and the Vikings won’t be able to contain Boldin and Fitzgerald. Cardinals win this one. The Vikings are 9-3
Week 14: Minnesota vs Cincinnati
I think the Vikings will be just fine against Cincinnati. The Bengals just aren’t a solid team. I give it to the Vikes. The Vikings are 10-3
Week 15: Minnesota at Carolina
Here’s where things get rough. A lot of the sports analysts are saying that the Vikings need to have the playoffs wrapped up by Week 15, and I agree. I think the Panthers will beat Minnesota, and I think it’ll send the Vikings into their first losing streak of the year. Unfortunately that losing streak will be sending them into the playoffs, which is never a good sign. I give it to Carolina. The Vikings are 10-4
Week 16: Minnesota at Chicago
I hope I’m wrong here, but I think the Bears will be tough enough to split with the Vikings, and if that’s the case, I have to give them the nod at home. Unfortunately for the Vikings that comes between two other games that they could potentially lose. The Vikings are 10-5
Week 17: Minnesota vs New York Giants
The bright side is, we’ll once again have the Giants for the last game of the season. I think the Giants are going to win the NFC East this year, with their biggest competition coming from Philadelphia. If the Giants have the playoffs wrapped up, they’ll play a lot of their backups again. If not, it could be a tough game. I’m assuming, though, that they will be in at this point, so I’m going to give it to the Vikings. The Vikings finish at 11-5
I’m not overly confident on my choices on the “tough” six games outside our division, but I think it’s fair to assume the Vikings can split those games. I think hoping for an 11-5 season is pretty realistic this year.
