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The Minnesota Vikings are going to look different this season, as for the first time since 2006 they won’t have future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson in the backfield. Minnesota didn’t have a healthy Peterson last year anyway, so his loss is not a huge one except in terms of perception. The Vikings are built on defense and the short passing of either Sam Bradford or Teddy Bridgewater. Oddsmakers give the Vikings a chance to make the playoffs in 2017, as they set the win total for Minnesota at 8.5.
Minnesota Vikings Super Bowl Odds
Super Bowl Odds: +3850
NFC Championship Odds: +1700
NFC North Odds: +350
Odds Vikings Make Playoffs: +180
Vikings Regular Season Win Total: 8.5
The Vikings are a distance second choice behind Green Bay to win the NFC North but Minnesota could definitely make the playoffs with a 9-7 or 10-6 record this season. The Vikings get a major boost from their schedule, as they face just the 27th-most difficult schedule in the NFL for 2017. The concern for Minnesota is the early part of the season, as they face a motivated Adrian Peterson and the Saints on Monday night in Week 1 and a high scoring Pittsburgh team in Week 2. It also doesn’t help Minnesota’s cause that they have a very difficult closing stretch of games.
2017 Minnesota Vikings Schedule
Week 1: Vikings vs. Saints – Monday, September 11, 7:10 p.m. ET
Week 2: Vikings at Steelers – Sunday, September 17, 1:00 p.m. ET
Week 3: Vikings vs. Buccaneers – Sunday, September 24, 1:00 p.m. ET
Week 4: Vikings vs. Lions – Sunday, October 1, 1:00 p.m. ET
Week 5: Vikings at Bears – Monday, October 9, 8:30 p.m. ET
Week 6: Vikings vs. Packers – Sunday, October 15, 1:00 p.m. ET
Week 7: Vikings vs. Ravens – Sunday, October 22, 1:00 p.m. ET
Week 8: Vikings at Browns – Sunday, October 29, 9:30 a.m. ET
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: Vikings at Redskins – Sunday, November 12, 1:00 p.m. ET
Week 11: Vikings vs. Rams – Sunday, November 19, 1:00 p.m. ET
Week 12: Vikings at Lions – Thursday, November 23, 12:30 p.m. ET
Week 13: Vikings at Falcons – Sunday, December 3, 1:00 p.m. ET
Week 14: Vikings at Panthers – Sunday, December 10, 1:00 p.m. ET
Week 15: Vikings vs. Bengals – Sunday, December 17, 1:00 p.m. ET
Week 16: Vikings at Packers – Saturday, December 23, 8:30 p.m. ET
Week 17: Vikings vs. Bears – Sunday, December 31, 1:00 p.m. ET
The Minnesota Vikings Will Be a Success If…
They score more points. That seems simple enough but it is totally true with the Vikings, as they were 28th in the NFL last season in total yards. The Vikings went out and spent a ton of money in free agency to upgrade the offense but one of the additions, running back Latavius Murray, may already be unnecessary, as the team took Dalvin Cook in the NFL Draft. Cook could help ease the pain of missing Peterson if he is as good as advertised.
Minnesota has a very good defense but it was always under pressure because the offense didn’t score many points. The Vikings were third in the NFL last season in fewest yards allowed. It used to be that a team could win by playing outstanding defense and ranking in the middle of the pack in terms of points scored but that is no longer the case. Teams like the Patriots and Packers are perennial Super Bowl contenders with great offenses and solid defenses. That is the opposite formula that the Vikings are trying.
The Minnesota Vikings Will Be a Failure If…
They can’t protect Bradford or Bridgewater. General manager Rick Spielman or head coach Mike Zimmer could be out of a job if the offense isn’t better in 2017. Spielman signed tackles Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers in the off-season and the Vikings took Ohio State center Pat Elflein in the NFL Draft.
Minnesota has a short passing game that Bradford and Bridgewater run effectively. Pat Shurmur took over as offensive coordinator early last season and now he has had a full off-season to get everyone on the same page. Bradford begins the season as the starter but Bridgewater is back from injury and if the Vikings are to go anywhere in the future they need Bridgewater under center.
Bradford and Bridgewater need better protection, as the Vikings used 12 linemen last season. It is questionable whether or not the additions of Reiff and Elflein will be the answer.
Minnesota Vikings 2017 Predictions
There is no doubting the toughness of Sam Bradford but is he a franchise quarterback? He sure wasn’t with the Rams and even though he had some good moments with the Vikings he still has never thrown for 4,000 yards in a season. Minnesota could have a future star in Cook at running back, and if Bridgewater comes back healthy and takes over the starting job then perhaps the Vikings could challenge for a playoff spot.
The most likely scenario is that Bradford begins the season as the starter, struggles early, and the Vikings dig themselves into a hole they can’t get out of. The schedule for the Vikings is technically favorable, but strength of schedule numbers can be a little misleading and Minnesota has a very difficult closing stretch with four of their last six games on the road including three straight from late November to early December. The win total for Minnesota is 8.5 and that may be too high for a team that went 8-8 last season.
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