What to expect???

[PacificNorseWest]

Not a bad bet. I'll probably doing something similar.

What I don't like is how top-heavy the Vikings schedule is. Their first 5 games is murderers row. @ St. Louis, vs New England, @ New Orleans, vs Atlanta and @ Green Bay. That's rough.

[Purple bruise]

injure bradford, injure brady, injure brees, injure ryan, injure rodgers...I see 5-0

Okay, now that I know about the QB injuries, I am doubling down on my bets

[Mothman]

I agree that it depends on the matchup and that losing your starting RB is a big deal. But to say the Vikings had their best outing because of the Eagles pass defense is a bit of a stretch IMO. The Eagles won 7 of their last 8 games with that terrible pass defense (only loss was to the Vikings). In the games prior to giving up 48 to Cassel and the Vikings, PHI held their opponents to 17, 15, 20, 13, 16, 21, and 20. The week after, PHI held Cutler and the Bears to 11 points. On paper, the Eagles passing defense gives up yards, but for every other stat, they're pretty average.

How does any of that contradict what I said about the Eagles being a favorable matchup for the Vikings passing offense or that game being a contest in which Peterson's loss wasn't felt as acutely as it might have been against another opponent? Where's the stretch?

[oldskoolvikingfan]

I voted for slight chance because everyone has a slight chance to make the playoffs each year. I think that if we get consistent QB play from Cassel and Teddy and we have a top 15 defense then we have a slight chance of reaching the playoffs. However, if we continue to have inconsistent QB play and our defense doesn't improve then we have no chance of reaching the playoffs.

[Demi]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... -15-games/

Minnesota Vikings (2): Washington (-1.5), N.Y. Jets (-2).
Jacksonville Jaguars: None.
Oakland Raiders: None.

Only Jags and Raiders are favorites in fewer games.

[CodeRedCards]

I would be willing to bet the Defense will be top 10 or better , and if Teddy gets his chance he is a sure winner, small hands BIG HEART ...........if he gets the playbook down fast I am sure we go to the playoffs . 9-7 at worse 12-4 at best with first round bye .......I will bet to win the north, however wont lay 100 down I'll lay 25 on it and hope to hit.

[dead_poet]

I would be willing to bet the Defense will be top 10 or better , and if Teddy gets his chance he is a sure winner, small hands BIG HEART ...........if he gets the playbook down fast I am sure we go to the playoffs . 9-7 at worse 12-4 at best with first round bye .......I will bet to win the north, however wont lay 100 down I'll lay 25 on it and hope to hit.

Wow. You're way more optimistic than I am. A top 10 overall defense after being the worst (or close to the worst) in many statistical categories just a few months ago would be more than impressive. My expectations are quite a bit more tempered than that. As far as record, I wish I saw this team with a 9-7 floor.

[Slick Rick]

Wow. You're way more optimistic than I am. A top 10 overall defense after being the worst (or close to the worst) in many statistical categories just a few months ago would be more than impressive. My expectations are quite a bit more tempered than that. As far as record, I wish I saw this team with a 9-7 floor.

I think they have a very high ceiling this year, but any number of things can go wrong. I think they'll win at least 7 or 8 games, but I think it's more likely that we win 10 or 11. If our offense is particularly good, sky's the limit. I know people are talking about the defense improving and all that, and I think we will be significantly improved. In fact, I think that our defense can hold teams to under 20 points if everything goes right, but our offense is what I'm really looking forward to. We have the trusty veteran in Jennings, we've got the freak athlete in Patterson, the big athletic TE in Rudy, a couple of bookend OTs, and the best RB since Emmitt Smith. Add Teddy and Norv into the mix and the potential just seems limitless.

[vikeinmontana]

I think they have a very high ceiling this year, but any number of things can go wrong. I think they'll win at least 7 or 8 games, but I think it's more likely that we win 10 or 11. If our offense is particularly good, sky's the limit. I know people are talking about the defense improving and all that, and I think we will be significantly improved. In fact, I think that our defense can hold teams to under 20 points if everything goes right, but our offense is what I'm really looking forward to. We have the trusty veteran in Jennings, we've got the freak athlete in Patterson, the big athletic TE in Rudy, a couple of bookend OTs, and the best RB since Emmitt Smith. Add Teddy and Norv into the mix and the potential just seems limitless.

love the optimism my friend! I'm not quite to your level but i'll never bash another vikes fan for thinking the sky is the limit. here's hoping you're right!

[S197]

I am placing 3 bets on the Vikings this year. I will bet 100 to win the NFC North, a 100 too win the NFC Championship and 100 to win the SuperBowl. As far fetched as this is, even if they can win the North, I cover my investment and if they go to the Super Bowl and win it my 300 dollars turns into several thousands. I can easily afford the 300, which I normally would spend gambling in Vegas for a weekend.
I am not saying, by any means that I expect this outcome but it sure makes the upcoming season even more anticipated for me any way.

If I were in Vegas, I would make those bets for the very same reasons you mention. I mean its Vegas, I've spent more money than that on.... um.... nevermind

[Mothman]

In your response to Mondry, it seemed you were implying the Vikings put up 48 because Philly had a weak defense which is why I responded. I thought you were taking credit away from the offense and dismissing the win. Reading it again, I can see your comments were more 'matter of fact' than anything else. My bad.

No worries and I hope my response to you didn't sound terse. I've been working 13+ hour days for a week most of the last two weeks and consequently, my "filters" are down.

[mosscarter]

and what a wonderful and memorable win against philly that was for us last year, all it did was push us back a draft position. it was about as useful as running AP late into a useless game against washington and ruining his knee. the frazier era makes me want to vomit across the board lets just look forward it can't get any worse than childress and then frazier.

[Mothman]

and what a wonderful and memorable win against philly that was for us last year, all it did was push us back a draft position. it was about as useful as running AP late into a useless game against washington and ruining his knee. the frazier era makes me want to vomit across the board lets just look forward it can't get any worse than childress and then frazier.

It truly was a drag watching the Vikes have their best offensive performance of the season to defeat the Eagles. Those Vikings wins are always a bummer. What was Frazier thinking, having the team try to win games? I sure hope that **** won't fly with Mike Zimmer!

[Mothman]

Take a deep breath.

(Inhales)

1...2...3...4...5...

[mosscarter]

the real bummer was watching a team have potential one week like against philly, and then come out and play like they did against cincinatti a week or two later. the entire era under frazier sucked, it stunk no matter how you slice it.