2010
Season
In 2009, the Minnesota Vikings dropped just four games in the
regular season to top the NFC North division, and make it to the
NFC Championship where they narrowly lost 31-28 to the New Orleans
Saints. Which makes their dismal NFL 2010-11 season, which saw
them finish last in their division on 6-10, even more puzzling.
2011 Off Season
The wheels pretty much fell off for the Vikings from the get
go last season, and while they rallied here and there, they were
never really in it. Which is why they had so much work to do in
the off season under new head coach Leslie Frazier, who led the
team 3 for 3 at the end of last season. Frazier cleaned house by
bidding QB Brett Favre, WR Sidney Rice, DTs Pat Williams and Jimmy
Kennedy, OL Bryant McKinnie and DE Ray Edwards farewell, while
signing the likes of QB Donovan McNabb and WR Michael Jenkins. He
also use the 2011 NFL Draft to secure the services of talented QB
Christian Ponder of Florida State.
2011 Preview
Even with some some exciting new blood in the team, Frazier will
have his work cut out for him to get the team back to the level
they were at two seasons ago. That said, there were some
respectable aspects of Minnesota's game. Offensively for instance,
RB Adrian Peterson was a shining light, who helped the Vikings
finish 10th in the NFL in rushing at 121 YPG. But the Vikings'
passing game struggled, despite the services of Favre, who in hind
sight should have retired at the end of the 2009-10 season.
Frazier no doubt worked on this aspect of the team's game in the
off season. In terms of defense, the Vikings interestingly held
their own last season, finishing a none-too-shabby eighth overall
in the league after allowing just 313 YPG, and ninth versus the
run, giving up just 102 YPG, which means they required less work
in the off season.
2011 Prediction
The bottom line is that if the Vikings' offense can pull up
their socks (i.e. McNabb rises to the occasion), and their defense
continues to be as competitive as they were last season - if not
better, they have a chance of rising once more through the NFL
ranks, and might even make the playoffs this season. Of course,
those are a lot of 'ifs', but as he proved last season, coach
Frazier is capable of getting the Vikings to rally.
**Our Pick
If the oddsmakers were blind-sided by the Vikings' poor form last
season, they are taking no chances this season, listing the team
at +750 to win the NFC North division, +2,250 to win the NFC
Championship and +4,000 to win Super Bowl XLVI. But for our NFL
betting buck, we predict a new, more streamlined and more focused
Minnesota will rise from the ashes, and ultimately finish second
in the NFC North on 10-6.
2011/12 Minnesota Vikings Schedule
| Date |
Opponent |
9/11/2011
|
@ San Diego
Chargers |
| 9/18/2011 |
vs. Tampa Bay
Buccaneers |
| 9/25/2011 |
vs.
Detroit Lions |
| 10/2/2011 |
@ Kansas City
Chiefs |
| 10/9/2011 |
vs. Arizona
Cardinals |
| 10/16/2011 |
@ Chicago Bears |
| 10/23/2011 |
vs. Green Bay
Packers |
| 10/30/2011 |
@ Carolina
Panthers |
Bye
|
| 11/14/2011 |
@ Green Bay
Packers |
| 11/20/2011 |
vs. Oakland
Raiders |
| 11/27/2011 |
@ Atlanta Falcons |
| 12/4/2011 |
vs. Denver Broncos |
| 12/11/2011 |
@ Detroit Lions |
| 12/18/2011 |
vs. New Orleans
Saints |
| 12/24/2011 |
@ Washington
Redskins |
| 1/1/2012 |
vs. Chicago Bears |
|
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