2011 Minnesota Vikings Predictions
The Vikings entered the 2010 season with gigantic expectations after after losing to eventual Super Bowl champion New Orleans in overtime in the NFC title game.
Like the Metrodome roof, they collapsed under the pressure.
The Vikes saw their streak of consecutive division titles snapped with a last place finish in the NFC North. They went 6-10 overall and 1-5 in division play.
Three of those wins came in the final six games under interim coach Leslie Frazier. The way the team performed during his watch impressed ownership enough that they dropped the interim from his title.
His first full season on the job could be a rough one if the Vikings don’t get better quarterback play. Brett Favre gave Minnesota one season of magic and the team is hoping Donovan McNabb can do the same.
Offense: The Vikings ranked 23rd in the NFL in total offense in 2010 with 314.9 yards per game. They ranked 29th in scoring with 17.6 points per game.
Minnesota must improve its passing game for the offense as a whole to improve. The Vikes, who ranked 26th in the league with 193.6 passing yards per game last year, are hoping McNabb is the answer.
The six-time Pro Bowler should be motivated following a rough season in Washington. Also, one of the game’s best running attacks should take some of the pressure off him. He was often asked to do too much last year because Washington ranked 30th in the league in rushing offense.
If McNabb doesn’t deliver, or the losses start to pile up, we can expect Frazier to insert first-round pick Christian Ponder.
Led by Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 1,298 yards and 12 touchdowns, the Vikings boasted the 10th-best rushing attack in the league in 2010. It averaged 121.4 yards per game.
Minnesota’s receiving corps took a hit with the loss of Sidney Rice, who was the team’s best deep threat. At least the team got a preview of life without Rice when he missed much of the 2010 season due to injury. Unfortunately, life without him wasn’t great.
Percy Harvin, who caught 71 passes for 868 yards and five scores a year ago, is the team’s top returning receiver.
Bernard Berrian and Visanthe Shiancoe will be asked to step up to fill the void left by Rice.
Perennial Pro Bowler Steve Hutchinson and Phil Loadholt anchor a line that is still the best in the NFC North in my opinion.
Defense: The Minnesota stop unit ranked eighth in the league in total defense in 2010 with 312.6 yards allowed per game but finished 18th in scoring defense with 21.8 points allowed per contest. The latter was more the fault of the offense, which constantly left the defense in bad spots.
A veteran line helped the Vikes rank ninth in the league against the run with 102.2 yards allowed per game and 10th against the pass with 210.4 yards allowed per game. The line will look a little different this year without nose tackle Pat Williams and left end Ray Edwards. While their departures will be felt, the line should remain formidable with Jared Allen and Kevin Williams still around.
Allen is one of the game’s premier pass rushers. He led the team with 11 sacks in 2010. It was his fourth-straight season with double-digit sacks.
Chad Greenway, who is quickly becoming one of the league’s best linebackers, anchors the second layer of the defense. Greenway led the team with 149 stops last season. E.J. Henderson was right behind with 139.
The secondary is the biggest area of concern. There are a lot of questions outside Antoine Winfield, who remains the unit’s most consistent performer.
Prediction: 4th Place NFC North – The Packers are clearly the best team in the North, but it isn’t out of the question for Minnesota to finish second in the division. However, a lot will have to go right for that to happen. First and foremost, McNabb must have a Pro-Bowl caliber year. NFL odds makers have listed the Vikings at +850 to win the NFC North.
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