2011 Minnesota Vikings NFL Expert Predictions, Picks, 2012 Vegas Super Bowl Odds and Schedule – Minnesota Vikings NFL Football Season Preview: Two years ago, the Minnesota Vikings were a few lost fumbles from Adrian Peterson away from making the Super Bowl. With sky high hopes entering the 2010-11 season, the Vikings imploded. Quarterback Brett Favre struggled and eventually ended his consecutive games started streak before retiring (maybe) at the end of the year. The offense as a whole was terrible despite having one of the top running backs in the league carrying the ball. After the colossal failure, Minnesota blew up the team during the offseason, replacing the coaching staff and several key players. The question now becomes whether or not the new-look Vikings can make any noise during a rebuilding year.
The biggest offseason addition was six-time Pro Bowl QB Donovan McNabb. After being exiled from Philadelphia and then having a miserable season in Washington last year, he will try to land on his feet and rebuild his career in Minnesota. McNabb is a blessing for the Vikings as well, considering first-round pick Christian Ponder is next on the depth chart. Health issues and Mike Shanahan have taken their toll on McNabb in recent years, and while his time as an elite signal caller is likely done, he can still be a solid contributor in a run-heavy Minnesota offense.
Leading that running attack is once again Adrian Peterson. He has been as good as any back in the NFL during his four year career. Peterson has scored double digit touchdowns in every season, rushing for at least 1,298 yards and 4.4 yards per carry. He will be the workhorse and the centerpiece of the offense once again, and with the veteran McNabb keeping defenses honest, Peterson should have another strong season.
Finding weapons in the passing game could be an issue for McNabb. Top target Sidney Rice signed Seattle, leaving slot receiver Percy Harvin as the No. 1 option. Michael Jenkins and Bernard Berrian round out the receivers, but both players have underachieved throughout their careers. Second-round pick Kyle Rudolph could be an early contributor at tight end. McNabb has always utilized the position, and Rudolph has been a pass-catching tight end throughout his high school and college career. Finding a way to finish off drives will be vital this season. Despite having the 10th-best rushing attack a year ago, the Vikings were a dismal 29th in scoring offense.
Defensively, the middle of the front line will have a new look this year with the departure of Pat Williams. Kevin Williams is still around, but he is missing his running mate that has helped the Vikings be among the top 10 in rushing defense for the last several years. Chad Greenway is back to lead the linebackers, and aside from the loss of Williams, the defense is more or less intact from the unit that ranked in the top 10 against the run and the pass a year ago.
McNabb should have plenty of motivation this year after his disaster in Washington, and he and Peterson should benefit each other. That being said, the weapons available in the passing game are nonexistent outside of Harvin, and closing the deal in the red zone will likely be an issue once again for Minnesota. The defense is still solid, but it certainly doesn’t appear to be a better than it was a year ago. Playing in the NFC North will ultimately limit what the Vikings accomplish this season. Green Bay and Chicago both made the playoffs, and the Lions are on the rise. This is not the division to be rebuilding in right now, and Minnesota will probably finish below .500 for the second year in a row.
Preseason 2011 Minnesota Vikings NFL Odds:
Odds to Win 2012 Super Bowl: +6500
Odds to Win 2011 NFC Championship: +2455
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2011 Minnesota Vikings NFL Football Schedule
1 Sunday Sep. 11 4:15 PM at Chargers – – Tickets
2 Sunday Sep. 18 1:00 PM Buccaneers – – Tickets
3 Sunday Sep. 25 1:00 PM Lions – – Tickets
4 Sunday Oct. 2 1:00 PM at Chiefs – – Tickets
5 Sunday Oct. 9 1:00 PM Cardinals – – Tickets
6 Sunday Oct. 16 8:20 PM at Bears – – Tickets
7 Sunday Oct. 23 4:15 PM Packers – – Tickets
8 Sunday Oct. 30 1:00 PM at Panthers – – Tickets
9 Bye Week
10 Monday Nov. 14 8:30 PM at Packers – – Tickets
11 Sunday Nov. 20 1:00 PM Raiders – – Tickets
12 Sunday Nov. 27 1:00 PM at Falcons – – Tickets
13 Sunday Dec. 4 4:05 PM Broncos – – Tickets
14 Sunday Dec. 11 1:00 PM at Lions – – Tickets
15 Sunday Dec. 18 1:00 PM Saints – – Tickets
16 Saturday Dec. 24 1:00 PM at Redskins – – Tickets
17 Sunday Jan. 1 1:00 PM Bears – –
Check out NSAwins.com’s official 2011 NFL Over Under Team Wins Odds and Predictions and 2011 NFC North Odds and Predictions articles.
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