I know it might look like I've procrastinated, since I'm waiting until the day before the season starts to put up my Vikings season preview, but I figure now is as good of a time as ever to put up my prediction.
THE OFFENSE
No one was excited for the return of Brett Favre as I was, and for good reason. I have never been a Tarvaris Jackson fan, and this looked to be doomed as a run-first team in a pass-first league before the grizzled veteran announced his intentions to play in the 2010 season. His un-retirement gives the Vikings an automatic boost at the position, and enables the team to spread out the field, rather than rely on All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson, which they had done the two seasons previous to Favre's arrival. Even with Sidney Rice's injury and projected six to eight week absence, there should be no hitch in the passing game. Percy Harvin (when he is playing) is a blazing gamebreaker, Bernard Berrian still has speed, if not inconsisent hands, and Greg Camarillo looked to have hands of glue in the preseason games he played in. And I still haven't mentioned Visanthe Shiancoe, who had 11 touchdowns last year and was one of Favre's favorite targets in the red zone.
The running game should continue to be one of the league's best as long as superstar Adrian Peterson can cut down on his fumbles, which partially lead to the New Orleans Saints' victory in the NFC Championship Game and have been to the kryptonite to the Vikings' Superman. Peterson claims he has found a way to hold onto the ball without dropping it, and if he keeps his word, he should improve on his numbers of 2009 and continue to be a focal point of the Vikings' offense. The loss of backup running back Chester Taylor did not go unnoticed, as the Vikings selected Stanford's Toby Gerhart in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Gerhart should get plenty of the touches in the backfield, and the Vikings will try to use him as a pass catcher in the same way they used Taylor. Albert Young looks to be the third down back for the Vikings.
My biggest worry for the Vikings' offense falls on the offensive line, which did not look any better in the preseason. The biggest fear of every Vikings' fan is seeing Brett Favre get hit and not come up, and that could very well happen if the play on the line does not improve this season. Right tackle Phillip Loadholt should be more experienced after a shaky rookie year. However, Bryant McKinnie appears to be a statue on some plays, and at times looks downright unmotivated. The first game of the season should be a test of how much these two have improved, if at all, over the offseason. As long as center John Sullivan comes back healthy, the interior of the offensive line should have very few issues. The concern of the line rests on the tackles. If they can protect Favre better than they did against the Saints, this team will win more games than it loses.
THE DEFENSE
As not much as changed with the Vikings' defense, I won't spend as much time talking about them as I did the offense. The defensive line, with the return of all four starters, will continue to reign as one of the league's best. They may suffer a small decline against the run, seeing as nose tackle Pat Williams is soon to celebrate his 38th birthday, but they should not allow more than two or three 100-yard rushers this season. The Vikings have always prided themselves on their run defense, and as long as the two Williams, Pat and Kevin, are in the center of the line, running backs will continue rushing up the middle of the defense. Jared Allen is arguably the premier pass rusher in the league, so it is doubtful that the Vikings will have much concern over a pass rush this season. On the other end, Ray Edwards is one of the more underrated Vikings and posted 8.5 sacks last year.
Speaking of underrated, the Vikings linebackers will continue to thrive as one of the conference's best and most experienced. E.J. Henderson is back after a gruesome injury last season, and outside linebackers Chad Greenway and Ben Leber do an awesome job of supporting the run, although Greenway's coverage skills have been questioned at times.
The only real question mark for the Vikings is the secondary. Cornerback Cedric Griffin tore has ACL last season, and is questionable for the first game of the season. Rookie cornerback Chris Cook had a stellar preseason but, like Griffin, will miss some time because of an injury problem. This leaves the Vikings coming into the first season with Antoine Winfield, Lito Sheppard and Asher Allen. Winfield is a Pro Bowl corner, but Sheppard is still trying to fight off the "washed up" reputation and Allen was a rookie last season who seldom saw the field as a fourth cornerback. The safeties should give the Vikings little comfort as well. Tyrell Johnson struggled in coverage, and his counterpart, Madieu Williams, had his own problems with tackling.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Mainstays Chris Kluwe and Ryan Longwell return for the Vikings. Kluwe is an average punter who has had his struggles, while Longwell is still one of the NFL's premier kickers. The return game is the only thing the Vikings need to figure out, especially after the trade of Darius Reynaud to the New York Giants. The Vikings will likely try out Albert Young, Bernard Berrian, or another receiver at the position.
CONCLUSION
This success of the Minnesota Vikings 2010 season falls squarely on the shoulder of Brett Favre. If the Vikings can keep him healthy and off his back they should have little trouble winning the division. Without Favre this team will find itself likely in a bitter and tough battle with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears for division supremacy. The defense should continue to be one of the league's best as long as Favre and the offense can put points on the board, something that was not an issue last season. However, if Favre is not healthy, the defense will find itself on the field for the most of the game, and we all know what happens to teams where this is commonplace. The defense gets tired, and it gives up points. In the end, this team will go as far as Brett Favre takes it.
Season prediction: 9-7, Wild Card
I hate to say it, but I am a constant pessimist when it comes to the Vikings. I understand Brett Favre has broken the record for consecutive starts, but I also realize that all good things must come to an end. There is just this sick feeling in me that Favre, and especially his ankle, is going to be the target of every defense the Vikings face and that teams will stop at nothing to literally break the 40-year-old quarterback. The team won 10 games with Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte two years ago, so the Vikings could still go to the playoffs without Favre. However, the task would be difficult, especially with an ever-improving Green Packers in the division, a team many have chosen to go to the Super Bowl even with Brett Favre re-joining Minnesota.
GAME PREVIEW: MIN @ NO
This game, the rematch of the 2009 NFC Championship Game, has been on the calendars of every NFL fan since it was announced, and for good reason. Brett Favre is going up against the team that pummeled and crushed him, almost leading to his permanent retirement. The Super Bowl Champion Saints, led by Madden 11 cover boy Drew Brees, look to have another explosive offense and will try to repeat the outcome of the last game these two teams played.
The Vikings should have little trouble putting up points against the Saints' defense. The secondary is missing leader, Darren Sharper, although they do have some underrated cornerbacks in Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter. Adrian Peterson ran wild on the Saints last time they met each other, and that should not change this game, as long as Brett Favre can keep the defense honest.
Drew Brees must be licking his chops at the thought of facing the Minnesota secondary, especially since it is missing Cedric Griffin and Chris Cook. Brees has no lack of weapons at his disposal with receivers Marques Colston, Lance Moore and Robert Meachem. Tight end Jeremy Shockey, although a few years older, is still nothing to scoff at, and can be a red zone threat. The only way the Vikings will come out on top in this game is if they can get to Brees, something that should be a little easier with the Saints' trade of tackle Jammal Brown to the Washington Redskins. Brees will be able to pass all over the Vikings if they're unable to generate a pass rush, which will lead to more points for New Orleans. This, in turn, will lead to the Vikings focusing on the passing game rather than the running game and Adrian Peterson. If the Vikings put all the time into passing the ball the Saints will only continue to blitz and do their best to get to Favre. This can't happen if the Vikings expect to win this game.
Game prediction: 24-21, Vikings
This game between two high-powered offenses could go either way. Despite my pessimistic nature, I think the Vikings will pull this one off. It will be another close game, but I think Brad Childress and the coaching staff learned their lesson from the Championship Game, and they will do anything they can to keep Brett Favre on the field. I expect a lot of screens and check down passes to Adrian Peterson and the other backs. If the Vikings lose this game, it will because they were unable to keep the Saints defenders away from Favre. Pay attention to this theme; it will be a common one throughout this season.
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