The Minnesota Vikings had one of the most exciting starts to a season the league has ever seen. After opening the season 5-0, a point where many analysts were even putting them in Super Bowl contention, the Vikings’ dream season started to derail after a bye-week. Part of the hype dealt with the quarterback fiasco the team had to deal with.
The Vikings were banking on the young and talented Teddy Bridgewater, out of Louisville, to lead the team. Bridgewater ended up sustaining a bad knee injury in practice before the start of the season, ending any chance of him playing. The Vikings were forced into acquiring Sam Bradford, a QB outcast who some believed wouldn’t come back to play in the league. Bradford ended up having an incredible season, throwing for over 3,800 yards at 71.6% completion rate.
His overall QB rating was 99%, an impressive feat for a player who many thought wouldn’t go on in this league. Bradford looks set to be the Vikings’ starter again, as Teddy Bridgewater is still recovering and showing no signs of making a quick return.
The Vikings also possess one of the most exciting young receivers in the league—Stefon Diggs. Diggs had 84 receptions for over 900 yards on the season, topped with 3 touchdowns. The young player looks like he has been in the league for years. He will be a target for Bradford and a headache for opposing defenses in the 2017-2018 season.
Kyle Rudolph and Adam Thielen also proved to be formidable options for Bradford, combining for 1,800 yards. Their rushing front was mostly run through Jerick McKinnon, as star RB Adrian Peterson missed most of the season with an injury. McKinnon put up decent numbers in Peterson’s absence.
Peterson creates an interesting situation for the team, as he’s about to enter the season with a team option where he will receive $18 million and another $6 million should he still be on the team on the third day of the season. That’s a lot of money for an injury-prone 32-year-old.
Peterson’s quality, when healthy, is unquestionable, but the Vikings also have the option of drafting a running back in this year’s NFL Draft. GM Rick Spielman praised this year’s running back draft class as one of the best he’s “ever seen.” With players like Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook up for grabs, the Vikings could stand to make a solid move. Though realistically, the chances of either of those players still being available, or any other star RB for that matter, are slim.
The Vikings also gave up their first round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in the trade for Sam Bradford, so they won’t even get a pick until the second round. Aside from the RB situation (which ultimately relies on Peterson’s health and the Vikings’ decision on his contract), the Vikings biggest need would be to address their offensive tackle position.
Being hyped up to be in the Super Bowl five games into the season can take a lot out of a team, but this is the NFL, and you have to be competitive if you want to survive. The Vikings had a rough go of it after their bye-week, but they’ll be back and want to come out just as hot in the beginning of the season. This time it’s just about consistency.
For Minnesota bettors, the Vikings could be a safe bet on a game-to-game basis. Minnesota sports gambling relies on offshore sportsbooks, and those sportsbooks have the Vikings at +3300 odds to win Super Bowl LII. If Sam Bradford has taught us anything, it’s that you can always beat the odds.