Official 2022 Vikings Schedule
May 13, 2022 7:59:02 GMT -6
Funkytown, MidwinterViking, and 2 more like this
Post by Uncle on May 13, 2022 7:59:02 GMT -6
ESPN had their team reporters give their opinions on the Caesars Sportsbook win totals after the NFL schedule release (link), and ESPN Viking report Kevin Seifert is "bullish" on the Vikings in 2022:
Seifert than expands a bit more in another ESPN article (link):
I think Seifert's prediction does align with most fan expectations: the collaborative regime chose the "competitive rebuild" path vs the "scorched-earth rebuild" path the Bears chose with their new GM/HC regime, so the expectations should be a bit higher for Minnesota and anything short of a playoff appearance should be seen as a disappointment (barring a significant string of key injuries).
For me, the playoffs are an expectation yes, but I need to see a bit more than just making it and getting bounced easily in the opening round. I look back at McVay's first year in LA in 2017 and I'm setting that season as the foundation for my expectations for the Vikings in 2022 - the Rams were a solid, competitive team that flashed of the good things to come under McVay and I need to see that from O'Connell and the Vikings in 2022. It doesn't mean they have to make a deep postseason run (the Rams did get beat by the Falcons in the opening round of the 2017 postseason), but we need to feel that this team can get over the proverbial hump under this regime in the coming seasons.
Minnesota Vikings
Over/under: 9
Prediction: Take the over. The Vikings' roster has a higher floor than most teams that hire a new coach. It's talented and has averaged nine wins per year over the past nine seasons. With a fresh coat of paint on the offense and defense, and a weakened NFC overall, this team should win at least 10 games. -- Kevin Seifert
Over/under: 9
Prediction: Take the over. The Vikings' roster has a higher floor than most teams that hire a new coach. It's talented and has averaged nine wins per year over the past nine seasons. With a fresh coat of paint on the offense and defense, and a weakened NFC overall, this team should win at least 10 games. -- Kevin Seifert
Seifert than expands a bit more in another ESPN article (link):
Biggest takeaway
The energy of a new coach can sometimes spark a team to a fast start. We shouldn't rule out that possibility for Kevin O'Connell. But he'll face an uphill battle with a Week 1 game against the defending NFC North champion Green Bay Packers, followed by a Monday night game at Philadelphia and a trip to London in Week 4. If they start slowly, however, the Vikings will have a pretty nice runway at the end of the season if they need to rack up some wins en route to the playoffs. Only one of their final six games will come against a 2021 playoff team: Week 17 against the Packers. Obviously teams can rise and fall abruptly from one season to the next, but the Vikings should benefit from a late stretch with home games against the Jets, Colts and Giants, along with road games against the Lions and Bears.
Revenge game
Week 12 against the Patriots. The Vikings have lost five consecutive games in this series, and it has been 25 years since they've defeated the Patriots in Minnesota. O'Connell will have this game circled on his calendar. The Patriots drafted O'Connell in 2008, but he lasted only one season as a backup quarterback before getting waived -- and he has already starred in one manufactured revenge scenario. The Jets signed him during the 2009 season, presumably for emergency insurance, but they reportedly wanted to download whatever information he could provide on the Patriots' playbook. In turn, they made O'Connell a captain for both games against the Patriots.
What the oddsmakers think
The over/under is 9. Take the over. The Vikings' roster has a higher floor than most teams that hire a new coach. It's talented and has averaged nine wins per year over the past nine seasons. With a fresh coat of paint on the offense and defense, and a weakened NFC overall, this team should win at least 10 games.
Bold prediction
The Vikings are making the playoffs in O'Connell's first season. They won't beat out the Packers for the NFC North title, but O'Connell has inherited a talented offense and will bring with him a scheme that helped win Super Bowl LVI when he was the Rams' offensive coordinator.
The energy of a new coach can sometimes spark a team to a fast start. We shouldn't rule out that possibility for Kevin O'Connell. But he'll face an uphill battle with a Week 1 game against the defending NFC North champion Green Bay Packers, followed by a Monday night game at Philadelphia and a trip to London in Week 4. If they start slowly, however, the Vikings will have a pretty nice runway at the end of the season if they need to rack up some wins en route to the playoffs. Only one of their final six games will come against a 2021 playoff team: Week 17 against the Packers. Obviously teams can rise and fall abruptly from one season to the next, but the Vikings should benefit from a late stretch with home games against the Jets, Colts and Giants, along with road games against the Lions and Bears.
Revenge game
Week 12 against the Patriots. The Vikings have lost five consecutive games in this series, and it has been 25 years since they've defeated the Patriots in Minnesota. O'Connell will have this game circled on his calendar. The Patriots drafted O'Connell in 2008, but he lasted only one season as a backup quarterback before getting waived -- and he has already starred in one manufactured revenge scenario. The Jets signed him during the 2009 season, presumably for emergency insurance, but they reportedly wanted to download whatever information he could provide on the Patriots' playbook. In turn, they made O'Connell a captain for both games against the Patriots.
What the oddsmakers think
The over/under is 9. Take the over. The Vikings' roster has a higher floor than most teams that hire a new coach. It's talented and has averaged nine wins per year over the past nine seasons. With a fresh coat of paint on the offense and defense, and a weakened NFC overall, this team should win at least 10 games.
Bold prediction
The Vikings are making the playoffs in O'Connell's first season. They won't beat out the Packers for the NFC North title, but O'Connell has inherited a talented offense and will bring with him a scheme that helped win Super Bowl LVI when he was the Rams' offensive coordinator.
For me, the playoffs are an expectation yes, but I need to see a bit more than just making it and getting bounced easily in the opening round. I look back at McVay's first year in LA in 2017 and I'm setting that season as the foundation for my expectations for the Vikings in 2022 - the Rams were a solid, competitive team that flashed of the good things to come under McVay and I need to see that from O'Connell and the Vikings in 2022. It doesn't mean they have to make a deep postseason run (the Rams did get beat by the Falcons in the opening round of the 2017 postseason), but we need to feel that this team can get over the proverbial hump under this regime in the coming seasons.
But hey, we finally don't have to play at Soldier Field on Monday Night. Were the low ratings for 8 consecutive seasons finally a clue, or are both teams finally bad enough to miss the cut?
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... and neither is this Chris guy.