Looking at the Minnesota Vikings 2010 Schedule
by Christopher Gates on Apr 21, 2010 8:24 AM CDT
in Minnesota Vikings
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PrintThanks to everyone that came out for the discussion of the schedule when it was released yesterday. Obviously it's good to know when we're playing in various places and all that other good stuff. . .and, hey, it gives us something to talk about for a day or two before the draft comes around. I think that most of my thoughts on the schedule are going to be the same as everyone else's, but let's put them out there anyway.
Negative stuff first. . .and, like all of you out there, I absolutely hate the early bye week. When you have a veteran team like Minnesota, the most ideal time for a bye would be closer to the middle of the season, but instead Minnesota will be taking a break in Week Four. This means that the Vikings will play 13 weeks before they get any sort of potential rest time to end the season.
On the bright side, they'll have plenty of time to rest when they're watching the Wild Card playoff round in anticipation of who they'll host in the Divisional Playoffs. Because, you know, that's what teams that earn playoff byes get to do. And, really, there's no reason to think that the Vikings won't earn a bye to go along with their third consecutive NFC North title. Why would anybody think otherwise?
The other negative? Man, we'd better get our secondary problems shored up in a hurry. Our AFC opponents all come from the AFC East, which means we'll have our guys matching up against Randy Moss, Brandon Marshall, and Santonio Holmes (in his first game as a Jet after his suspension). Not to mention matchups against the Saints, the Cowboys, two games against the Packers, and the Cardinals (albeit without Kurt Warner behind center). Getting to the quarterback is going to be crucial in those games, and we know that the Vikings can do that, but the back seven is going to have to hold up their end of the bargain, too.
The biggest positive? Considering that this season we're playing the AFC East and the NFC East, the schedule is about as good weather-wise as a dome team like the Vikings can hope for. Just like last season, there's the potential for one real cold weather game, and that's the trip to Philadelphia the day after Christmas. Outside of that, we get to travel to Chicago, Green Bay, New York, and New England when weather shouldn't be a deciding factor. I suppose that the Washington game could be a little iffy, but hey. . .even two potential "weather" games out of 17 is a pretty good ratio. Not to mention that the back end of the schedule is pretty promising, with three straight home games for the Vikings and the season finale being held in the cozy confines of Ford Field in Detroit.
When it's all said and done, however, there's no reason for me to think that the Vikings will be any worse than an 11-5 team, and likely better than that. After all, if last year proved anything to everybody, it's that the only team in the NFL capable of stopping the Minnesota Vikings. . .is the Minnesota Vikings. With all 22 starters returning from last year's team, no team has a more solid foundation than we do. And if we get the standard Brad Childress/Rick Spielman outstanding draft. . .and we've had four of those in four years. . .and it looks to me like everything will be coming up purple in 2010.
What does everyone else think about the schedule?
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my guess
11-5
sorry i dont see with this scedule that we go 14-2 despite our trend of a 2 game increse
every year
"And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you!"
I like the two game increase.
Follow my thinking
8-8 no playoffs
10-6 1st round loss
12-4 Win 1 playoff game
14-2 Win 2 playoff games (dang no SB)-This year
16-0 Win 3 playoff games and SB
18-0 2 preaseason games added to reg season, we win 3 playoff games, the sb and the probowl
Tough October
We come out of the bye week with a real tough 4-5 game stretch but we will be battle tested come the rest of the season. As long as we can stay healthy this should be our year. I trust that the powers that be will knock it out of the park in this draft and come Febuary will all be forgetting 50 years of frustration, well 49 years of frustration I should say.
one game at a time
If the Vikings had to play all of those teams at the same time, they would have no chance. Fortunately, there will be just one game at a time. That means that in every game the Vikings will have a chance to win.
Based on last year
We’re better than every team on our schedule, with the one debatable game week 1. However, its still a tough schedule.
For the 2nd year in a row the Saints get a relatively easy schedule.
I agree...
I predicted every game last year, except the loss to stupid chicago and I see us going either 11-5 (with Favre) or 6-10 with someone else. With T Jak or Sage we definitely loose to NO, MIA, Jets, NE, Giants, Philly and probably split with GB and chicago.
awesome...
we have some bettors on the site… we’d like your predictions posted for the 2010-11 season!
Thanks in advance!!
I BELIEVE...
by ArizonaVikingsFan on Apr 21, 2010 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Anyone think we could make a play for "Big" Ben?
I know he has the off field issues but he is still pretty young and would be a great QB that someone will be able to get for little compensation should the steelers look to dump him? thoughts??
overly optimistic ... typically
I am objective and realistic. That Bye week is a real issue for me. Way too early, it actually puts extra pressure on the team. If they fumble (no pun intended) away one or two of the early games they will be favored to win, and then get nicked up with injuries… they will need to man up and run off a win streak against the tough middle part of the schedule. Of course, they are capable of anything, but are really not a powerhouse/juggernaut type of team. No one seems to be concerned that the Saints could easily repeat their shredding of our O-Line and put Brett (or T-Jack) in the hospital – if something doesn’t change to shore up protection. I don’t love that first match-up on opening night.
I see a tougher year, and am concerned with that middle stretch. Trying to be analytical and fair, I see a 10-6 as best-case scenario. If the O-Line gets manhandled in 1-2 early games, I think it could be a disappointing season. In my opinion, the team has not adequately addressed some of the glaring needs, and if they are going to rely on a couple of drafted rookies to fill those holes, I could see a 9-7 record, and a very tired team being forced to go on the road in the first playoff weekend. Not a good scenario for this team. Like most fans, I hope Favre returns and the protection improves. I hope AP fixes his fumbling problems, and I hope we draft or acquire some O-Line and Def Backfield help that chips in ASAP. I also HOPE the bounces go our way and we upset a few of the improved squads we see on the schedule.
My prediction is 10-6, but I have a queasy feeling it could be a downer of a year.
I'm almost in agreement with you
I have to almost agree with you – things usually turn out how you don’t expect so if that is the case for our beloved purple, it’ll be an off year with injuries and chemistry problems. It really did feel like last year was our “year” if you will but we missed out.
I truly hope this will be the year for us but it’s hard to say – some does depend on the success of our draft, imho (or at least a little bit)…losing CT was a blow that we can hopefully somehow replace or soften.
Without Favre, we don’t even crack double-digit victories this year, I fear… :(
But part of me feels like you just never know…anything IS possible, certainly…
It's a completely new year. Thats my take.
I’m optimistic this year and think we have a great shot. And I don’t want want to be the turd in the punchbowl, but let me play devil’s advocate for a minute:
Every year, NFL pundits and fans look at what happened the year before, especially at this time of year, and try to get a glimpse into how the year will go based on the teams they face in the upcoming year, and how those teams performed last season.
The problem with that is, there is so much player movement, plus the draft, plus the basic fact that there is a pretty big luck factor and a myriad of other little tics-n-tacs that make up a complete season that it’s impossible to predict.
People seem to be writing off the Bears as easily as the Lions. Julius Peppers is a pretty good player. Jay Cutler couldn’t possibly be worse. They have a different OC. Things can change in a hurry for a teams fortunes. The Lions may not/probably won’t be a walkover, and they always play us tough and actually have a possible real life NFL QB now.
We have one of the best foundations in the league, talent-wise, heading into the season especially if #4 returns as expected and we should make another serious run at a title. But one year to the next, divisions and titles are won by different teams nearly every year, outside a few teams like Oakland and the Rams and Cleveland and Detriot. And even those teams can catch lightning in a bottle for one year.
Our schedule looks harder than last year. I think the Jets will be a tough matchup. I think our Secondary needs serious work, as mentioned in the article, as we’ll face some of the elite passing attacks.
If I had a prediction to make, I’ll say 11-5, division champs, and another run at a title. But until we’re a couple games over .500 I’ll keep my homerism in check.
MB said it best...
One game at a time.
It’s easy to look at the whole 16 game schedule and get overwhelmed. I know a lot of people looked at last year’s schedule and crapped their pants (We played both SB teams, Carolina had gone 13-3 in ‘08, etc…). Things don’t always play out the way they are expected to.
Is Philly better without McNabb? Has Dallas addressed their needs? NYJ have been active in FA, but are they playing with fire by messing with their chemistry?
Those are all valid questions about the teams on our schedule. But again, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
Until then 144 days and counting until Kickoff in the Bayou! I can’t wait. SKOL VIKINGS!
"We have a right to be proud, for in our veins flows the blood of many brave races who fought as the lion fights for lordship. Here, in the whirlpool of European races, the Ugric tribe bore down from Iceland the fighting spirit which Thor and Odin gave them, which their Berserkers displayed to such fell intent on the seaboards of Europe, ay, and of Asia and Africa too, till the peoples thought that the werewolves themselves had come."
-from Bram Stoker's Dracula
MilCard, what you wrote pretty much agrees with everything I posted in yesterday’s thread. But thank you for making one comment I have not made recently:
we’d better get our secondary problems shored up in a hurry
While we already knew before yesterday we were playing those teams, it is a good reminder. Frankly those people campaigning on all those Fanposts to trade up in the draft in order to “grab Tebow before he’s gone!” or some such nonsense are getting on my nerves. This team needs depth/help/upgrade in the backfield ASAP, both for long term (Windfiled getting older) and the short (this year we face a who’s-who of elite QBs, well over half of our games). We should not ignore the pressing defense needs and engage in some Quixotic, hit-or-miss lunge for a “QBOTF” by packaging our picks in this very deep draft in order to move up in the first round.
OK, rant off.
oh, and one other thing
I think we should be open to the idea of possibly ending up 10-6, right now. That is a tough schedule, and I think we should start accepting that ASAP, so folks don’t get all bent out of shape later.
One scenario for six losses?
1. Split GB
2 Split Bears (lose at Soldier)
3. Split Saints and Jets (both road games — a split would be pretty good actually)
4. Split Eagles and Patriots (both road games — a split would be pretty good actually)
5. Split Cowboys and Giants
6. Just one of those “WTF” games (there is usually one every year — one we should have won).
Or instead of #6, we lose three of the four games in #3 or #4 — again, all four of those are road games against playoff teams, going .500 would be an accomplishment.
I’m not saying we go 10-6. I’m just saying we should not be so close-minded that we get too bent up if it actually does happen.
Notice I did not even bring up the Cardinals
I think you all handle the Cards
Last year the Pack smoked Leinart and got torn up by Warner. The Cards have been a tale of two teams the last few years, and with Leinart in I’m pretty sure the Vikes can handle them.
by PackApologist on Apr 21, 2010 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions
You guys keep thinking the cards / leinert was even trying to win in week 17
whatever. newsflash: you guys were the only ones who cared about winning that game. they intentionally did NOT run a good game plan.
The pack probably beat them in the playoffs,
but that game was stolen by moronic officiating.
Our defense definitely lost us that game. We probably would have been better off just not even having the defense come out onto the field that game. I think we only stopped them once the whole game…Yikes.
by packallday555 on Apr 21, 2010 8:19 PM CDT up reply actions
And if we get the standard Brad Childress/Rick Spielman outstanding draft. . .and we’ve had four of those in four years. . .and it looks to me like everything will be coming up purple in 2010.
I created a fanshot that discusses this very topic. I know a lot of Viking fans aren’t completely sold on the 2006 draft. However this article discusses that we faired far better than most. (The broncos had a great draft in 06, but McDaniels has completely dissmantled that group).
"We have a right to be proud, for in our veins flows the blood of many brave races who fought as the lion fights for lordship. Here, in the whirlpool of European races, the Ugric tribe bore down from Iceland the fighting spirit which Thor and Odin gave them, which their Berserkers displayed to such fell intent on the seaboards of Europe, ay, and of Asia and Africa too, till the peoples thought that the werewolves themselves had come."
-from Bram Stoker's Dracula
I think that the '06 draft was the worst of the Spielman/Chilly era, to be sure
because of TJ and Ryan Cook. I think Cook will be nothing more than a career backup, maybe a marginal starter, which he was in 2008. And when Favre retires and TJ is given the reins, maybe he pans out. Who knows.
But that draft still yielded Chad Greenway, Cedric Griffin, and Ray Edwards.
That’s a good freakin’ draft.
"We're used to Favre-a-palooza now. We're engulfed in Favre-a-palooza. It's not even Favre-a-palooza anymore. He's family now."
--Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe, on Brett Favre
Spielman didn't join the org. until about a month later
But ya, the article puts it in perspective. It was our worst draft, but it was still pretty good!
"We have a right to be proud, for in our veins flows the blood of many brave races who fought as the lion fights for lordship. Here, in the whirlpool of European races, the Ugric tribe bore down from Iceland the fighting spirit which Thor and Odin gave them, which their Berserkers displayed to such fell intent on the seaboards of Europe, ay, and of Asia and Africa too, till the peoples thought that the werewolves themselves had come."
-from Bram Stoker's Dracula
Schedule doesn't scare me...
A year ago, what were we all thinking when the schedule came out? I bet we had similar predictions of going 9-7, 10-6, and so forth.
In 2009, we went undefeated at home..
Same holds true this year, we should have the following games:
Miami Dolphins
Detroit Lions
Dallas Cowboys (Playoff game, we ran the score up, remember?)
AZ Cardinals
GB Packers
Buffalo Bills
NY Giants
Chi. Bears
That should technically net us 8-0…
I feel we should have no problem beating Redskins/Lions on the road.
Now we’re looking at 10-0.
That leaves us with
NO Saints
NE Pats
Phi. Eagles
NY Jets
Bears
Packers
If Bears flop, like some expect, that should be a win. Favre returns, you know he shouldn’t really lose in Lambeau
Eagles will have a new QB…..Pats seem to be on the decline..
I predict our two hardest games are the Jets & Saints.
One has a great offense, another has an awesome defense.
Every game is winnable… But I don’t see us sweeping the whole division… Maybe this year we lose in Lambeau, and sweep the bears.
I hope we beef up the O-line & Secondary.. That’s what I hope 4…
It's not scary at all.
I think everyone can agree that we are much better than the saints. Without the pressure of a playoff game we shouldn’t fumble 46 times and hopefully they wont be allowed to late hit every play.
I’m more worried about the dolphins and the pats than the jets and bills. The jets were an average team that got very lucky in the playoffs and the bills are the new raiders. The pats will win games, especially against good teams.
We kicked the shit out of the cowboys and I think we could do it again.
The cardinals have gotten worse in nearly every way. They could become the new lions.
Washington and philidelphia are unpredictable games. We’ll have a better idea around wk3.
The giants are bad, getting worse and especially bad against us.
In the division I would be suprised if we swept the packers and didnt sweep the bears. I do think those sneaky lions could take one from us though.
1W,2L,3L,4B,5W,6W,7L,8L,9W,10W,11W,12W,13W,14W,15W,16L,17W For a record of 11-5
19-0 Baby!
Enough said!
Brett Favre is the Greatest QB in NFL History!
Brett Favre will be back in 2010, 100% Guaranteed!
Each year is different
The Vikes should win the division, but with that said Green Bay will be better and Chicago won’t be a cake walk. The Leo’s will be a bit better, but I see two wins there. If Sully and Herrera are a year better they should be able to keep the sacks down from last year. You too Full(Phil) Loadholt.
With Favre returning(99% sure of that) and secondary help hopefully coming from the early rounds I think the Vikes have a chance to be better. Scary better! Asher Allen, Benny Sapp, Jamarcus Sanford and Tyrell Jackson should also emerge a year better or so we can hope.
As for the recieving core, they should explode this season. If Berrian can stay healthy for the most part we should see something special out of him. Rice will remain the #1 target and with Percy and Shank who they going to focus on.
The NFC North will be one of the better divisions in football this year and the Vikes have the potential to improve the most from last season. As long as McKinnie’s ankles are okay he should be fine against Peppers this time around.
It could very well be our year, Brett Favre ya hear!
McCourty will do. If the Packers don't take him first... they would.
From what i can see
is a bunch of sell out viking fans that have a boner for the long hated # 4. You should all go crawl in a hole and jerk each other off. I could never cheer for an old fart that ive hated for so many years and then all of a sudden want to suck his dick… the leos will only win a few games this year but at the end of the day we didnt sell our souls.
I know this was a mean post and a lions fan shouldnt be on here but i had to chirp pma to get him excited about Thursday!!
by derbyz81 on Apr 21, 2010 7:33 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I like the cut of your jib, although PMA’s likely the only Viking fan to find this funny, because he know at the end of the day you’re just a dirty red Lions fan.
by Andrew Davidson on Apr 21, 2010 8:21 PM CDT up reply actions
I like the way you look at things.
and as a Saints fan I gotta say your QB gets alot of respect and love from out parts. Congrats on Stafford. (I’ll now jump off the Vikings thread)
If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn't plan your mission properly.
33TDs-7INTs, 4202yards, 68.4% completion...
You’d be wearin’ knee bads too!
McCourty will do. If the Packers don't take him first... they would.
My picks/hunches for our results this upcoming year...
These are my guesses for our results based on each opponent:
@ Saints – Win just barely
Dolphins – Win
Lions – Win
BYE
@Jets – Loss
Cowboys – Win
@Packers – Loss
@Patriots – Loss
Cardinals – Win
@Bears – Loss
Packers – Win
@Redskins – Win
Bills – Win
Giants – Win
Bears – Win
@Eagles – Win
@Lions – Win
FINAL RECORD: 12 Wins, 4 Losses – We win the division again.
will Childress improve this year?
assuming BF comes back, will BC give him a little more freedom. IMO Childress single-handedly lost that Bears game.
Maybe this year will be what everyone predicted for last year.
That would take a lot of pressure off of Favre. Everyone thought that Brett would just hand off to Peterson most of the time and not have to rely on the pass as a game maker or breaker. If this season is Peterson’s pinnacle, it could be a whole new ball game. Favre said that the only man who can stop AP is AP. I’m ready to see the man make more magic than he already has. I know he’s got it in him.
This is the year. The Vikings are going to crush their opponents. It’s destiny.
Get some blocking up front...
and your dream comes true!
I BELIEVE...
by ArizonaVikingsFan on Apr 22, 2010 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions
Can't wait for the Cowboys game
I’m a Cowboys fan and I will be in Minnesota for that game! Try not to spill too much beer on me.
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