Apologies for the slight slowdown lately, ladies and gentlemen. Rest assured, we've all been working our tails off to give you more good stuff around here, but I've been a bit out of pocket for. . .well, the better part of the last month, actually, and while everyone else has been doing awesome work, sometimes things just get busy for everybody. Life happens sometimes, you know?
Anyway, I got an interesting e-mail from the folks at PredictionMachine.com, where they've simulated the 2011 NFL season 50,000 times and given us the results for every team.
What do they see in store for the Vikings? Well, follow me past the jump and I'll tell you!
|
Minnesota Vikings Schedule |
||||
|
Week |
Opponent |
Vikings Score |
Opponent Score |
Win % |
|
1 |
@ Chargers |
17.6 |
2 |
25.4 |
|
2 |
23.6 |
1 |
64.8 |
|
|
3 |
Lions |
22.4 |
2 |
56.7 |
|
4 |
@ Chiefs |
21.5 |
2 |
45.7 |
|
5 |
25.6 |
1 |
69.5 |
|
|
6 |
@ Bears |
17.3 |
2 |
40.4 |
|
7 |
18.9 |
2 |
36.3 |
|
|
8 |
@ Panthers |
19.9 |
1 |
61.4 |
|
9 |
Bye |
|
|
|
|
10 |
@ Packers |
16.6 |
2 |
22.4 |
|
11 |
27.1 |
2 |
68.3 |
|
|
12 |
@ Falcons |
19.7 |
2 |
36.5 |
|
13 |
27.4 |
1 |
74.0 |
|
|
14 |
@ Lions |
20.1 |
2 |
42.3 |
|
15 |
20.9 |
2 |
48.5 |
|
|
16 |
@ Redskins |
22.4 |
2 |
55.8 |
|
17 |
Bears |
19.6 |
1 |
54.3 |
|
|
Pts/Game |
Pts/Game |
Total Wins |
|
|
|
21.3 |
21.3 |
|
|
The Prediction Machine folks have the Vikings pegged for an 8-8 record this season, which seems to be the prevailing consensus from the national punditry lately (I've heard ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike say the same thing, and the folks at Football Outsiders have the Vikings slotted at 8-8 as well). They actually have the NFC North shaping up to be quite a dogfight. . .the Chicago Bears are projected at 8.2 wins, the Vikings with 8.0, and the Detroit Lions with 7.9.
More importantly, they give the Vikings a 13% chance of winning the NFC North, a 14% chance of reaching the post-season as a wild card. . .and a 1% chance of winning the Super Bowl.
So, much like Mary Swanson told Lloyd Christmas. . .I am, indeed, telling you there's a chance.
What do you think of these odds, ladies and gentlemen?