:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50745055/usa-today-9394770.0.jpg)
As we get closer to the start of the 2016 NFL season, there are a lot of good, solid analysis pieces going up on websites everywhere looking at what to expect as we get closer to kickoff.
This is not one of them.
The 2016 season of English Premiere League soccer got underway a few weeks ago, and one enterprising individual from ESPN took it upon themselves to look at each team in the EPL and give them an NFL equivalent. Since there are only 20 EPL teams, not every team got a comparison, but the Minnesota Vikings were one of the ones that did.
Apparently, the Vikings are the NFL’s answer to West Ham United. Here is the commentary that accompanies the piece.
New stadiums were supposed to mean bright new futures for West Ham and Minnesota, each of whom exceeded expectations last season. Recent weeks, however, have been trying. West Ham fluffed their chance to compete in the Europa League, losing a qualifier against Romania's Astra Giurgiu. The Vikings suffered a more devastating blow when quarterback Teddy Bridgewater tore up his knee in practice.
A team having terrible luck after preparing to move into a new stadium? Yeah, that sounds like a pretty solid equivalent.
I’ll be the first to admit that I really don’t know a damn thing about soccer in general, although I’m finally trying to follow along with the EPL in an effort to learn a few things. But, I know that we have plenty of soccer fans among our readers, so hopefully you can tell us if this comparison is accurate or if there’s a better EPL equivalent to our beloved purple and gold.