NFL: Projecting final records for all 32 teams
By Brad Rowland
Minnesota Vikings
Quarterback play was a major issue in Minnesota last season, and while they invested in first-rounder Teddy Bridgewater, it appears that the Vikings have elected to go with Matt Cassel to start the season. Cassel certainly isn’t the worst QB in the league (career 80.5 QB rating), but he doesn’t provide anything in the upside department, and that is cause for concern.
Positively, the men in purple still have Adrian Peterson in the backfield, and despite a season that ended early with injury, the best running back in football rushed for nearly 1,300 yards as the only option and against eight-man fronts. The infusion of second-year receiver Cordarrelle Patterson and veteran Greg Jennings should help a bit, though it would be more beneficial with Bridgewater, but at best, this aims to be an average offense as long as the QB situation remains level.
The other side of the ball was the biggest issue in Minneapolis, though, as the Vikings ranked 27th in the league in DVOA. Minnesota inked two cornerbacks (including Captain Munnerlyn) and defensive tackle Linval Joseph in free agency, but the Vikings did lose All-Pro DE Jared Allen, and they are banking on uber-raw prospect Anthony Barr to flourish in his rookie campaign. That is a tall task.
It is a shame to watch Adrian Peterson, now 29 years old, languish in a less-than-stellar situation, but that is where he remains.
The Pick: 6-10