Has to be a sucker bet to have the division champs at +400 to repeat.
Green Bay is definitely going to be good and it looks like they have the easier schedule.
How can the Vikings win the Division?
They number 1 are going to have to keep newly acquired Sam Bradford healthy, it will be a tough task since he has the body of a chandelier. Last year they were an 11-5 team and only got 14 TD passes from Bridgewater, If Bradford can somehow get them into the 20s then one must like their chances. Secondly, the offensive line must improve, last season they couldn't protect the passer and the running game was not consistent even though Peterson lead the league in rushing. Many of those yards came on long busted runs, but the Vikings were in second / third and long yardage situations waaay too much putting way to much pressure on the quarterback. Many remember Jordy injury but VIkings lost 2/5 of offensive line last preseason and scrambled. This year they bring in Boone to play let guard, Smith to play right tackle and then slide Fusco back to right guard from left guard , they should be improved. Third they must beat Green Bay at home, they haven't beat then in Minneapolis since they clinched a playoff birth 4 years ago. It's going to be a tough task since they have a new QB but can be done.
Green Bay is getting a lot of hype and rightly so, they have a premier QB and Jordy is ready to go, yet we haven't seen him on the field. Packers shockingly released Josh Sitton who was popular in the locker room and with the fans. Packers have some unknowns in the middle of the defense, they could very well get pushed around we will have to wait and see. Another aspect the Vikings have is that their players are in their prime or entering it. The Packers have some age on defense, I can tell you Matthews still looks like he is in his 20s but the Vikes will be hoping Peppers loses a step.
On the flip side if Jordy returns to form, Peppers continues to play at a high level and the interior defense becomes solid then you are looking at the NFC North Champs provided Rodgers stays healthy of course. Plus you are probably looking at the NFC Champs and Super Bowl Participant.
In conclusion the Vikings are ready to contend, they have the roster, they have the defense, its going to be up to Sam Bradford and the Offensive Line to get them to where they want to be, plus they are going to have to hope for a few Packer slip ups but for +400 I'll bite because they are my team.
Green Bay is definitely going to be good and it looks like they have the easier schedule.
How can the Vikings win the Division?
They number 1 are going to have to keep newly acquired Sam Bradford healthy, it will be a tough task since he has the body of a chandelier. Last year they were an 11-5 team and only got 14 TD passes from Bridgewater, If Bradford can somehow get them into the 20s then one must like their chances. Secondly, the offensive line must improve, last season they couldn't protect the passer and the running game was not consistent even though Peterson lead the league in rushing. Many of those yards came on long busted runs, but the Vikings were in second / third and long yardage situations waaay too much putting way to much pressure on the quarterback. Many remember Jordy injury but VIkings lost 2/5 of offensive line last preseason and scrambled. This year they bring in Boone to play let guard, Smith to play right tackle and then slide Fusco back to right guard from left guard , they should be improved. Third they must beat Green Bay at home, they haven't beat then in Minneapolis since they clinched a playoff birth 4 years ago. It's going to be a tough task since they have a new QB but can be done.
Green Bay is getting a lot of hype and rightly so, they have a premier QB and Jordy is ready to go, yet we haven't seen him on the field. Packers shockingly released Josh Sitton who was popular in the locker room and with the fans. Packers have some unknowns in the middle of the defense, they could very well get pushed around we will have to wait and see. Another aspect the Vikings have is that their players are in their prime or entering it. The Packers have some age on defense, I can tell you Matthews still looks like he is in his 20s but the Vikes will be hoping Peppers loses a step.
On the flip side if Jordy returns to form, Peppers continues to play at a high level and the interior defense becomes solid then you are looking at the NFC North Champs provided Rodgers stays healthy of course. Plus you are probably looking at the NFC Champs and Super Bowl Participant.
In conclusion the Vikings are ready to contend, they have the roster, they have the defense, its going to be up to Sam Bradford and the Offensive Line to get them to where they want to be, plus they are going to have to hope for a few Packer slip ups but for +400 I'll bite because they are my team.
