NFL Betting Online: Former MVP Adrian Peterson is back toting the rock for the Vikes. Is his presence enough to lift them to the top of the NFC North?
2014 Season Record: 7-9 SU, 10-6 ATS, 6-10 O/U
2015 Regular Season Wins Total: 7, -170 O, +140 U
Odds to Win Super Bowl: +4800
Odds to Win NFC: +2888
Odds to Win Division: +871
The Vikings didn’t have a winning season last year but they are a team with plenty of upside heading into 2015. Head coach Mike Zimmer and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater both showed improvement as the season moved along giving Minnesota hope for a return to greatness.
Bridgewater bucked his detractors and had a fine rookie season, one that saw him rate out as the third-best quarterback in the entire league during the second half of the season, according to Pro Football Focus.
He did that without former MVP running back Adrian Peterson and any sort of consistency at wide receiver. Peterson should be back beating defenses silly and the Vikings did their best to upgrade their pass catching corps this offseason.
Receiver Mike Wallace gets a new lease on his NFL life after 60 minutes of fame in Miami and needs to show he can be better than average after his disappointing run with the Dolphins. Cordarrelle Patterson is a dangerous but still raw talent on the other side.
Minnesota also had a dramatic improvement on the defensive side of the ball last season moving from last in the league in scoring defense in Leslie Frazier’s last season to 11th in Year 1 under Zimmer.
Second round pick Eric Kendricks has the speed and instincts to start at middle linebacker while first rounder Trae Waynes is expected to start at corner. If they progress Zimmer’s defense could be special – and young with eight starters between the ages of 22 and 27.
The success of the Vikings hinges on the development and maturation of Bridgewater. We’ve seen too many young QBs succumb to the pressure of being the guy, and with higher expectations all eyes will be on the former Louisville star.
But with another strong draft class, a legitimate No. 1 receiver and a highly-motivated Adrian Peterson, Minnesota is primed to fight through a tough schedule and contend for an NFC wild card spot.
KEY ADDITIONS: WR Mike Wallace, CB Terence Newman, S Taylor Mays, QB Shaun Hill, CB Trae Waynes.
KEY LOSSES: WR Greg Jennings, LB Jasper Brinkley, OG Charlie Johnson, QB Matt Cassell, LB Erin Henderson, DL Corey Wootton, FB Jerome Felton.
Minnesota is picked to finish third in the NFC North if you go off the lines at BookMaker. The Vikings did plenty in the offseason to improve on their seven wins from 2014, but relying on a second-year quarterback is risky. Anything less than eight wins in 2015 would be considered a disappointment however.
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