The Minnesota Vikings exploded out of the gates last season winning and covering their first five games to hold the lead atop the NFC North standings heading into their Week 6 bye. It was all downhill from there for Mike Zimmer’s squad due to inconsistent play and injuries. They’ll enter 2017-18 looking to sustain another hot start should they have one to have more of a say in the final division standings.
NFC North Odds at BookMaker.eu
Chicago Bears +1257
Detroit Lions +593
Green Bay Packers -229
Minnesota Vikings +390
Why the Minnesota Vikings Will Win the NFC North
Anytime you can march a top five defense onto the field at the NFL level, you always have a shot at competing for division honors. That’s exactly what defensive coordinator Greg Edwards has at his disposal entering the season with a bulk of players from last year’s stop unit returning for another run at it.
Minnesota allowed an average of 19.2 points per game last season which ranked out as the third fewest allowed in the game. Within the division, it allowed an average of 20 points per game. That average falls to 16.4 points per game if you omit the 38 points allowed in the rematch with Green Bay at the end of December.
No team averaged less yards per carry than the Vikings offense last season. Injuries decimated the offensive line, and because of it, the unit was only able to open holes big enough for a paltry 3.2 yards per carry average. Upper management made it a point to solidify the unit in the offseason making free agent splashes along the line by acquiring tackles Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers. They also selected a pair of hogs with two picks in the first five rounds of the NFL Draft.
Should the new group gel quickly, the backfield has some competent weapons in Latavius Murray ( free agent ) and Dalvin Cook ( draft ) to greatly improve upon last year’s pedestrian numbers. The offense has some solid pass catchers in Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Kyle Rudolph and newly acquired Michael Floyd. A dependable running game would only make them even more dangerous.
Why the Minnesota Vikings Won't Win the NFC North
Green Bay has won this division four of the last five seasons, and are decided favorites to bring home the hardware in 2017-18 once again. The only team to prevent the Packers from winning the NFC North six straight years are the Vikings, but a ton will have to go right to put an end to the Packers current reign.
Though they get the benefit of playing a third place schedule, it still won’t be easy. Four games are scheduled against the AFC North with three of those teams expected to compete for division honors. Another four are set to go against the NFC South as well, which means the defense will be put to the test against the potent offenses of the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. Making the task of winning the division all the more tough will be the four road games lined up in their final six games.
The defense broke down in the late stages last season due to the offenses inefficiency and inability to sustain long drives. Last year, Minnesota gained an average of 315.1 yards per game ( No. 28 ), scored an average of 20.4 points per game ( No. 23 ), and averaged just 18.9 first downs per game ( No. 23 ). Should Sam Bradford and the offense once again fail to figure out how to stay on the field to keep the defense fresher for the long haul, it will be another second or third place finish for Zimmer’s troops.
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