Minnesota Vikings: 2017 Schedule Breakdown And Analysis
Week 5: at Chicago Bears (Monday Night Football)
Uh-oh, another game on Monday Night Football ahead of the Packers game for the Minnesota Vikings? This time last season, Jay Cutler returned to the starting lineup and put on a clinic against the poor Vikes. After seeing one of the worst performances of the season last season, Zimmer will make sure to not let this happen again.
The Bears are a huge question mark entering the season. With new quarterback Mike Glennon, nobody knows how exactly he will perform as a full-time starter. His body of work at Tampa Bay wasn’t bad, but no one’s sure if it’s good enough to lead Chicago to success though.
Week 6: vs. Green Bay Packers
Last season, Sam Bradford made his debut in purple versus the Green Bay Packers and had an amazing out-of-body like performance against them. The Packers secondary didn’t get any better in free agency, and who knows if they’ll address the position in the draft.
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Either way I feel as if Minnesota’s best shot to pick up a victory over Green Bay is at home, even if it’s off a short week. Rodgers is one heck of a quarterback, but it’s too bad his defense is still very beatable in all phases.
Week 7: vs. Baltimore Ravens
This is a wild card game with a team that Minnesota hasn’t played in almost four years and five times total, Minnesota winning two of those games. Joe Flacco’s offensive line seems to continue to rotate out and welcome new faces and the offensive weapons are limited with Mike Wallace leading the group of wide receivers with Steve Smith now gone.
Baltimore needs Breshad Perriman to fill one of the starting receiver slots and be what they thought they were getting in their former first-round pick. With the influx of offensive lineman coming out and an inconsistent running game, Minnesota’s defense should flourish at home.
Week 8: at Cleveland Browns (London)
Another game that has me quite weary, especially before entering the bye week. The Cleveland Browns are quickly stockpiling talent at all positions, and could very well have the best pass rusher of the draft chasing after Sam Bradford if they choose Myles Garrett in one week. Brock Osweiler isn’t a franchise quarterback, and it’s almost expected that Cleveland will draft one as well with the second of two first-round picks.
At the end of the day, their team being young and inexperienced may hinder them in this game. Penalties, turnovers, the travel experience and so one could be factors. Minnesota has played overseas before, they are the more experienced team, and should have the better disciplined squad.