Vikings fans can be forgiven for waking up this morning and thinking yesterday was all a bad dream.
But it wasn’t, and the Vikings are facing up to a season without their star Quarterback.
There were comments from some shocked fans in the immediate aftermath that the news meant “season over” for the Vikings, but is that the case?
https://twitter.com/mndeadhead33/status/770945367793803265
NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal points out that the Vikings had the lowest pass attempts last season, relying heavily on its strong defense and the talents of Adrian Peterson, with Bridgewater filling the role of a safe hand admirably.
Head coach Mike Zimmer was confident Bridgewater was poised for a breakout year and Rosenthal thinks the injury means they are no longer Super Bowl contenders.
But, he says, they still have a strong chance of making the playoffs, “in large part because they have the right man leading the way,” praising Zimmer’s “resolve and leadership,” and noting they still have Peterson, an up and coming receiver in Stefon Diggs and one of the strongest front 7s in the league.
#NFCNorth @ProFootballTalk predicts order of finish will be 1. #Packers 2. #Vikings 3. #Lions 4. #Bears; do you agree? #NFLPreseason
— PFT Live (@PFT_Live) August 31, 2016
Christopher Gates of the Daily Norseman also cites Zimmer’s presence as a reason for optimism.
“After yesterday, there’s no doubt that the Vikings are back in the underdog role once again,” he writes. “If anyone can get this team to rally and play their collective ass off for their injured leader, it’s Mike Zimmer.”
“… the potential is still there for a pretty damn good story to be told,” he concludes.
For the Win has a piece called “The Vikings are still a playoff team without Teddy Bridgewater,” saying the way the Vikings are set up means the team can handle the blow of losing their No. 1 QB.
“The running game will be just fine, and the defense should finish around the top-10 once again in 2016.
“That formula was enough to get the Vikings to 11 wins and the seventh-best point differential (+63) in the entire league last season. And we haven’t even gotten to the many improvements the front office made in the offseason.”
Here’s how Vikings fans have been taking the news on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/1purplehaze1/status/770940607304839170
Teddy's injury absolutely hurts Minnesota's chances at a postseason run. AP only has so many carries left in him, as well.
— James Profetto (@JamesProfetto) August 31, 2016
https://twitter.com/Da1andOnly_RoRo/status/770945206208368640
https://twitter.com/Gouchevans/status/770940997161353216
Smh at the Teddy Bridgewater injury 😏 However, thankfully the @Vikings have one of the best AT staffs around. Prayers up! 🙏🏽 GoodHands
— Dr. Nikki Harris ✨ (@YoungProf_AT) August 31, 2016
