Even though the Vikings missed the playoffs last year, Minnesota is hoping to bounce back and return to the postseason in 2019.
But not everyone is high on the Vikings chances, with NFL Network analyst Adam Rank having the purple regressing to 5-11 in 2019. Here’s some highlights of how they’ll fare.
- He has them losing the season opener at home against the Falcons and losing three of their first four.
- Going 0-6 in the NFC North (!).
- Beating Seattle on the road on Monday Night Football in Week 13.
- Losing the final four games of the season to Detroit, Los Angeles Chargers, Green bay and Chicago.
There’s a lot to take away here, but honestly, beating Seattle seems like the strangest one. Minnesota has won just five of 16 games – including a five-game losing streak – against the Seahawks as a franchise and haven’t won in Seattle since 2006.
Also, did he even watch what happened last year when the Vikings played Seattle in Primetime? Did he just forget Kirk Cousins threw a pass with his back turned to the line of scrimmage?
And we’re sorry, but in a division that includes the Detroit Lions you have the Vikings going 0-6? Sorry, but no.
Rank even threw some shade with another Week 17 matchup against the Bears. “The Bears get you in Week 17 once again. Although at least the good news is, you’ve already been eliminated from the playoffs at this point,” said Rank
Rank also states there’s questions around Mike Zimmer and their philosophy to run the ball more under new assistant coach Gary Kubiak and first-year offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, who took over as OC for John DeFilippo in Week 15 last season.
Here’s Rank’s full schedule breakdown.
- Week 1 vs. Atlanta, loss
- Week 2 at. Green Bay, loss
- Week 3 vs. Oakland, win
- Week 4 at Chicago, loss
- Week 5 at New York, win
- Week 6 vs Philadelphia loss
- Week 7 at Detroit, loss
- Week 8 vs. Washington, win
- Week 9 at Kansas City, loss
- Week 10 at Dallas, loss
- Week 11 vs. Denver, win
- Week 12 BYE
- Week 13 at Seattle win
- Week 14 vs. Detroit, loss
- Week 15 at Los Angeles Chargers, loss
- Week 16 vs. Green Bay, loss
- Week 17 vs. Chicago, loss
To make matters worse, he believes the Bears and Packers will run things in the division, with Chicago taking the NFC North at 13-3 and the Packers right behind them at 12-4.
Being optimistic on the Bears is one thing, but believing the Packers will improve by six wins seems like a stretch even with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.
They spent a ton of money in free agency trying to bolster their defense, handing out contracts worth up $155 million to Za’Darius Smith, Adrian Amos and Preston Smith.
It almost as if they’ve want to be more like the Vikings since they have just one win over Mike Zimmer and his vaunted defense since 2016.
According to Bovada, the Vikings have the seventh best odds (+1200) to win the NFC behind the Bears (+750) and Packers (+900). So it’s not surprising to see national outlets predicting the Packers to bounce back.
But let’s remember that many pundits had the Packers winning the Super Bowl last year, which proves how much so-called “analysts” really know.
And to suggest a 5-win season for the Vikings that features no divisional wins and a win in Seattle seems less likely than the Vikings making the playoffs.
The full video can be found below
