Vikings fans are anxiously awaiting the start of the 2015 season, and with the preseason opener just days away the excitement for the season appears to be reaching a crescendo.
NFL analysts and experts have been weighing in on the Vikings chances in 2015 and the majority of the recent ones have a lot of positive things to say.
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has expressed hopes that the team would remain beneath the radar in 2015, but Minnesota is quickly turning into a chic pick to be a playoff contender in the NFC.
The latest praise came from USA Today writer Nate Davis. He picked the Vikings to finish second in the NFC North and to make the playoffs as a Wild Card team.
“Highly motivated Adrian Peterson should take offense and second-year QB Teddy Bridgewater to new level, and potentially stacked defense looks ready to blossom. Schedule gets friendly after Week 5 bye.”
Davis picks the Vikings to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round before losing to Seattle in the divisional playoffs.
Former Vikings quarterback Sage Rosenfels outlined some of the reasons for the optimism with Vikings.com recently.
.@SageRosenfels18 sees "more positive energy" in this #Vikings team than there was in 2009.http://t.co/qF685C0F1t pic.twitter.com/E8SaLUnbnP
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 5, 2015
“I like all the guys, really,” Rosenfels said. “From the top to the bottom.”
Specifically, Rosenfels has liked what he’s seen from quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. He says 2015 will be a big year for Bridgewater’s career.
It wasn’t all good news for the Vikings, though. In his predictions Davis picks the Packers to win the NFC North and beat the Colts in Super Bowl 50.
The Vikings kick off the 2015 preseason Sunday night against Pittsburgh in the NFL’s Hall of Fame Game.
