Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings: Early 2017 Weekly Win-Loss Predictions

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:47 a.m. ET

Fansided, Justin Huffman/FanSided via NFL Spin Zone

With the Minnesota Vikings schedule now released and the NFL draft on the horizon, some win-loss predictions seem appropriate while the offseason continues.

Giving the Minnesota Vikings 2017 schedule a good once over, the very first half of the season could be very giving one for the Vikings if they are able to push past three perennial Hall-of-Famers.

When looking back to last season, Minnesota struggled against the run, at closing close games, running the ball themselves, and red zone efficiency. Quite frankly, if it wasn't for a very mediocre offense, this team would've made the playoffs back to back seasons.

Fans and analysts alike can argue injuries doomed this football team, in which they did to an extent. However, there were many concerns in multiple games that led to a loss. How about the defense in both Detroit losses, or the Dallas Cowboys game on Thursday Night Football? Inefficiency on offense and a lack of discipline on defense.

Win or lose, the Vikings and their fans must move pass the games they left on the table last year and center their focus on this season.

Certain areas of emphasis of the schedule I'd to point out, the three home games in four weeks to start the season for Minnesota, while playing a total of home games out of the first eight during the first half of the season. Minnesota could really make their mark before entering their bye week, using the rest to help their run on the road in the second half. A brutal stretch starts Thanksgiving Day in Detroit where the Lions never seem to lose, then they play four potential playoff teams in a row before getting Chicago in their season finale.

Buckle up your seat belts Vikings fans, let's roll right through these quarters.

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Weeks 1-4

Week 1: vs. New Orleans Saints (Monday Night Football)
Week 2: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 3: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 4: vs. Detroit Lions

Fear not Vikings fans, Drew Brees isn't as good on the road then he is at home. If Minnesota still played outside there may be even more of a disadvantage here, even so, Minnesota's chances to win are high in this one. The Vikings had one of the best pass defenses in the league last year, and were one of the best with points allowed. The Saints defense was near non-existent last year, and have made limited changes, and have a new defensive coordinator. With no Brandin Cooks, Minnesota should hang with anything the Saints throw at them Week 1.

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Entering Week 2 is a bit iffy versus the Steelers. If Le'Veon Bell can avoid off-field distractions, he may be the best running back this coming season. Roethlisberger can still sling it while star wide receiver, Antonio Brown, is still running them down. Their defense is getting better at all levels, and they are tough to beat at home. On a short week, I feel as if Sam Bradford may get knocked around in this one on the way to a defeat.

As a fan, you have to love the young combination of Jameis Winston and Mike Evans. A very dynamic duo, but it just so happens that Minnesota boasts quite the pair of defensive backs led by Xavier Rhodes. If you can't run on Minnesota on their home turf, you more than likely are not beating them. Unless they find a game-changer in the draft, of course. Sign Winston up for a few turnovers, and Sam Bradford a couple of touchdown tosses.

If this team allows Detroit to come in and defeat them again like they did last year, Mike Zimmer may feel some benching is in order. It just can't happen in back to back years, especially with this being their first divisional game. Minnesota's defense is just too good to allow Stafford to beat them with Tate again with no running game. Ameer Adbullah may provide a difference, but on back to back home stands, I like the purple and gold to defend home field.

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Weeks 5-8

Week 5: at Chicago Bears (Monday Night Football)
Week 6: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 7: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 8: at Cleveland Browns (London)

Minnesota enters the second quarter of the season, and their second of three-straight games against NFC North opponents, to take on the Bears. The Vikings cannot let another letdown happen versus Chicago. This defense allowed Jordan Howard and Jay Cutler look like the second coming of Roethlisberger/Bell when these two teams first met last year. Minnesota was blown out the stadium in a lackluster performance, these games are huge for them to battle for the crown, Mike Zimmer doesn't let it happen again in Week 5.

Week 6 is a fun one in a sense that I really feel as if Minnesota has a decent shot in this one at home. Bradford took the Packers defense to school at home last year, while Minnesota's defense did a great job at containing the damage done by Rodgers, and dominated the game. Catching the Packers mid-year though isn't exactly ideal, though, as the Pack in mid-season form versus the Vikings in Minnesota should be one of the games of the day.

Baltimore's offense has been just as mediocre as Minnesota's these last few seasons, and they continue to lose pieces everywhere. The Ravens lost another offensive lineman, a retired wide receiver and traded a defensive tackle. They don't have the speed to beat Minny deep, nor do they have a potent running attack. Baltimore's defense can only do so much, being away doesn't help matters at all.

Don't get me wrong, this Cleveland team is building a talented roster despite their records. With their mass amounts of picks in the first round, sooner rather than later this team will be competing in their division. A Brock Osweiler led offense, or an offense headed by a first-round rookie, will not defeat Zimmer's defense, nor will their inexperience on defense. Browns need a better pass rush, and overall just better play from their defense in general in order to keep pace. Latavius Murray, or whomever starts at running back, should have a field day entering their Week 9 bye.

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Weeks 10-13

Week 10: at Washington Redskins
Week 11: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week 12: at Detroit Lions (Thanksgiving Day)
Week 13: at Atlanta Falcons

The Week 9 bye is opportune for a Minnesota Vikings team that gets ready to finish the season with five out of eight games on the road, the first of those against Washington. It's a sketchy situation between Redskins brass and Kirk Cousins, it being rumored they do not view him as a franchise quarterback. Well I do, and feel as if he gets rolling with new weapons Terrelle Pryor and Josh Doctson things can drastically turn in the NFC East. Minnesota should be well rested after the bye, but in the past have really dropped a goose egg after getting a week off.

This will be a nice rebound game if the Vikings do drop a game versus the Redskins, the Los Angeles Rams visit U.S. Bank Stadium the following week. Jared Goff will be running things now with Sean McVay the new head coach. A transition period will be underway, in which a hungry home defense should be able to capitalize on. Sam Bradford faces the team that drafted him for the very first time as well, so this bunch should be very amped up.

Here's one of those game you just don't know. Who knows how the Detroit Lions season is going by this point, or Minnesota's for that matter. But on Thanksgiving Day, Detroit is a very tough team to beat at home. This time last year Matt Prater guided the Lions to victory with a game winning field goal over the Vikings, which was just a complete mental collapse on the defensive side of the ball for Minnesota. Trying to guess who's victorious is practically a coin flip — these two teams flip-flop so much it's ridiculous. I'll give it a season split between these two out of respect to Stafford's performances in the clutch.

Ouch, from Thanksgiving without a turkey leg to Atlanta to take on the potent Falcons? Not exactly the ideal match-up for Minnesota, but the rest of the season isn't exactly easy for Minnesota either. The combination of Freeman and Coleman to go along with former MVP, Matt Ryan and Julio Jones is just a ruthless pick-your-poison offense for Zimmer to figure out. Fortunately, Zimmer has beaten the Falcons before in Atlanta, let's see if he can put together a game-plan for another successful trip to Georgia.

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Weeks 14-17

Week 14: at Carolina Panthers
Week 15: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 16: at Green Bay Packers
Week 17: vs. Chicago Bears

Minnesota watched many of their own free agents travel to Carolina to play, so a team that the Vikings already see quite a bit now may have become more than just a simple NFC game. Charles Johnson, Matt Kalil and Captain Munnerlyn all signed deals with Carolina, with both Munnerlyn and Kalil throwing a few jabs at Minnesota on their way out.

Last year, Minnesota's front seven on defense made Cam Newton's day a living nightmare, now with Kalil protecting Cam's blind side, I don't expect any different. Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter will tee off on this offensive line, just as long as the offense does something they should be in good shape.

Mike Zimmer faces his old squad for the first time in the regular season. Having dealt with Andy Dalton and A.J. Green, and having been the defensive coordinator, he should know the ins and outs of this Bengals team. It is curious to hear that the Bengals are once again in the running back market having Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard already. I felt they may be more concerned with their tight end and linebacker positions entering the draft. We'll worry about the game at hand later, let's just hope they don't select the running back Minnesota may be coveting in the draft.

Another game in cheese land before the season ends, the marbles may all be on the line here in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Last season, the Packers handled Minnesota despite the final score, the purple and gold defense just didn't have any answer for the arm of Aaron Rodgers. At this stage in the season, the Vikings should just hope it's cold enough to where Rodgers fingers are too numb, or his offensive line is too nimble to block for him. If not, it'll be another long day in this Sunday border battle.

As it was last year, Minnesota finishes the season at home versus the Bears. This year it will not be against Matt Barkley, Alshon Jeffery, or even Jay Cutler for that matter; Mike Glennon should be running the offense by seasons end. John Fox has always done an admirable job at creating a stout defense so offensively the challenge will still be there for the Vikings, but Minnesota's defense, if still intact, could very well pitch a shut out versus Mike Glennon. Minny could very well be in playoff contention with this game at hand, they'll need the win to get in.

Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin via USA TODAY Sports

Early Win-Loss Predictons

Week 1: vs. New Orleans – WIN
Week 2: at Pittsburgh Steelers – LOSS
Week 3: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – WIN
Week 4: vs. Detroit Lions – WIN
Week 5: at Chicago Bears – WIN
Week 6: vs. Green Bay Packers – LOSS
Week 7: vs. Baltimore Ravens – WIN
Week 8: at Cleveland Browns – WIN
Week 9: BYE
Week 10: at Washington Redskins – LOSS
Week 11: vs. Los Angeles Rams – WIN
Week 12: at Detroit Lions – LOSS
Week 13: at Atlanta Falcons – LOSS
Week 14: at Carolina Panthers – WIN
Week 15: vs. Cincinnati Bengals – WIN
Week 16: at Green Bay Packers – LOSS
Week 17: vs. Chicago Bears – WIN

2017 Minnesota Vikings Record: 10-6

I think the picture above will explain it all, with the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers both vying for the NFC North title and a Wild Card spot, respectively.

Sam Bradford has gotten a bad rap for being the lead signal caller on dismal teams with the inability to win games. Minnesota gives him the best opportunity to prove that he can win if he can stay healthy, and win he does this season while Teddy Bridgewater recovers.

A playoff push would result into some very interesting storylines heading into the 2018 season with what exactly they will do at the quarterback position. Do they extend Bradford? Or do they franchise tag him to make sure this season wasn't a fluke? I'd personally tag him.

Rick Spielman's job may be in jeopardy if they once again cannot be successful and rally into the playoffs. Coach Mike Zimmer has already shown that he can remain steady in the face of adversity, while thriving with a fully healthy roster. The Vikings may not come in first in their division this year, but at the very least should be jockeying for a playoff seed.