2014 NFL Preview: Everything you need to know about the Minnesota Vikings

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Minnesota Vikings

Schedule | Roster

The Vikings wasted another season of Adrian Peterson's prime in 2013 thanks to poor quarterback play. As the elite running back creeps closer to 30 years old, Minnesota needs to find a way to compliment him with at least a serviceable pivot. Vikings fans will be hoping Teddy Bridgewater can make them forget about the dark days of Christian Ponder when the team eventually turns over the starting duties to the Louisville product. 

Minnesota's 2013 campaign was one of missed opportunities, as the Vikings lost three games by four points or less. That's massive in an NFL season when you only have 16 games to work with. Minny will need to be more composed in the fourth quarter to land on the right side of those close contests this year.

As is with every new season, a healthy Peterson will be paramount to the team's success. The bruising back had offseason groin surgery, which makes it his third campaign in a row that was followed by a procedure. Even though the NFL has become a pass-happy league, Peterson is still by far the Vikings' most important player. 

Preseason Power Ranking - #24

The Vikings will need to display more consistency on the offensive side of the ball, outside of Peterson, before they can make noise in the NFC North. Quarterback play is the big question mark, but with offensive coordinator Norv Turner now working with the personnel, Minnesota is on the right track. More...

Key Additions/Departures

Key Additions: CB Captain Munnerlyn, DT Linval Joseph, 

Key Departures: DE Jared Allen, RB Toby Gerhart, LB Erin Henderson, TE John Carlson, S Chris Crocker

The Vikings' 31st ranked defense is going to feel the loss of Jared Allen. Losing a guy who hasn't recorded less than 11 sacks in a season over the past six campaigns is something they are going to have to overcome. Much of that slack is going to have to be absorbed by top-10 pick Anthony Barr, who figures to see plenty of snaps in pass rushing situations during his rookie campaign. 

There will also be added pressure on the emerging Everson Griffen to get to the quarterback with more regularity, and the Vikes will need production from tackles Linval Joseph and Shariff Floyd as well. 

Munnerlyn should pair with Xavier Rhodes to improve a secondary that ranked second last versus the pass. That ranking won't cut it when you have to play Matthew Stafford, Jay Cutler, and Aaron Rodgers twice a year. 

2014 Draft Class 

Barr is still a raw talent, but there is enough upside that he was worth a top-10 selection. As mentioned earlier, he's going to have to be an impact player when it comes to getting to the quarterback. 

Bridgewater is the quarterback of the future and that future may be 2014. Matt Cassel will draw the start in Week 1, but he appears to be nothing more than a stopgap. Bridgewater should get a legitimate chance to take over the job at some point this season.

Overall, the Vikings made the most of their selections, getting great value picks in Crichton and McKinnon that will add depth at key positions. Fifth-round pick David Yankey should be a Week 1 starter at offensive guard and might be the steal of the draft when Minnesota looks back on it years down the road. 

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Mike Zimmer
Offensive Coordinator: Norv Turner
Defensive Coordinator: George Edwards

Pundits blamed Ponder for getting Leslie Frazier fired, but the fact is Frazier is a defensive coach that coached a dreadful unit. Zimmer comes over from Cincinnati where he guided the defense to a third-overall ranking last season. He'll need to work similar magic in Minnesota if the Vikings hope to compete in the NFC North. 

Turner is the key piece of the Vikings' staff to create a more balanced offensive attack. While he hasn't had much success as a head coach, his track record as a coordinator is excellent. He made his name working with Troy Aikman and the Dallas Cowboys in the early 1990s, and he should be the perfect mentor to make sure Bridgewater becomes a polished passer. 

2014 Schedule

Minnesota gets four of its last six games at home and close with four straight contests against non-playoff teams from 2013. If they can keep themselves hovering around .500 until then, they've got an outside chance at a playoff berth.

Something else to consider this year is the fact that the Vikings are playing at the outdoor TCF Bank Stadium while their new home is being built. The comfy confines of the Metrodome are no more and December football in Minnesota is going to be an adjustment for both the Vikings and their opponents given the likely frigid temperatures. 

Bold Predictions

Adrian Peterson will become the first player to rush for 2,000 yards twice. Peterson is a generations talent who, at age 29, is about to exit his prime years. He still has one more magical season in him. New offensive coordinator Norv Turner will lean hard on Peterson as rookie quarterback Bridgewater and raw second-year receiver Patterson are gently developed. Out of the playoff race late by December, the Vikings will feed Peterson the ball in his quest for history. - David Woods

Cordarrelle Patterson has at least 1,300 receiving yards. Patterson may have only had 469 receiving yards as a rookie last season, but that hardly tells the true impact of his game. The first-round pick out of Tennessee had over 2,000 all-purpose yards and scored nine total touchdowns in 2013. With Turner installed as the Vikings new offensive coordinator, he’ll look to use Patterson as frequently as possible, no matter what quarterback ends up under center. - Mike Dickson

The Vikings will win the NFC North. After earning a playoff berth in 2012, the Vikings tumbled to the bottom of their division last season with a record of 5-10-1. The Packers have the edge entering this season, but given how competitive the NFC North figures to be, they are far from a lock to win the division. With a new coaching staff, a healthy Peterson, and a change of scenery, the Vikings could be in for a big turnaround. - Caitlyn Holroyd