The line in Vegas for the over/under is 6 wins. 6 wins seems about right. Don't first year head coaches typically struggle in year one for teams coming off poor seasons?
New coach, new scheme, and teams that play in temporary stadiums don't seem to fair all that well. We have lots of talent though and Cassel is looking pretty solid, and the defense already looks improved. And I don't think the schedule looks as difficult as everyone thinks. Several of those teams won't be as good as they should be, it happens every year, and some of them will be just as bad as they normally are. I think 9-7 is possible, but I could change that up or down depending how these final 2 games go.
I just hope we can finally beat the Jets for the 1st time since 1975 haha. We've only beat them once in our history, and we've lost 7 straight. And personally it's the only team I've never seen us beat. Except in preseason a few years ago xD. We haven't beat the Bucs since 2001 when they were in our division either (6 straight losses). Cassel, Patterson, Jennings, and Rudolph are going to light up Fraziers soft zone for 350 yards. Time to end some droughts.
"Our playoff loss to the Vikings in '87 was probably the most traumatic experience I had in sports." -- Bill Walsh
Webbfann wrote:
I am SOO looking forward to that game. If we win only one game this year, it better be that one.
I want to see Cassel and Patterson torch Fraziers defense. I feel like Cassel should of been the starter and Patterson should of been used alot more early on in the season but Frazier prevented that.
I went 7-9 as I believe this team will struggle early with a brutal schedule and 2 new systems. I think they win some games down the stretch, and be in the conversation for a wild card but eventually fall off. I see bigger things for 2015.
I think this team will be close in a lot of games this year. However, this is a young team, and young teams don't have the consistency to finish games week in and week out.
I am hoping I am wrong and we can make a playoff run.
A Randy Moss fan for life. A Kevin Williams fan for life.
oldskoolvikingfan wrote:
I want to see Cassel and Patterson torch Fraziers defense. I feel like Cassel should of been the starter and Patterson should of been used alot more early on in the season but Frazier prevented that.
I think as fans, we all have that one circled. I wonder how the players will feel leading up to that game?
Some food for thought. I was looking at the division win/loss numbers and the playoffs. 86% of the time when a team in this division goes at least 9-7 they are in the playoffs.
Vikings fan since Nov. 6, 1966. Annoying Packer fans since Nov. 7, 1966
DKSweets wrote:I want to see Cassel and Patterson torch Fraziers defense. I feel like Cassel should of been the starter and Patterson should of been used alot more early on in the season but Frazier prevented that.
I think as fans, we all have that one circled. I wonder how the players will feel leading up to that game?[/quote]
It's hard to say. He seemed to be well-liked by the team so I imagine most of them will be glad to see him but will (obviously) want to win. I suspect the fans will be a lot more worked up about that game than the players.
The games I have "circled" are the road games in the division, especially @Chicago and @GB. It's obviously important to win against those opponents at home too but the Vikes really need to become a better road team and even with 4 team divisions, the best way to win the division is to win those divisional games, so they're significant. The Vikes are just 3-7 in their last 10 regular season trips to Green Bay and they're a pathetic 1-9 in their last 10 games in Chicago. They've even lost 3 of their last 4 in Detroit!
I'm hoping Zimmer has made dominance in the division an area of emphasis.
Mothman wrote: I think as fans, we all have that one circled. I wonder how the players will feel leading up to that game?
It's hard to say. He seemed to be well-liked by the team so I imagine most of them will be glad to see him but will (obviously) want to win. I suspect the fans will be a lot more worked up about that game than the players.
The games I have "circled" are the road games in the division, especially @Chicago and @GB. It's obviously important to win against those opponents at home too but the Vikes really need to become a better road team and even with 4 team divisions, the best way to win the division is to win those divisional games, so they're significant. The Vikes are just 3-7 in their last 10 regular season trips to Green Bay and they're a pathetic 1-9 in their last 10 games in Chicago. They've even lost 3 of their last 4 in Detroit!
I'm hoping Zimmer has made dominance in the division an area of emphasis.
I believe I read somewhere that the teams that do will in the playoffs usually at least split their 8 road games at least 4-4. Or maybe I dreamed it. But it does make sense. The Vikes have been a lousy road team for years now. That in itself will prevent a team from advancing in the playoffs.
Vikings fan since Nov. 6, 1966. Annoying Packer fans since Nov. 7, 1966
Raptorman wrote:I believe I read somewhere that the teams that do will in the playoffs usually at least split their 8 road games at least 4-4. Or maybe I dreamed it. But it does make sense. The Vikes have been a lousy road team for years now. That in itself will prevent a team from advancing in the playoffs.
Mothman wrote:
... or prevent them from getting there!
I absolutely agree with both of you. I'm hoping that changes this year.
What's more, the Vikings NEED to win in their own back yard. There was a time that when Vikings played at their Dome, it pretty much was a guaranteed win. It's one of the reasons why they had a great record in 2009. I just wonder if the outdoor temporary stadium will change that or not.