The Vikings 2009 regular season schedule has been released.
Matchups I like
The Vikings first five games.
The Vikings start with two games on the road – against the crappy Browns and the crappy Lions. Then they get two home games against the crappy 49ers and a Packers team that I expect to be good (that's a toss-up, I realize, but considering these teams generally split the season series and the Vikes rarely win at Lambeau, I like the Vikes chances at home). Then the Vikings get to play a crappy Rams team on the road. Sweet!
Matchups I don't like
Oct. 18 vs. Balitmore: Sage Rosenfels didn't fare too well against the Ravens D last year and I suspect Tarvaris Jackson won't fare any better if he somehow beats out Rosenfels for the starting job. Ed Reed's already got this game circled on his 2009 calendar.
Oct. 25 @ Pittsburgh: Obviously, playing the Steelers, on the road, on the horrible Heinz Field turf, against the Steelers suffocating run defence, doesn't bode well for a Vikings team that depends on big plays from Adrian Peterson to score points.
Dec. 6 @ Arizona: The reigning NFC champions will be looking for some payback.
Dec. 28 @ Chicago: A night game. At Soldier Field. In late December. Need I write more?
I'm seeing another 10-6 season here and a wildcard playoff berth. Maybe even 11-5 or 12-4 and a divisional title if Rosenfels wins the starting job, starts all 16 games and throws no more than 15 interceptions.
Thoughts anyone?
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2 comments:
As Vikings fans, we generally talk about how we're on the cusp of being a great team, or a player or two away from going to Super Bowl.
This may be true, but we're also a player or two from being a bad team. If we lose Pat and Kevin Williams for the first four games of the season, those four games don't look as easy anymore. Also, barring any clever draft picks / trades, we're a marginally better team than last year AT BEST. We're a key injury or suspension away from being a WORSE team than last year.
Still, I expect the Purple to make the playoffs next season. 10-6.
Travis:
Thanks for the pessimism. Those first four games might not be so easy without Pat and Kevin Williams but if the Williams boys are going to be suspended for four games – that's a better stretch to be suspended for then, say, the stretch of games starting when Baltimore comes to town.
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