The Vikings can use their game against the Chargers on Sunday in San Diego as a first step to show the national media its predictions about them are incorrect. Sports Illustrated pro football authority Peter King predicts the Chargers will play in next February’s Super Bowl, losing 24-20 to Atlanta.
Sports Illustrated is among the national media that implies or states the Vikings − 12-4 two years ago but 6-10 last season ─ are in rebuilding mode. S.I. forecasts the NFC North order of finish as follows: Packers, Lions, Bears and Vikings.
S.I. headlines its Vikings story with this: “The Donovan McNabb gamble could pay off big − or go bust.” Will the 34-year-old quarterback resemble his best seasons in Philly, or replicate more recent performances in Washington?
Sporting News Magazine’s NFL preview offers the same predicted order of finish in the NFC North as S.I., and projects wins and losses for each team. The Packers will finish 15-1, the Lions and Bears 8-8, and the Vikings 5-11, according to Sporting News.
This might be irritating, but ProFootballWeekly.com managing editor Mike Holbrook is preaching the same predicted order in the division as the two magazines. Ditto ESPN radio’s Colin Cowherd.
Critics not only wonder about the quarterback but also the receivers, offensive and defensive lines, and the safeties. That’s a lot of doubt, but if McNabb’s okay, and Adrian Peterson is all-world, and Jared Allen and Chad Greenway lead a revived defense, and Leslie Frazier coaches like Tony Dungy, the Vikings might even surprise themselves. (Whew. That’s a lot of ifs).
Placekicker Ryan Longwell has been with Vikings teams going back to 2006. He thinks the focus of this team in preseason has helped prepare the club for the 16 game regular season schedule that starts Sunday.
“I think we’re all excited. It’s been a different camp for us than the past couple of years in the fact that it’s been quiet and business-like, the way it should be,” Longwell said. “I think for a team like us, with a lot of new pieces, new coaching and players, I think it’s actually what you want. You want to be a little under the radar and be able to work. And that’s what we’ve been able to do. …”
Longwell said NFL observers may see a talent gap between the Packers and Vikings but his locker room doesn’t analyze it that way. “I think the people that pick (forecast) the record, you can’t pick it until it’s all over with,” he said.