NFL preview: Minnesota Vikings
If Brett Favre isn't suspended this season for blocking below the belt, he should help the Vikings, though I certainly don't think he'll carry them to postseason glory at this stage of his career.
Projected finish: 10-6 (2nd in NFC North)
Before the Vikings finally ended their flirtation with Favre and brought him aboard, I had them pegged for nine wins. I've given them one more since, but still have them being one of two 10-win teams in the NFC that's left on the outside looking in at the playoffs. Their defense will be good, as long as it stays healthy and tackles Kevin and Pat Williams don't finally serve their long-pending suspensions, but beyond the spectacular defensive line, it is merely average. As for the offense, Adrian Peterson is obviously an elite running back, but Favre isn't going to make an otherwise terrible passing game an effective one when he's banged up and almost 40 years old.
Favre is an upgrade over Sage Rosenfelds and Tarvaris Jackson, but there are probably 30 other quarterbacks in the league about whom that statement is true. He had some good moments with the Jets last year, but he also delivered a total bomb in a must-win game at Seattle. Playing in a domed home stadium will help Favre's cause, as long as he doesn't get plowed into the turf shoulder-first by a 300-pound lineman. Having Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice, Jaymar Johnson and Bobby Wade as his receivers will hurt the cause, though TEs Visanthe Shiancoe and Jim Kleinsasser give Favre some semblance of NFL-caliber targets.
Peterson should run wild behind a loaded, at least on its left side, offensive line, and backup Chester Taylor will fill in like few second-teamers are capable when Peterson needs to catch his breath. Bryant McKinnie is an above-average left tackle, and Steve Hutchinson is one of the premier left guards in the league, though he's aging. John Sullivan, Anthony Herrera, Phil Loadholt and FBNaufahu Tahi round out the group of guys that will open holes for Peterson and try to keep Favre upright. One thing to keep in mind: Peterson is a below-average receiver out of the backfield, so that's one less possible place for Favre to go with the football.
The Williams Wall is menacing in stopping the run, but commissioner Roger Goodell could well tear it down, for a few games anyway. If not, the Vikings boast a fearsone defensive front, as end Jared Allen might be the league's best pass rusher right now. The other DE, Ray Edwards, is the only player that isn't a standout on the front four.
Minnesota should be decent at linebacker. OLB Chad Greenway is a very nice young player, but MLB E.J. Henderson needs to bounce back from an injury-shortened 2008 and OLB Ben Leber needs to prove he can be a first-team player. Cedric Griffin and Antoine Winfield each exceeded 90 tackles last year at the cornerback spots ... which isn't necessarily a good thing. Tyrell Johnson and Madieu Williams probably won't make Vikings fans forget about Darren Sharper any time soon at the safety spots.
