What to Expect From the Minnesota Vikings in 2010

One bad throw.

One bad throw was all it took for the Minnesota Vikings to not make it to the Super Bowl in Miami, Florida against the Indianapolis Colts.

Brett Favre, a hero all season long, had left Vikings fans in complete astonishment due to his inability to run for a simple three or four yard gain to put the ball in range for Ryan Longwell to nail a field goal to win the game.

Despite the interception thrown by Favre, Minnesota is still behind perhaps the greatest quarterback to ever play the game.

And why wouldn't they be?

It's been a topic of question for the last four offseasons now. The question is always whether or not Favre will come back for one more year.

Minnesota signed Brett to a two-year deal in August of 2009. Many wondered why the Vikings would do this because they assumed he only had one year left in the tank.

Does anybody realize that Favre likely told them to put two years on the contract because he knew he had that much left in the tank?

It was reported that Brett had surgery on his injured ankle on Friday afternoon, a surgery that was required if he is going to be able to play quarterback for the Vikings during the 2010-2011 season.

Brett would not need this surgery if he was just planning on lounging around the house with his wife and children. It is an injury that will likely heal on it's own over time.

With him having the surgery this early, Brett will likely be 100 percent by late July to early August, at the latest.

With Favre at the helm, the Vikings are obviously a much better team.

The idea of Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels starting for Minnesota at quarterback, quite frankly, scares the living heck out of me.

I sincerely hope that the Vikings don't have to ever settle for either one of these two starting for a full season.

As for this season, Minnesota is certainly primed for a big run in the playoffs that could include a trip to the Super Bowl—because they haven't just stayed at the same talent level, they've gotten better.

Although they lost Chester Taylor, the Vikings did bring in one of the hardest runners in the game today in Toby Gerhart.

Minnesota also improved in the secondary by adding Chris Cook, a cornerback from Virginia, in the draft. Additionally, they signed a great nickle cornerback in Lito Sheppard, a former Philadelphia Eagle and New York Jet.

If the Vikings are able to control the pass better than they have in prior years, they will undoubtedly have a top five defense.

Minnesota has always had a tremendous run defense that almost never gives up more than 100 yards to a running back in a game.

If you add a shut-down run defense to a solid pass defense, you have an overall great defense.

As we all know, the Vikings are one of the best teams in the league, offensively. They have multiple weapons, including Adrian Peterson, Toby Gerhart, Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, and Visanthe Shiancoe.

If Brett Favre is able to maintain his constant ability to start every game, Minnesota is bound for another tremendous year on offense.

Sidney Rice wouldn't have had as great of a season with the Vikings had it not been for Brett Favre.

There is absolutely no way that Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels would've been able to deliver the ball to Rice as accurately as Favre did.


Vikings schedule:

Week 1: Thursday, September 9, @ New Orleans
Week 2: Sunday, September 19, vs. Miami
Week 3: Sunday, September 26, vs. Detroit
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: Monday, October 11, @ New York Jets
Week 6: Sunday, October 17, vs. Dallas
Week 7: Sunday, October 24, @ Green Bay
Week 8: Sunday, October 31, @ New England
Week 9: Sunday, November 7, vs. Arizona
Week 10: Sunday, November 14, @ Chicago
Week 11: Sunday, November 21, vs. Green Bay
Week 12: Sunday, November 28, @ Washington
Week 13: Sunday, December 5, vs. Buffalo
Week 14: Sunday, December 12, vs. New York Giants
Week 15: Monday, December 20, vs. Chicago
Week 16: Sunday, December 26, @ Philadelphia
Week 17: Sunday, January 2, @ Detroit


Predicted Wins: Saints, Dolphins, Lions, Cowboys, Cardinals, Packers (once), Redskins, Bills, Giants, Bears, Lions

Predicted Losses: Jets, Packers (once), Patriots, Eagles


If it does work out this way, Minnesota would finish with a solid record of 12-4.

Minnesota's schedule is reasonably tough this year, but I think they will beat most of the teams that are around their skill level or a little below it.

I don't see the Vikings losing any more than four games. They have definitely improved since last year, so their win-loss record shouldn't drop.

If anything, it should increase.

Vikings fans have plenty to look forward to this year. Having Favre at the helm is always an exciting thing to watch.

It's really going to be a tragic day when Brett Favre finally does hang up the cleats once and for all.