Randy Moss a Minnesota Viking: Super Bowl Bound?

The Minnesota Vikings have struggled during the first three weeks of the season.  That was without Randy Moss.  

The team started the season with two tough losses to the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins.  Minnesota then avoided going 0-3 by defeating the Detroit Lions.   

Besides Adrian Peterson, Brett Favre simply did not have many weapons.  

Percy Harvin has been inconsistent and the injury to Sidney Rice clearly affected the offense.  

It is also did not help that Favre was selfish and missed valuable opportunities to build chemistry with his wide receivers.   

The acquisition of Randy Moss is a clear sign that the Minnesota Vikings are trying to win the Super Bowl now.  

This move certainly improves their chances, but does it make the Vikings a favorite?  

There are still a lot of questions in Minnesota.  Although, the acquisition of Randy Moss certainly makes the Vikings a Super Bowl contender.

The Minnesota Vikings Still Need To Make The Playoffs

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 19: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings watches from the sidelines during the first half of the game against the Miami Dolphins on September 19, 2010 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Pho

It is not an easy task to make the playoffs after starting the season 0-2.  

The Minnesota Vikings currently sit at third place in the NFC North, behind the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. 

Although the Bears defeated the Packers, Green Bay is still the favorite to win the division.  In fact, they will win the division.  

Randy Moss and the Vikings need to focus on winning a wild card spot.  Although, a lot of their success will certainly depend on their play against the Bears and Packers.  

Minnesota still has to play each of those teams twice this season.   

The next four games of the season may make or break their playoff hopes: 

at New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, at Green Bay Packers, at New England Patriots 

However, Minnesota has a favorable schedule down the stretch.  It is always important to get hot at the end of the season and that momentum may carry the team to the Super Bowl.  

The Minnesota Vikings will finish either 9-7 or 10-6.   

A 10-6 record will guarantee a playoff spot and a 9-7 record may also get the Vikings in.  

Can The Team Stay Healthy?

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS - JANUARY 17: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings congratulates wide receiver Sidney Rice #18 on his 45 yard touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the fourth quarter of the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Hubert H. Humphr

Brett Favre will turn 41-years old a day before the Minnesota Vikings' game against the New York Jets.  

The timetable for Sidney Rice's return in very uncertain.  Right now it is looking like early-mid November.  

Percy Harvin may start experiencing migraines again.   

Although Randy Moss is a great, great player, the Minnesota Vikings need their offense to be completely healthy in order to win the Super Bowl.  

It will be very interesting to see how effective Rice is when he does return to the team.  If he is healthy, that offense may suddenly become the best in the NFL.  

Who will opponents' defenses try and shut down?  Brett Favre will have the most dangerous weapons that he has ever had.

Not to mention a Favre favorite in Visante Shiancoe.   

However, like any team in the NFL, Minnesota's success is very dependent on their health.  

Brett Favre does have a good track record, but do not be surprised if defenses go after his ankle.  

Hard to feel sorry for a guy that has those kind of weapons at his disposal. 

What If Randy Moss Isn't Randy Moss Anymore?

Elsa/Getty Images

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 10: Randy Moss #81 of the New England Patriots sits on the bench dejected late in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens during the 2010 AFC wild-card playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 10, 2010 in Foxboro, Massach

Most of this article has assumed that Randy Moss will play like a number one wide receiver.  

However, his stats this season aren't too explosive.  Three touchdowns, 139 yards.  

It is not like he had some chump throwing to him.  It is not like he was the only good wide receiver on the team.  

So why is his production so low?  Why did the New England Patriots trade him? 

Say what you want about Bill Bilichick, but the man does have two Super Bowl rings.  

What if the film showed that teams were not doubling Moss?  What if he simply can not get that open anymore?  

It is not like Brett Favre is a top five quarterback anymore either.  He is certainly not better than Tom Brady.  

However, Favre loves to just toss the ball up there and Moss is the perfect guy to go get it.

Hate to burst your bubble Minnesota fans, but it is possible that Randy Moss is quickly declining.  

He is 33-years old.  

Can The Minnesota Vikings Win The NFC?

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS - OCTOBER 05: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings hugs Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers following the Vikings victory over the Packers on October 5, 2009 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (P

Let's assume that Randy Moss helps the Minnesota Vikings make the playoffs with a 10-6 record and earn the top wild card spot.  

The other the NFC playoff teams will most likely be:  

Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and a NFC West representative (does not really matter who).   

A top wild card spot would match the Vikings up against the NFC West winner.  That should be an easy win.  

Then Minnesota has to go on the road to either New Orleans or Green Bay.   

Could we see another "mooning" incident?    

Seriously Joe Buck, calm down.  Maybe Buck would not freak out this time since Randy Moss in on Brett Favre's team.   

The Green Bay Packers do have a questionable pass defense, so that shootout could go either way.

The Saints do not seem to be as good as last year, so maybe Randy Moss could get the Vikings over that hump.  

To be honest, I see the Cowboys as the toughest obstacle.  Dallas has the best defense out of all those teams, as we saw in their game against the Houston Texans.  

Minnesota's games in Week 6 and Week 7 against Dallas and Green Bay respectively will show how the new-look Vikings stack up against the rest of the NFC.  

If they win both of those games without Sidney Rice, look out.  

However for now, the Minnesota Vikings are not Super Bowl bound.