Minnesota Vikings: 1 Down and 15 to Go, Predicting the Vikings Season

With the Minnesota Vikings 24-17 loss to the San Diego Chargers, let's hope we haven't seen all that quarterback Donovan McNabb and the Vikings offense could do for an entire game.

McNabb completed seven of 15 passes for only 39 yards with a touchdown and an interception—a lowly 47.9 passer rating.

While it will still take a couple of weeks to get Bill Musgrave's offense completely integrated, there wasn't much to the offense to get excited about. 

Going into the offseason, the Vikings defense had some holes to address at almost every position. Defensive end Ray Edwards bolted from the Vikings signing as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons, Linebacker Ben Leber is now in St. Louis, and the Vikings are hoping they can count on Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin for the entire season—something that has not happened since Griffin was drafted in the second round in 2006.

With one game down, and a better idea of what to expect, here's my prediction for how the other 15 games of the season will go.

Week 2: Vikings Home Opener Hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This isn't the same Tampa Bay team the Vikings would dominate when both played in the old NFC Central division.

The last time the Vikings played the Buccaneers, the quarterbacks were Gus Frerrotte and Jeff Garcia—both teams have upgraded since then.

In his second year in the NFL, Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman led the Bucs to a 10-6 record—not quite good enough for a playoff berth.

Rookie LeGarrette Blount led the Bucs in rushing for 1,007 yards in his rookie season.

The last time they played was in November of 2008 when Tampa Bay scored 13 second half points to defeat the Vikings 19-13.

The Vikings will make this one close, but look for the Vikings to start 0-2.

Tampa Bay - 23

Vikings - 18

Vikings record: 0-2

Week 3: Detroit Lions Come to Town

The pressure will be on the Vikings, and the perfect opponent comes to town.

The Vikings have a 66-32-2 record against the Lions and have won 17 of the last 20 over the last 10 seasons.

Yes, the Lions are improving and quarterback Matt Stafford was looking like an improved quarterback in his second season with six touchdowns and only one interception in three games.

Stafford has a great target in wide reciever Calvin Johnson who has averaged 74 catches over the past three seasons.

Vikings need this one and they get it.

Lions—24

Vikings—28

Vikings record: 1-2

Week 4: Vikings Travel to Kansas City to Start a Winning Streak

In 2010, the Kansas City Chiefs had only their fifth season with double-digit wins since 1995. The Chiefs seemed to sneak up on a lot of teams on their way to winning the AFC West with a 10-6 record.

After getting shellacked by Buffalo at home in Week 1, the Chiefs will not be surprising anyone this season.

Jared Allen returns to the team that drafted him in 2004. The last time these two teams played each other in 2007, Allen lined up against the Vikings and had two sacks of Kelly Holcomb as the Chiefs won 13-10.

Vikings—27

Chiefs—14

Vikings record: 2-2

Week 5: Kevin Kolb and the Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals won the Kevin Kolb sweepstakes when they were able to effect a trade for the Eagles backup. There was a lot of hype for a quarterback with only seven career starts and a 3-4 record before this season.

In the battle of teams with new veteran quarterbacks, McNabb and the Vikings will prevail.

Three wins in a row—Vikings fans start thinking things have turned around.

Cardinals—16

Vikings—33 

Vikings record: 3-2

Week 6: The Vikings Host the Bears

Just when you thought it was safe to break out the Vikings sweatshirt with a three game winning streak, the Chicago Bears come to town. The Bears have something to prove this year after falling to their dreaded rivals, at home, in the NFC Championship game.

Sure, the Vikings are coming off a three-game winning streak, and sure the Bears have interception-prone Jay Cutler leading the offense, but this is a team built on solid defense with linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs and defensive end Julius Peppers.

This is also a team the Vikings have gone 8-12 against over the last 10 seasons with three straight losses.

In 2010, the Bears swept the Vikings and outscored them 67-27. 

Even with the game on Mall of America Field, the Bears defense dominates again.

Bears—27

Vikings—6

Vikings Record: 3-3

Week 7: The Vikings Host the World Champion Packers

In back-to-back games, the Vikings get to play the other NFC Championship participant.

In the season-opening game of 2011, the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints were scoring like this was Arena Football, not the NFL.

Many Vikings fans see an opportunity to move the ball and score on the Packers. The problem is the Vikings are not the Saints and the Packers will come into town in a repeat of the last time they crossed the border.

Aaron Rodgers will pick apart the Vikings defense and Ryan Grant will excel late in the game as the Packers look to use up the clock.

There could be a late, meaningless touchdown for the Vikings, but this one will be all Packers—again.

Packers—35

Vikings—27

Another division opponent and another loss, Vikings fall to 3-4.

Week 8: Vikings Hit the Road Travelling to Carolina to Face Cam Newton

After facing both of the NFC Championship participants from 2010, the Vikings get to play the team with the worst record of 2010.

The Panthers are sporting another rookie quarterback in consecutive seasons with the No. 1 overall pick in Cam Newton. And like the Vikings, they have a new coaching staff.

The Vikings will feel the pressure of needing to get back to .500 if they are to have any chance to salvage their season.

While Newton will give the Vikings defense fits with his ability to run, they will do just enough to win the game.

Vikings—21

Panthers—18

Vikings Record: 4-4

Week 10: With a Bye Week to Get Ready the Vikes Head to Lambeau

Looking to prevent another season sweep by the Packers, the Vikings might try to control the game by focusing on running the ball in an attempt to keep it out of Aaron Rodgers' hands. It didn't work Week 1 in San Diego and it will not work in Green Bay.

While the Vikings will be successful in running the ball, it will not be enough.

Vikings—17

Packers—31

Vikings record: 4-5

Week 11: Vikings Host Oakland Raiders

The only team the Vikings might be happier to see would be the hapless Carolina Panthers again.

Quarterback Jason Campbell, a first round draft pick of the Washington Redskins in 2005, is in his second season with the Raiders. After going 7-5 in 12 starts for Oakland last season, he led the Raiders to their best finish since 2002.

I don't believe the Raiders are ready to put together another solid season. There is just too much turmoil with the Black and Silver.

Raiders—21

Vikings—28

Vikings record: 5-5

Week 12: Bill Musgrave Goes Back to Atlanta

Bill Musgrave received a lot of credit for the job he did as Matt Ryan's quarterback coach in Atlanta.

After going 13-3 and earning the top seed in the playoffs, the Falcons feel like they have some unfinished business.

Although they stumbled against the Chicago Bears 30-12 on the road to open the season, this is a very talented team that went 7-1 at home during the regular season in 2010. 

Ryan will have a field day picking apart the Vikings defensive secondary and will easily lead the Falcons to a win.

Vikings—13

Falcons—31

Vikings record: 5-6

Week 13: Vikings Host the Broncos

With so much hype over Tim Tebow a year ago, it's kind of a disappointment that Kyle Orton was able to beat him out for the starting quarterback spot.

Along with the Bengals and the Bills, the Broncos finished with the worst record in the AFC at 4-12.

With a new coaching staff in Denver, I don't see any quick changes happening. 

The Vikings don't lose at home to a team quarterbacked by Orton.

Broncos—17

Vikings—23

With a slim chance of still making the playoffs, the Vikings record climbs back to .500 at 6-6.

Week 14: Vikes Travel to Detroit

The Vikings will roll into Detroit in a game that will have last place implications in the NFC North.

If Matthew Stafford is still the Lions quarterback this late in the season, then things will be looking up for the Lions.

This is a game the Vikings will need, but the Lions defensive line will be too much for the Minnesota offensive line.

The Lions get a measure of revenge when the Vikings travel to Detroit.

Vikings—10

Lions—23

The Vikings fall to 6-7.

Week 15: New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints were able to put up 34 points against the Packers to open the 2011 NFL season. The problem was Aaron Rodgers and the Packers scored 42.

The Vikings offense and defense are nowhere near the caliber of the Packers.

Even with playing the Saints at home, Brees will pick apart the Vikings defensive like a skilled surgeon.

Saints—30

Vikings—14

The Vikings fall to 6-8, all hopes of any postseason head south like the Mississippi River.

Week 16: Mr. McNabb Returns to Washington

Last year, when the Vikings travelled to Washington D.C. to face the Redskins, it was Leslie Frazier's head coaching debut, and Donovan McNabb was the home team quarterback.

This time, McNabb will be in white and have a chance to show Redskin head coach Mike Shanahan the mistake he made.

McNabb will shine and the Vikings will roll—a little too late for it to make a difference.

Vikings—35

Redskins—16

Vikings record: 7-8

Week 17: New Year's Day in Chicago to Close out the Season

The Vikings play the Bears at Soldier Field in a New Year's Day match-up that could have playoff implications—for the Chicago Bears.

Even if the Bears have a playoff position locked up and look to play their second team, the Vikings will have even less to play for.

On the road, on a holiday, in the cold and against the Bears—you cannot get a game with any less incentive to play than this.

Bears roll much like the Lions did in the final game of 2010.

Vikings—3

Bears—27

The Vikings finish the season with a 7-9 record. While a one game improvement over 2010, it will still put them tied for last in the NFC North.