2009 Record: 12-4, Division Champions
2009 Playoff Record: 1-1
Key Losses: Chester Taylor, Benny Sapp, Sage Rosenfels
Key Additions: Lito Sheppard, Chris Cook, Toby Gerhart
For the past two seasons Brett Favre has been trying to win a Championship for the first time outside of Green Bay, he's hoping that this is the year he actually does it. If Minnesota makes it to the playoffs it will be the third time they have done it with a highly talented team, but they're hoping they can have better success than the past two occasions where they were unceremoniously bounced in the conference game. Everyone in the locker room is hoping that the third time is the charm for the Vikes, and it very well could be. Unlike the division rival Lions, however, this team is not looking for long-term success. There are many aging players on this roster, and if they fail to win a Superbowl this year it could be the last chance this team has at a playoffs for at least a few more.
They are in an extremely good position to repeat, though. They've retained almost all of their talent, added some young players, and addressed a position of need at corner. If there was one area where Minnesota needed improvement it was defense. They did rank sixth in the league in total defense and second in rush defense, but they were 19th in pass defense and 26th in interceptions despite leading the league in sacks. They made an upgrade at corner, widely called out as the weak link in their secondary, by grabbing former Jet Lito Sheppard. Sheppard is definitely an upgrade, but like Dunta Robinson in Atlanta there is a question of whether or not it will be enough. Their safeties are also a bit suspect, and with passers like Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler to deal with in addition to the great passers in the East divisions, the position could still prove to be a weak spot.
The rest of the defense is solid. Second against the run is great, and they've retained all of their linebackers in addition to getting E.J. Henderson back from injury. The Williams Wall is going to be there for another full season, and Edwards and Allen form the best pass rushing duo in the league on the outside. When I talk about the age of this team, though, defense is one area that stands out. This team has built itself around this defense for years, and some of the players are getting fairly old. Star tackle Pat Williams is entering his fourteenth year in the league. Most of their other defensive starters are hovering around 6 years or more, with the bigger concerns being around the ones nearing ten. Without Pat this team loses a step, and if it takes a couple of years to recover from that step then more of this team's starts start to look like Pat does now, as getting to the end of their careers.
Speaking of which, Brett Favre has to be nearing his as well. He had to undergo surgery in order to be able to play this season, and after the beating he took against New Orleans in the post-season many were questioning whether he would be back at all. He's back, but for how long is the question. Like Pat he is a keystone to this team's success, and if he leaves before this team wins a championship the repercussions could last a while. Still, when he is on the team he gives them an increased chance to win, especially if he plays like he did last year. During the 2009 season he threw only seven interceptions, a career low, though the Vikings' playoff hopes did end on one of those as did the Packers' the last two times he was playing in an important game for them. That is the other major weakness of this team, turnovers. One could argue that the turnovers committed by Favre and fumble-prone Adrian Peterson cost the Vikings the conference game and a Superbowl berth last year. Much of the Vikings' success this year could depend on Favre and Peterson's ability to protect the football.
The Vikings still have a tremendous running game, though, as they rushed for almost 2,000 yards as a team last season. Adrian Peterson is one of the best backs in the league, with fumbling being the one thing holding him back. That success starts with the line, though the line didn't have as much success in pass protection. They were lauded for keeping Favre upright last year, but despite that praise ranked 17th in the league and gave up 34 sacks. It's not a problem area, but it is an area I would want to see improvement in if I were Childress. This division is full of teams that are hungry for sacks; Chicago and Detroit both added some great pass rushers and Green Bay's scheme is predicated on getting plenty of sacks. If Minnesota isn't careful those 34 sacks could increase, which probably means more interceptions from Favre. If they want to take the division again they are going to have to have great protection against some of the best pass rushers in the league.
Minnesota does have a good chance to repeat, but they have to be air tight. Their secondary must improve from last year if they want to compete against quarterbacks like Rodgers, Cutler, McNabb, Brady, and others. They also are going to have to protect the ball, which means eliminating fumbles and protecting Favre. That won't be an easy task against the defenses they'll face. Chicago and Detroit will be improved from last year, Green Bay will look to continue their success on defense, and the rest of the teams they'll be facing won't be pushovers, either. I'll go back to week 16 of last season when they lost to the Chicago Bears. The Bears have improved from that game, as have most of Green Bay's opponents from last season. I don't know if the Vikings have done enough to keep pace, though they certainly do still have the advantage of already having been there. Still, I don't know that I can pencil them in as repeating Division Champions right now, I have a feeling they'll be fighting for a Wild Card spot come late season.
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