Each Friday this NFL season, we’re taking a quick look at the league’s most interesting team in action that weekend. This week, we’re going with the Minnesota Vikings.
Why the Vikings? Because Sam Bradford looked like Tom freakin’ Brad circa 2007 against the Green Bay Packers in his Vikings debut Sunday night, but now the oft-injured, inconsistent former No. 1 overall pick has to prove that wasn’t a fluke. Plus, it’ll be Minnesota’s first game without star running back Adrian Peterson. How exactly will they go about replacing the reigning rushing champion? We’ll find out Sunday in Charlotte.
Why this week? Because it’s one thing to beat a troubled Packers team at home, but it’s another to walk into Carolina and beat the defending NFC champions on the road. Can Bradford hang in with Cam Newton? Can the Minnesota defense continue to dominate opposing quarterbacks? They shut down Marcus Mariota in Week 1 and Aaron Rodgers in Week 2, so this is a big test. Plus, what will they get from Jerick McKinnon, Matt Asiata and/or Ronnie Hillman.
What should we expect? I have no idea what the Vikings will bring to the table Sunday, which is what makes them so damn interesting. I’ll be watching the entire team closely, especially Bradford, the backs and blossoming wideout Stefon Diggs, who leads the NFL with 285 receiving yards.
Put it all together and for at least one weekend, the Vikings are America’s most interesting football team.
