(Photo Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports)
Key Players Returning:
QB Kirk Cousins, FB C.J. Ham, WR Justin Jefferson, WR KJ Osborn, TE TJ Hockenson, OC Garrett Bradbury, OG Ezra Cleveland, OG Ed Ingram, OT Christian Darrisaw, OT Brian O’Neill, DE Danielle Hunter, DE Harrison Phillips, NT Khyiris Tonga, LB Jordan Hicks, LB Pat Jones II, LB DJ Wonnum, FS Camryn Bynum, SS Josh Metellus, SS Harrison Smith, KR Kene Kwangwu, PR Jalen Reagor, PK Greg Joseph and PT Ryan Wright.
Key Players Departing:
RB Dalvin Cook (UFA), WR Adam Thielen (Panthers), DT Dalvin Tomlinson (Browns), LB Eric Kendricks (Chargers), LB Za’Darius Smith (Browns), CB Cameron Dantzler Sr. (Bills), CB Patrick Peterson (Steelers), CB Duke Shelley (Raiders) and CB Chandon Sullivan (Steelers).
Key Players Added:
DE Dean Lowry (Packers), LB Marcus Davenport (Saints) and PR Brandon Powell (Rams)
Draft Picks
Round 1: Pick 023 – WR Jordan Addison (USC)
Round 3: Pick 102 – CB Mekhi Blackmon (USC)
Round 4: Pick 134 – NB Jay Ward (LSU)
Round 5: Pick 141 – DT Jaquelin Roy (LSU)
Round 5: Pick 164 – QB Jaren Hall (BYU)
Round 7: Pick 222 – RB DeWayne McBride (UAB)
2022 Results:
W01 PACKERS W 23-7
W02 @ Eagles L 7-24
W03 LIONS W 28-24
W04 SAINTS W 28-25
W05 BEARS W 26-22
W06 @ Dolphins W 24-16
W08 CARDINALS W 34-26
W09 @ Commanders W 20-17
W10 @ Bills W | OT 33-30
W11 COWBOYS L 3-40
W12 PATRIOTS W 33-28
W13 JETS W 27-22
W14 @ Lions L 23-34
W15 COLTS W | OT 39-38
W16 GIANTS W 27-24
W17 @ Packers L 17-41
W18 @ Bears W 29-13
WC GIANTS L 24-31
Team Info:
2022 Overall: 13-4 (1st in NFC North)
Home: 9-1
Away: 5-3
North: 4-2
NFC: 8-4
AFC: 5-0
Head Coach: Kevin O’Connell
Minnesota: 13-5
Career: 13-5
Playoffs: 0-1
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Kirk Cousins (424-643, 4547 yards, 65.9%, 7.1 avg., 29 TD, 14 INT)
Rushing: Alexander Mattison (74 car., 283 yards, 3.8 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving: Justin Jefferson (128 rec., 1173 yards, 14.1 avg., 8 TD)
Yards After Catch: Justin Jefferson (613)
TD’s Scored: Justin Jefferson (9)
Sacks: Danielle Hunter (10.5)
Tackles: Jordan Hicks (129)
Interceptions: Harrison Smith (5)
Pass Deflections: Cameron Dantzler (10)
Tackles For Loss: Jordan Hicks/Harrison Smith (10)
Forced Fumbles: 8 Tied (1)
Kick Returns: Kene Kwangwu (35 ret., 920 yards, 26.3 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns: Jalen Reagor (26 ret., 167 yards, 6.4 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Greg Joseph (26-33 fg/fga., 79%, 40-46 xp/xpa., 110 pts.)
Punting: Ryan Wright (73 punts, 3457 yards, 47.4 avg., 32 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 8 Kirk Cousins
RB: 2 Alexander Mattison
WR: 18 Justin Jefferson
WR: 3 Jordan Addison |R|
WR: 17 KJ Osborn
TE: 87 TJ Hockenson
LT: 71 Christian Darrisaw
LG: 72 Ezra Cleveland
OC: 56 Garrett Bradbury
RG: 67 Ed Ingram
RT: 75 Brian O’Neill
KR: 26 Kene Nwangwu
PK: 1 Greg Joseph
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 94 Dean Lowry
NT: 95 Khyiris Tonga
DE: 97 Harrison Phillips
LB: 99 Danielle Hunter
LB: 58 Jordan Hicks
LB: Brian Asamoah II
LB: 00 Marcus Davenport
CB: 23 Andrew Booth Jr.
CB: 21 Akayleb Evans
FS: 24 Camryn Bynum
SS: 22 Harrison Smith
PR: 19 Branon Powell
PT: 14 Ryan Wright
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: A
Schedule:
09/10 BUCCANEERS | Minnesota leads the series 33-23. The Vikings lost (14-26) the last meeting between teams in 2020.
09/14 @ Eagles | Minnesota trails the series 13-15. The Vikings are 3-3 since 2013 and their last series win (38-20) was in 2019.
09/24 CHARGERS | Minnesota leads the series 8-6. The Vikings won (27-20) the last meeting between teams in 2021.
10/01 @ Panthers | Minnesota leads the series 10-6. The Vikings won (34-28) the last meeting between teams in 2021.
10/08 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Minnesota trails the series 5-8. The Vikings lost (23-26) the last meeting between teams in 2019.
10/15 @ Bears | Minnesota leads the series 62-51-1. The Vikings are 12-8 since 2013 and their last series road loss (6-16) was in 2019.
10/23 49ERS | Minnesota trails the series 18-20-1. The Vikings lost (26-34) the last meeting between teams in 2021.
10/29 @ Packers | The series is tied 56-56-1. The Vikings are 8-12 since 2013 and their last series road win (28-22) was in 2020.
11/05 @ Falcons | Minnesota leads the series 20-12. The Vikings lost (23-40) the last meeting between teams in 2020.
11/12 SAINTS | Minnesota leads the series 24-13. The Vikings won (28-25) last season’s meeting between teams and their last series loss (33-52) was in 2020.
11/19 @ Broncos | Minnesota leads the series 8-7. The Vikings won (27-23) the last meeting between teams in 2019.
11/27 BEARS | The Vikings last series home loss (27-33) was in 2020.
12/10 @ Raiders | Minnesota trails the series 6-10. The Vikings won (34-14) the last meeting between teams in 2019.
12/16 @ Bengals | The series is tied 7-7. The Vikings lost (24-27) the last meeting between teams in 2021.
12/24 LIONS | Minnesota leads the series 78-34-1. The Vikings are 13-7 since 2013 and their last series home loss (7-14) was in 2017.
12/31 PACKERS | The Vikings last series home loss (34-43) was in 2020.
01/07 @ Lions | The Vikings last series road win (37-35) was in 2020.
Prediction:
Home: 3-5
Road: 1-8
North: 2-4
NFC: 3-9
AFC: 1-3
Overall: 4-13 (4th in NFC North)
Series Histories: Histories are from the inception of the first Super Bowl season through present day. Meetings prior to 1966 are not included. Playoff wins are included in the year the season took place. For example, if a team won a wildcard game in January of 2023, the game will be listed under the 2022 season.
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