(TE TJ Hockenson – AP Photo)
Key Players Returning:
FB C.J. Ham, WR Jordan Addison, WR Justin Jefferson, TE TJ Hockenson, OC Garrett Bradbury, OG Ed Ingram, OT Christian Darrisaw, OT Brian O’Neill, DE Jonathan Bullard, NT Harrison Phillips, LB Pat Jones II, LB Ivan Pace Jr., CB Mekhi Blackmon, CB Akayleb Evans, CB Byron Murphy Jr., NB Josh Metellus, FS Camryn Bynum, SS Harrison Smith, KR Kene Kwangwu, PR Brandon Powell, and PT Ryan Wright.
Key Players Departing:
QB Kirk Cousins (Falcons), RB Alexander Mattison (Raiders), WR KJ Osborn (Patriots), OG Ezra Cleveland (Jaguars), DE Danielle Hunter (Texans), NT Khyiris Tonga (Cardinals), LB Jordan Hicks (Browns), LB DJ Wonnum (Panthers), and PK Greg Joseph (Packers).
Key Players Added:
QB Sam Darnold (49ers), RB Aaron Jones (Packers), WR Trent Sherfield (Bills), OC Den Feeney (Bears), DE Jonah Williams (Rams), DE Jerry Tillery (Raiders), LB Blake Cashman (Texans), LB Jonathan Greenard (Texans), LB Andrew Van Ginkel (Dolphins), LB Jihad Ward (Giants), and PK John Parker Romo (Bears).
(JJ McCarthy – AP Photo)
Draft Picks
Round 1: Pick 010 – QB JJ McCarthy (Michigan)
Round 1: Pick 017 – EDGE Dallas Turner (Alabama)
Round 4: Pick 108 – CB Khyree Jackson (Oregon)
Round 6: Pick 177 – OT Walter Rouse (Oklahoma)
Round 6: Pick 203 – PK Will Reichard (Alabama)
Round 7: Pick 230 – OC Michael Jurgens (Wake Forest)
Round 7: Pick 232 – NT Levi Drake Rodriquez (Texas A&M-Commerce)
2023 Results:
W01 BUCCANEERS L 17-20
W02 @ Eagles L 28-34
W03 CHARGERS L 24-28
W04 @ Panthers W 21-13
W05 CHIEFS L 20-27
W06 @ Bears W 19-13
W07 49ERS W 22-17
W08 @ Packers W 24-10
W09 @ Falcons W 31-28
W10 SAINTS W 27-19
W11 @ Denver L 20-21
W12 BEARS L 10-12
Bye Week
W14 @ Raiders W 3-0
W15 @ Bengals L (OT) 24-27
W16 LIONS L 24-30
W17 PACKERS L 10-33
W18 @ Lions L 20-30
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 7-10 (3rd in NFC North)
Home: 2-6
Away: 5-4
North: 2-4
NFC: 6-6
AFC: 1-4
Head Coach: Kevin O’Connell
Minnesota: 20-15
Career: 20-15
Playoffs: 0-1
(FS Camryn Bynum – AP Photo)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Nick Mullins (100-148, 1306 yards, 67.6%, 8.8 avg., 7 TD, 8 INT)
Rushing: Ty Chandler (102 car., 461 yards, 4.5 avg., 3 TD)
Receiving: TJ Hockenson (95 rec., 960 yards, 10.1 avg., 5 TD)
Yards After Catch: TJ Hockenson (336)
TD’s Scored: Jordan Addison (10)
Sacks: Harrison Phillips/Harrison Smith (3)
Tackles: Camryn Bynum (137)
Interceptions: Byron Murphy Jr. (3)
Pass Deflections: Byron Murphy Jr. (13)
Tackles For Loss: Josh Metellus (7)
Forced Fumbles: Josh Mettelus (4)
Kick Returns: Kene Kwangwu (15 ret., 380 yards, 25.3 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Brandon Powell (37 ret., 289 yards, 7.8 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: Ryan Wright (59 punts, 2873 yards, 48.7 avg., 16 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 14 Sam Darnold
RB: 33 Aaron Jones
WR: 18 Justin Jefferson
WR: 3 Jordan Addison
WR: 4 Brandon Powell
TE: 87 TJ Hockenson
LT: 71 Christian Darrisaw
LG: 66 Dalton Risner
OC: 56 Garrett Bradbury
RG: 67 Ed Ingram
RT: 75 Brian O’Neill
KR: 26 Kene Nwangwu
PK: 46 Will Reichard
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 90 Jonathan Bullard
NT: 97 Harrison Phillips
DE: 99 Jerry Tillery
LB: 58 Jonathan Greenard
LB: 51 Blake Cashman
LB: 0 Ivan Pace Jr.
LB: 43 Andrew Van Ginkel
CB: 7 Byron Murphy Jr.
CB: 1 Shaq Griffin
FS: 24 Camryn Bynum
SS: 22 Harrison Smith
PR: 4 Brandon Powell
PT: 17 Ryan Wright
(LB Jonathan Greenard – via Minnesota Vikings)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: A
Secondary: A
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: C
Punters: A
Schedule:
09/08 @ Giants | Minnesota leads the series 16-13. The Vikings are 4-1 since restarting the series in 2015, and their last series road loss (7-23) dates back to 2013.
09/15 49ERS | Minnesota trails the series 19-20-1. The Vikings are 2-3 since restarting the series in 2015, and their last series loss (26-34) was in 2021.
09/22 TEXANS | Minnesota leads the series 5-0. The Vikings won (31-23) the last meeting between teams in 2020.
09/29 @ Packers | The series is tied 57-57-3. The Vikings are 9-10-1 since 2014, and their last series road loss (17-41) was in 2022.
10/06 JETS | Minnesota trails the series 4-8. The Vikings won (27-22) the last meeting between teams in 2022.
10/20 LIONS | Minnesota leads the series 78-36-1. The Vikings are 11-9 since 2014, and their last series home win (28-24) was in 2022.
10/24 @ Rams | Minnesota leads the series 21-15-1. The Vikings are 3-2 since 2014, and they lost (23-30) the last meeting between teams in 2021.
11/03 COLTS | Minnesota trails the series 6-10-1. The Vikings won (39-36) the last meeting between teams in 2022.
11/10 @ Jaguars | Minnesota leads the series 6-1. The Vikings won (27-24) the last meeting between teams in 2020, and their only series loss (3-33) was in 2001.
11/17 @ Titans | Minnesota leads the series 9-5. The Vikings lost (30-31) the last meeting between teams in 2020.
11/24 @ Bears | Minnesota leads the series 63-52-1. The Vikings are 12-8 since 2014, and their last series road loss (6-16) was in 2019.
12/01 CARDINALS | Minnesota leads the series 18-11. The Vikings are 3-2 since restarting the series in 2015, and they won (34-26) the last meeting between teams in 2022.
12/08 FALCONS | Minnesota leads the series 21-12. The Vikings are 5-1 since 2014, and their last series loss (23-40) was in 2020
12/16 BEARS | The Vikings last series home win (29-22) was in 2022.
12/22 @ Seahawks | Minnesota trails the series 6-13. The Vikings are 1-5 since restarting the series 2015, and they won (30-17) the last meeting between teams in 2021.
12/29 PACKERS | The Vikings last series home win (23-7) was in 2022.
01/05 @ Lions | The Vikings last series road win (37-35) was in 2020.
Predictions:
Home: 6-3
Road: 4-4
North: 4-2
NFC: 7-5
AFC: 3-2
Overall: 10-7 (2nd in NFC North/6th Seed – Eliminated in Wild Card Round)
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 2024, the game will be listed under the 2023 season.
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