Vikings: Is the hype too good to be true?

Minnesota has surprised many with a 6-2 record, but a letdown is still a possibility

This year, the Minnesota Vikings have been one of the most surprising teams in the NFL. Led by a stellar head coach in Mike Zimmer and a top-5 defense, the Vikings looked poised for a breakout year at the beginning of this year. The only thing that was in our way was the division foe, the Green Bay Packers. Now with quarterback Aaron Rodgers out possibly the whole year, the Vikings seem poised to not only clinch the division, but go far in the playoffs. Before we all start sipping on the orange Kool-Aid, we must remember the Vikings have a long-storied history of collapsing right before our eyes.

The Vikings have made major improvements this year, compared to the year before. With the rise of backup quarterback Case Keenum, and a solid wide-receiving core with Minnesota State grad, Adam Thielen, and high-flying Stefon Diggs, the sky is the limit for the team. Here’s three reasons to not trust the Vikings moving forward into the season, and beyond.

Injuries

The Vikings have been plagued with the injury-bug the last couple of years. After starting last season 5-0, the team had a total of ten total players placed on injured reserve (IR), which was the most in the NFL. This has also played a part in the team’s current season. With big pieces, including Dalvin Cook, Sam Bradford, and Shariff Floyd all suffering from injuries, it may be tough towards the end of the season to win games.

Weak Schedule

The team has faced only two teams this year that have a record above .500 (Saints and the Steelers), while every other team they’ve faced this year is currently at, or below the .500 mark for the season. The combined record of the teams they’ve faced this year is 27-33, which is a mere .450 winning percentage. Looking forward, the Vikings will run into some tough opponents, including the red-hot Rams, the Redskins, and the Falcons. The second half of their schedule will surely be a test for them.

Aaron Rodgers Could Still Play

As of right know, Aaron Rodgers is out for several weeks. This is scary for a Vikings fan because they don’t have Aaron playing, there are many rumors circulating that he could come back for the Packers towards the end of the year. If that’s the case, it could spell disaster for the Vikings. The Packers don’t have a very difficult schedule towards the end of the year, which could make week 16’s matchup at Lambeau Field a fight for the division title. While I do believe the Vikings are going to win the division, we’ve seen in the past that anything is possible in the NFL.