What Direction Will The Minnesota Vikings go in 2013?

We are about a full month away from the start of the 2013 NFL regular season. This story I will look into what has happened in the few weeks of Minnesota Vikings training camp, and also give my predictions for this upcoming Viking season.

I love how everyone is getting so upset about how horrible Christian Ponder has looked in practice, I will recite Allen Iverson right know "Your talking about practice, not a game, but practice", also remember a few years ago when every one was saying how great Tarvaris Jackson looked in Mankato, and what happened after that? T-Jack was booted for a 40-year-old. So my point is that training camp statistics do not always translate into production when the actual season begins.

We all know this season hinges on Ponder, if this team is ready to take the "next" step then Ponder needs to be the one leading the charge. When you have one of the greatest running backs of all-time, and decent receiving core now, and arguably the best offensive line in the game; then there are no more excuses for Ponder, either he can become a good quarterback or become a stay at home husband. I have faith that Ponder can fulfill the Vikings dreams, but if not then Adrian Peterson will go into the Hall of Fame just like recently inducted Chris Carter, as a member of the ring less brotherhood.

Besides the obvious question mark surrounding the quarterback position, the Vikings really do not have many question marks heading into the season, except will the receiving group show more production then last season? That question mark should be erased with the signing of Greg Jennings. Another "weak" area could be the secondary, because the Vikings cut Antoine Winfield, but by drafting Xavier Rhodes, should help the Vikings secondary recover from losing Winfield. Also the Defensive Line could be an area of concern because of the age of the line. Jared Allen, Brian Robinson, Kevin Williams are all in contract years, and are well seasoned in the NFL, and this line could easily breakdown as the season progresses. If that happens then the Vikings improving, yet young defense will regress, and the whole team will suffer because of the defensive line. The reason I say that is because if this d-line cannot get any pressure on the opposing quarterbacks, then Eli Manning, Joe Flacco, and Aaron Rodger (twice) will eat up this Vikings secondary. If the Vikings d-line can generate a lot of pressure throughout the season then it will help the whole defense improve and become a championship defense.

Clearly with Adrian Peterson, this team is a Super Bowl contender. Look at last season AP carried this team to the postseason, and if Ponder can become a decent quarterback then this offense can become even more explosive, and won't always have to rely on Peterson to carry this team. Kyle Rudolf is entering his prime, the singing of Jennings, and not to mention Jerome Simpson is fully healthy should bolster the receiving group, and I almost forgot about the Vikings third-first round pick Cordarrelle Patterson, who is a big time play maker and could become that vertical threat that this offense very much so lacked last season.

So now it is time to look at the schedule, the vikings start off the season with two games on the road against division opponents the Detroit Lions, and the Chicago Bears; The Vikings should be able to beat the Lions, and the Bears. After the Vikings come "home" for two games against the Cleveland Browns, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, also two very winnable games, then it is the bye week; which I predict the Vikings will be either 4-0 or 3-1 at the bye week (the Vikings always play horrible in Chicago). After the bye week I see maybe four or five loses coming because they have to play against Eli Manning which will be very tough, and they have to travel back to Seattle which is a very tough stadium to win in, and always playing in Lambeau field gives the Vikings trouble, also the Baltimore Ravens and or the Cincinnati Bengals might give the Vikings a headache, yet I still see the Vikings improving from their 10-6 record last season and finishing either 11-5 or 12-4 and winning the NFC North division, because the Lions and Bears are not playoff teams, the Green Bay Packers are dealing with a lot of injuries right now, and might have taken a step back from last season. So the division crown is up for grabs, and the Vikings have position themselves to take that next step which would be to win the division.

It is only August and a lot can happen from now until February, and sadly I do not see the Vikings winning the Super Bowl this season, but I do see them having a deep playoff run this season, and come next season, they will defiantly be Super Bowl Favorites in 2014/2015 season.