Football is back in the air, and yet another Viking season is going to start this week. As always, I hope this might be the year they finally win a Super Bowl instead of sending us into the off-season full of bitter disappointment. It’s an emotional roller coaster being a Viking fan, but I’m still more than willing to climb aboard and see where the 2010 team takes me! One of these seasons they will win it all, and it will be SO sweet: Could this be the year?
Having Bret Favre return gives the Vikings a reasonable shot to once again be in the thick of things, as they were last year. There are a lot of question marks surrounding his receiver corps, but Mr. Favre has made a career out of spreading passes around to everyone, including many marginal players who have elevated their game simply by being on the same field with this future Hall of Famer. Someone will emerge as his favorite target; someone always does! I don’t think his old body has as much “attitude” left in it as it once did, so don’t expect him to carry the team on his shoulders as he did so many times last season.
That leaves us with Adrian Peterson. This was supposed to be his team last year, and Bret Favre was supposed to be there as part of the supporting cast. That really should be more of the plan for this year. Mr. Peterson is in his prime, and he’s the league’s best running back, so the offense should center around him. He must get a better handle on the ball, however, as his fumbling almost became an embarrassment last year. Their offensive line was built for running the ball, but spent most of last season pass blocking. Let them do this year what they do best: Knock people on their backs!
The Viking defense got stronger as the season progressed last year, and they played their best games in the playoffs. They need to continue where they left off, and having EJ Henderson back in the middle makes the entire unit better. It’s amazing that he’s back playing after shattering his femur during a game last season. Many people who suffer an injury like that never walk easily again, let alone play football at a professional level. His recovery has been truly remarkable!
That brings us to this week’s opponent, the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in a nationally televised game to kick off the season for the entire NFL. This is also a rematch of the NFC championship game that the Saints won in overtime just seven months ago. These type of games have traditionally gone to the team that lost in January. They’re the ones with the chip on their shoulder and a whole lot to prove, while the champions are resting on their laurels, enjoying their time in the lime light. I believe the Vikings will pull this game off for those exact same reasons. Either way, this is a good Saint’s team, and it will be interesting to see how this year’s Viking team stacks up against the defending Super Bowl champion. Are you ready for some football?!
Dad was very hopeful, as you were. Been a couple of bad days with the Vikings and the Twins losing games this week. Keep cheering for your Vikings, this may be THE year.
It was a tough loss, although not as tough as last January!