Minnesota Vikings: 4 Quarters – 2016 Season Preview – Part 3
Fourth Quarter
@ Jaguars, vs Colts, @Packers, vs Bears
Prediction: 3-1
A 3rd place AFC finish in 2015 showed a Jacksonville Jaguars team making a 2 game improvement to 5-11 over the 2014 campaign. The Jaguars have only beaten the Minnesota Vikings once in 5 meetings overall, and this will be the second time the Vikings have ever travelled to Jacksonville. This game on paper looks to be a domination game but in the NFL a team can turn from pretender to contender very quickly. This is probably the last “tune-up” game before the Minnesota Vikings are forced to run the gauntlet in their final 3 games.
The Minnesota Vikings taking on the Indianapolis Colts should provide a very amusing competitive matchup. Andrew Luck is a slinger but the Colts defense finished near the bottom in both pass and rush defense. The Minnesota Vikings should be able to put on an offensive spectacle, even with Luck throwing 2 touchdowns Vikings will win handily.
This game is the good, the bad, and the ugly. At this point in the season the Green Bay Packers will be facing playoff life or death. Facing elimination, this game will not be handed to the Minnesota Vikings, and Green Bay will emerge victorious. This game could be telling if the Vikings do take this game from the Packers and twist the dagger, but Green Bay is no slouch especially at home. The Vikings at 12-3 now will be looking to right the ship and lock up home field advantage.
The Chicago Bears at US Bank Stadium is the perfect way to right the ship and close out the Minnesota Vikings inaugural season. The questions that arise every year will be the same though once again. Do we rest our starters? Do we play everybody and keep a full head of steam? How about just the first half? If we are already in the playoffs do we really need to win this game? At worst the Minnesota Vikings play their starters the first half and find a rhythm. By halftime, the Bears trying to play the spoiler to no avail, will be down and out and our backups will get to see some extended in season action.
Next: Vikings game-by-game 2016 season preview
End of season prediction: 13-3
In all honesty with the level of competition in the NFL this could be nothing more than a wish list. The difference between 13-3 and 3-13 can be a couple bad bounces, catastrophic injuries, other teams improving in a balanced and fair system, and just those 1 or 2 plays that can swing momentum in a game and change the path of a season. To all the teams in the NFL I wish the best of luck. An exciting new season is upon us and this is the Minnesota Vikings time for the spotlight. Here we go… SKOL VIKINGS!