MINNESOTA VIKINGS
2023 Record - 7-10
Head Coach - Kevin O' Connell
Key Additions - Aaron Jones (RB), Blake Cashman (LB), Andrew Van Ginkel (LB), Jonathan Greenard (LB), Jonah Williams (DL), Shaquill Griffin (DB), Jihad Ward (DL), Sam Darnold (QB)
Key Losses - Kirk Cousins (QB), Danielle Hunter (LB), Jordan Hicks (LB), Alexander Mattison (RB), K.J. Osborn (WR), D.J. Wonnum (LB), Dalton Risner (OL), Greg Joseph (K)
2023 STATS LINE
PASSING - Kirk Cousins (2,331 yards, 18 TD, 5 INT)
RUSHING - Aaron Jones (656 yards, 4.6 ypc, 2 TD) (with Green Bay)
RECEIVING - Justin Jefferson (68 receptions, 1,074 yards, 5 TD)
SACKS - Danielle Hunter (16 1/2)
INTERCEPTIONS - Byron Murphy, Jr. (3)
OUTLOOK FOR 2024 -There will be a new quarterback with the Vikings this season after Kirk Cousins left to the Atlanta Falcons this off-season. Veteran quarterback Sam Darnold is in camp and rookie first round draft pick J.J. McCarthy (Michigan) will no doubt get a long look toward being the starter. Vikings Head Coach Kevin O' Connell is entering his third season with the team and would like to see them get back into the playoffs.
The Minnesota offense ranked 10th a year ago, averaging 348 YPG and scored 20 points per game, but the running game was lagging, finishing 29th in the league with an average of 91.4 yards per game. Aaron Jones comes over from the Green Bay Packers this year (replacing the departed Alexander Mattison) to try and improve those results and take some pressure off the new signal callers. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson is one of the best in the NFL and along with tight end T.J. Hockenson, will be the main targets in the passing attack.
On defense, the Vikings lost Danielle Hunter (16 1/2 sacks) this year to free agency and brought in five new faces to help out a unit that was 16th overall in 2023, allowing 333 YPG and 21.3 PPG while getting 43 sacks and intercepting 11 passes. The Vikings are adept at stopping the run, but the pass defense needs improvement as they gave up 235 yards per game and too many big plays last season.
This season could be a better one for Minnesota if the offense jells with a new QB and the running game balances things out so that opponents cannot concentrate on shutting down the passing game, which is the strong point with a good receiving corps. The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers are the top dogs in this division and even Chicago looks to be much improved, so the Vikings will face a stiff challenge to finish better than the bottom of the NFC North. Keeping key players on the field all season will go a long way to improvement from last year's results. The playoffs are not likely in 2024, but Minnesota will be up to the challenge and likely not be an easy game for any opponents.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at N.Y. Giants
Week Two - vs. San Francisco
Week Three - vs. Houston
Week Four - at Green Bay
Week Five - vs. N.Y. Jets (London, England)
Week Six - BYE
Week Seven - vs. Detroit
Week Eight - at L.A. Rams
Week Nine - vs. Indianapolis
Week Ten - at Jacksonville
Week Eleven - at Tennessee
Week Twelve - at Chicago
Week Thirteen - vs. Arizona
Week Fourteen - vs. Atlanta
Week Fifteen - vs. Chicago
Week Sixteen - at Seattle
Week Seventeen - vs. Green Bay
Week Eighteen - at Detroit
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