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Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, ladies and gentlemen, degenerates, fans of the NFL's Shield, Minnesota Vikings fans, fantasy football players, anyone I may have left out. For and wide, welcome in to episode number 109 of the Talk In The Line podcast. And as always, thank you so much for taking a few moments out of your day to come and kick it with the crew on this beautiful August 24th, 2021. As always, you know the drill, Minnesota Vikings season preview on tap today plus plenty of other nonsense.
But before we get into all of that, please take a few moments too. Smash that subscribe button on whatever platform you are currently ingesting the TTL pod on. If you are watching on YouTube, you might as well hit that notification bell as well, so you never miss the start of a live show or any additional TTL crew content dropping. Next item up on the docket, if you could find it in your heart, be so kind, you got a couple extra seconds, hit that like button, leave us a comment, leave us a rating, jump in the live chat.
If you are watching live, we can't tell you how much we appreciate it when you do, and it only helps us make TTL sports media bigger and better for reaching every one of you. Last, but certainly not least, head on over to this episode's description where you will find the Talk In The Line link tree. Within that link tree, you will locate all of the TTL crew's content, social platforms and the TalkInTheLine.com website, so you can consume all of that. However, and whenever you please, it just came to my head.
I might have left out the wonderful listeners on the podcast audio directory. So if you're listening there as well and haven't hit that subscribe button, make sure you do so. But ladies and gentlemen, NFL fans joining us today, Minnesota Vikings fans, I am your humble host, Colton, Col45 Soroka, and I'm proudly rocket some purple here today for the Purple People eaters. The Sherp Street continues.
I have yet to miss a day where we match, but we're coming up here towards the end and it's going to get a little tight to see if I can keep the street going. So stay tuned. That all being said, we have plenty to talk about in regards to those aforementioned Purple People eaters, but I can't do it by myself and I've said we quite a few times so far. That is because I got a co-host on this podcast, a man who is an absolute legend when it comes to the NFL betting markets.
He goes deep. He goes further than any other handicapper you might find out there. He finds the value that nobody else is looking at. That's why I have the pleasure to call in my partner in the second half of TalkingTheLine Sports Media and lock arm in arm with him every damn day and bring you these pods.
And before you know it, we'll be cashing grid iron tickets together. So without further ado, the man, the myth, the degenerate gambling legend himself, Mr. Riley, R-Maggison. Barter, how you doing over there today, pal?
My man, no complaints as always. I had about one team that I matched the color scheme for and I certainly wasn't going to pick it up today. I guess I don't have any purple as well. So hey, I got no complaints, well, nonetheless.
But I'm ready to get rocking on this team, man. We'll keep our biases aside, but it is an interesting team for us to talk about. A team that we watch just about as much as our favorite team. So I feel like we both have a great deal of knowledge on this team.
And as long as we keep our unbiased opinions being some rival fans out of it, I think we'll have some pretty damn solid value. So I'm excited to get into this team, my friend. I am as well. That's definitely something we needed to mention.
Sure. Be it a Bears fan. I know it's love for the Minnesota Vikings, but we do see some value in their season overall. So of course, we will be covering their full offensive and defensive lineup.
We'll be going into their coaching staff. We'll dive deep into their schedule. Won't go week by week. We'll save that for the betting preview, but we will give you our full predictions for their 2021 season.
Then we'll dive into the full season betting preview in the third segment of the day and then fourth and final segment as always our best fantasy advice in start, stash or pass. Make sure you stick around for all of that. Also have plenty of banter nonsense. Our max will hit us with his sidebar after we wrap up the Viking season preview.
And then of course, I got motivation minutes to lay down for you guys. As always, a little message on having a mindset of being a blessing in somebody's life. So if you need a little extra inspiration motivation, get you through this Tuesday. Make sure you stick around for the very end of the show.
My motivation minutes actually a little bit building on the message from yesterday, which was a heavy hitter. So make sure you stick around for that outside of that. Nothing all too major did get an announcement here, not in relation to this team, but Elijah Moore back at practice for the New York Jets. So another addition back for the weapons of Zach Wilson.
Also looking good. We'll see what happens in New York. But as the days go on, me and mags both get a little bit higher on the New York Jets. So Bob Sallers, New York Jets, we'll see what happens down there.
But that's not the team of the day. That's not what we're talking about. Actually, one other bit of news out of the NFC North before we dive into this NFC North team. My QB one has been named for this week's pre season game.
Ladies and gentlemen, you best believe it is Justin Fields. One quick thing I want to say on that, yes, thank goodness. This is what needed to happen. You can't see what he truly is when he's been diamond the ball all over the field and all of his weapons are dropping the ball or not getting in the right position.
Now he gets to play with the first stringers and I think we see some good stuff coming up this week. But hey, just give him some Andy Dalton rest for that week one game, big week one game for Andy. Keep your Packers nonsense over on that side of the table if you could be so kind. But for today, let's get into the team of the day, everything up on tap for the Minnesota Vikings.
All right, ladies and gentlemen, here we go. My partner said it. We got a lot to talk about with this team. There's they had a pretty disappointing 2020 and a lot of areas will talk about some of those disappointing areas and actually where we think we see some improvements in those areas as well.
We will also kind of look at some of their their betting trends that actually you guys might not have known about. I wasn't aware of them until I did some extra research last night putting the show together. And there is a lot of information about the Minnesota Vikings that might get glossed over by a lot of people just because of how they had 2020. So I suggest you listen up.
We are going to be dropping loads of knowledge on your dome pieces today. So hey, get ready. Get with it. First segment of the day is on tap and it's ready to be on your screen.
So without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, let's get things started with the full team breakdown for the purple people. Eaters as always will start on the offensive side of the ball, talk about the key losses and additions. Some 2020 stats will break everything down for you as far as the protected starting lineups. And then we'll give you our overall outlooks and opinions.
So let's get into it. I'll start things off with the key losses offensively for the Vikings going into 2021. Honestly, nothing really too major to write home about. They only let three guys go.
I'll say four because kickers are people too. And they know our points. So first guy, Riley Rief left tackle. That'll get you going in the morning.
All right. The Knuckles still got it. Riley Rief left tackle obviously a big name for them, but I do believe they were able to backfill him going into 2021. Brett Jones center, obviously another big name, obviously another centerpiece of that entire line.
But once again, I think they were able to backfill him. Then Sean Mannion, obviously nothing you really need to worry about there. Quarterback wise and then the kicker Dan Bailey sent him packing after a few good seasons. I don't know.
I can't remember offhand. I think he was a little lackluster last year and just one of those times, obviously had a great career in Dallas, had a few good years in Minnesota. We'll see if some team picks him up for free agency, but I'm not sure if he has as of yet now as for the key offensive additions. My friend, could you be so kind as to until just actually get a step off real quick?
Because I forgot to turn on AC out here in a production studio. Nice and cool down. Rock and roll. All right.
So these offensive additions, not very busy as far as free agency and trades go actually very, very very very defensive side of the ball, not at all busy on offense. They made a trade for Mason Cole at center. He's going to be some depth. Probably not going to see the starting offensive line spot in week one.
So we may see him as the season goes on. That's about it for free agency and trades. They were very busy on the offensive side of the ball in the draft round one later in the rounds that they traded back for Christian. Daresaw offensive tackle.
My partner mentioned Riley reef is out of town. Christian Daresaw is probably going to be starting week one for the Vikings. After that, they picked up third round. Kellen Monde quarterback going to be the backup for Kirk Cousins.
They also picked up Wyatt Davis offensive guard. He could also be seen some time week one right away for the Vikings. Then the fourth round, Kenny in Gahu is going to be the toughest name I have to pronounce today running back. I feel like I absolutely butchered that one.
But that is a fourth round running back. Going to be some nice depth for the Vikings. And then the fifth round, they picked up Amir Smith, Mar set wide receiver as well as Zach Davidson tight end. So very, very busy through the draft on the offensive side of the ball partner.
Not much right home about as far as free agency is concerned though. No, not much at all. They were however, as we'll talk about here in just a little bit pretty aggressive on the defensive side of the ball. Free agency, trade market and the draft.
But that's not here. We're there. We're talking about the offense right now. And yeah, you mentioned some of those key players.
I'm glad you touched on them. Some of those guys that are back filling the ones that I mentioned that are out of town. Now before we get into the projected starting lineups for 2021 here, let's talk about some 2020 stats and what we think offensively if we'll see the same or a little different in 2020, the Vikings average 6.2 yards per play. They rush the ball 45.75% of the time and passed on 54.25% of their plays across the board.
Mostly, I think I was all curcussive completion percentage 67.64% across the board. Third down, they're going to need to up this. But I'll tell you why it was such an issue here in a minute and what they can do to easily, easily alleviate that number. 40.88% conversion on third downs in 2020.
That's perfect. And then in the red zone actually top not 71.19% conversion in the red zone. So you'd like to see that right there. Obviously that's mainly because of Dalvin Cook.
He's just an absolute bowling ball when she gets 5 yards and then he pretty much punches it in at will at that point. Now as for that third down, before I get into 2021, a main reason I just mentioned Dalvin Cook. Sometimes too often Gary Cubiak would rely on Dalvin Cook, especially on second downs and long second downs. And instead of passing the ball, he would just run that ball and it would set them up for very, very long third downs.
That is why you see that 40.88% third down conversion rate. One thing that they can do this year immediately is just pass more on second down. They don't even have to bomb the ball on second down. They just need to gain 4-5 yards and have a third and 3 on third down and Dalvin Cook can get that.
When he's got to work with third and 7, it's a lot harder to do. Or you put that pressure on Kirk Cousins, we all know Kirk. He's good, but not the best in a lot of situations. So that's where I see the third down coming from.
To build on the number that shocked me to really illustrate that point, 2019 they were one of the best teams as far as second down number to go, which I think it was identical 7.2. So their average second down yards to go with 7.2. One of the best in the league, then in 2020 their third down to go was 7.2. The exact same number, one of the worst in the league.
So that really illustrates my partner's point there. And it's why that third down conversion number was solo in 2020. So one thing that is concerning also too, and we'll talk about it, but Gary Kubiak is out of town. So hey, maybe we don't have that issue, but his son backfills the position of Clint Kubiak.
So you be the judge there. We'll talk about it here in just a little bit. Yeah, a lot of nepotism in this side. A lot of nepotism in this whole Minnesota coach.
Staff, but who the fuck are we? Either way, let's keep it moving into 2021. I projected starters here for you, my friends. Most of these names you are going to know regardless.
Offensive line is going to be the most notable, the most new names you'll see. On the right side, right tackle Brian O'Neill. And then the rookie next to him looks like he's going to get the starting right guard spot. Wyatt Davis.
Then they got Garrett Bradbury center and then left guard Ezra Cleveland. Also the rookie Christian Derasau left tackle looks like he will be getting the week one start as well. Then as I always say, sometimes blocking, sometimes catching passes lined up to the left to right or that aforementioned line. Irv Smith Jr.
He now has no competition behind Kyle Rudolph. So I think we see some very solid production from Irv Smith. It might even be worth a look in fantasy, but we'll talk about that in the fourth and final segment. And then the wide receiver room, one of obviously the most dominant ones over the course of the last few seasons.
Adam Thelin, Justin Jefferson, and then kind of finding his way within this offense too. Now, Ola Bc or Bc Johnson, however you typically hear that. And then behind them, the fourth and fifth guys looks like projected on the depth chart. You have Chad Beebe and then Amir Smith, Mar set.
So we'll see if those guys can make any contributions outside. But in my opinion, very severe lack of depth behind Jefferson. I'm kidding. I'm feeling we obviously know the names.
We obviously know their produce. We already had a scare with Jefferson in the preseason. We really don't need that during the regular season if you are the Vikings offense. And then last but certainly not least, you got your running backs, Dalvin Cook and back him up Alexander Madison.
Again, for the second year, Madison was a nice one to punch was able to give Cook some much needed rest from time to time. And then the quarterback's Kirk Cousin and Kellen Mons. Not really sure why they picked up Kellen Mons. I'm not going to say I wasn't a fan in college.
I thought he was a good player, but he just hasn't had that elite NFL level play ever in his college career. So it was just surprising for me to set him waist. I don't necessarily want to say waist, but a first round, a third round pick on Kellen Mons. And there were a lot of other options if they really needed a quarterback, but they don't.
Kirk Cousin still has two years left on his deal. They could have got it done next year or the year after. So it really doesn't make much sense. But that's my thoughts overall in the offense.
I think we, I'm not, I think I know we continue to see production from Dalvin Cook. No question about it. We'll talk a lot about him in the starts dash or pass segment for fantasy. I think we see Palania production against the, are from the feeling and Jefferson.
But as I said, they have to stay healthy. If they don't stay healthy, this depth chart wide receiver wise is bad, bad, bad, bad, bad. Outside of that, I think cousins has a pretty on brand cousin season. Right.
Not great. A little bit mediocre and lackluster at points. Other than that, I think this offensive line does a real good job protecting him. But again, I think they're going to be in a lot of shootouts and I think they're going to produce.
Don't get me wrong. I just don't know if it's going to be 30, 40 points a game. I have no idea. Sure.
Yeah. I think they're going to be in the season. Then the ceiling goes way higher. If they're terrible with some of these new faces, then they're ceiling obviously goes a lot lower.
What I'm interested in to see with now Clint Kubernetes as the offensive coordinator is what their game to game game plan, game to game, you know, whoever their opponent is as far as what their game plan is every single week because we saw it last year or not. Yeah. Yeah. Last year, excuse me.
There were certain games where they had a fantastic game plan and it worked out. It happened to my Packers. They had a totally different game plan with Dalvin Cook and then the next I should since the next game after that, but then there's a different game later on the season where they just have a bad matchup and they choose the wrong game plan. They have the versatility with these high-flying receivers.
They have Dalvin Cook. It's just a matter of are they picking the right game plan and then like you said, figuring out that, you know, that second down passing as opposed to running so heavily on second down. So honestly, in my opinion, the, you know, the crux of this team is going to be the play calling in the game plan on a week to week based in this partner. Absolutely.
And I'm a little concerned about how much of a change we see in the game plan with it just being Clint Kubernetes. I got like a picture perfect mirror image of him or has he got some young infusion of a different style than his dad. I don't know. I have no idea, but we think it'll be right around the middle of the pack.
But hey, as always, let's take a look with the guys over at SFA. I don't know what to say or think we see from this Minnesota Vikings team offensively this year. Key rankings from those guys once again, as always, say it every time. But thank you so much for your work and the assist with some of the key stats we use on the daily show.
But that being said, the quarterback room, Kirk Cousins and Kellerman come in ranked 14th in the league. So a little bit better than right at middle of the pack. I think they stay right around there. I don't see much improvement or maybe even a little bit of a decline.
I'm sorry, Vikings fans. Offensive line, 21st ranked unit in the league. So I think that's a fair assessment. Obviously they can improve upon that.
But once again, I think they stay right around that number. Yeah. Running backs come in as the second ranked unit in the league. Obviously, if you have Dalvin Cook in the backfield, that is going to loom large regardless.
I think Alexander Madison, I wouldn't call him an elite hand cuff, but I definitely call him hand cuff worthy. He can pick up the slack when Dalvin has to go out. Or if Dalvin gets hurt at any point this season as he has over the last two seasons. Yeah.
I like his production when Dalvin Cook is totally out and he's the bonafide number one guy, like if you have a cook at some missed game, he needs to pick it up as far as when he's getting, you know, three to five carries, you know, spelling Dalvin Cook on the sideline. That's where he really needs to pick up his production. Sure. And then the receiver unit coming in as the fourth ranked unit in the league.
So obviously have that elite talent, but could decline if they face any type of injury issues or for any reason Adam Thelen's touchdown production declines as his age increases. I don't know, but something to think about there, but those are the key rankings. Go to see the guys over at SFA. We will go more in depth by position and by player when we get into the fourth and final segments said that about 10 times already, but the start stash or pass segments.
So you're looking for more information per player stick around fourth final segment of the day, but let's flip the script, get into the defensive side of the ball and let's talk a little bit about what Adam Zimmer is going to have these boys do in this year. That's right. We were saying that this is Mike Zimmer head coach his son taking over the defense in that same defensive mind. So we should see a lot of the exact same things that we saw last year and over the course of the past seven seasons from Mike Zimmer that all being said, but let me kick it over to you as always.
And if you could so kindly indulge us as the key defensive losses for the purple people leaders going into 2021. All right. So nothing, you know, no names that are going to slap you in the face here, but a few names that have been some key contributors for the last few years here. Anthony Harris at the safe position played 16 games in 2020 played the last six seasons in Minnesota.
He's out of town. Eric Wilson, linebacker played 16 games. He played the last four seasons for the Vikings and then you have Hardy Nickerson only played 14 games for the linebacker. These are a little bit more depth guys, but still some guys have played some roles for the Vikings in 2020.
If Eddie Hogan, oh, again, excuse me, Odin, Elton, he go off the edge played 15 games. Thought I was going to nail that one, but I totally missed it. Julia Johnson on the interior defense of line 16 games. She'm our Steven also interior 16 games and then Todd Davis, linebacker played 11 games.
So really those top two guys, Anthony Harrison, Eric Wilson, with a bigger losses out of, you know, this whole list of names, a lot of depth guys, but nothing crazy here. Barnum, nothing crazy at all. And that's correct. You but just just so future reference if Eddie, oh, daddy, oh, daddy, oh, daddy, oh, daddy, oh, daddy, oh, daddy, oh, daddy, oh, daddy, he's on the giant.
So we'll be in that. Oh, yeah. So we got it. Oh, no problem at all.
All right. So keep it moving, rock and roll. And I will take over for the key defensive editions for the Viking, tier, 2021. I actually told you guys a little while ago when we were talking about the offense that this is where they targeted.
They kind of did a little bit of an overhaul and brought in some key pieces and actually brought back a guy. We didn't know if they were going to bring back yesterday in everson Griffin. Ed Druscher looks like that kind of a question mark on the right side of the defensive line is now a leave you. They brought him back in.
They also brought in Dalvin, Tomlinson, interior defensive lineman at 10 and a half million dollar deal brought in Patrick Peterson, the old man, even though he hasn't been the Patrick Peterson of old. I still believe we see some good production from him this year. Give him an eight million dollar deal. So obviously they have a little bit of faith in him.
Stephen, whether he was brought in off the edge before they knew if they were going to bring in everson Griffin or not, he got a two and a half million dollar deal. Nick Vigil, linebacker, one point eight million dollar deal. Xavier Woods comes into backfill the aforementioned. Oh, Anthony Harris.
Anthony Harris. Yeah. So he's going to backfill Anthony Harris. Looks like he's going to get the immediate start.
Safety one point eight million. Then Mackenzie Alexander was brought in. Obviously a very solid defensive back has been throughout his entire career in the NFL. One point one million dollar deal.
I think definitely in the Zimmer defense. I think we see him definitely improved from some of the seasons past. Right. Then Barry Nickerson, they brought him in another defensive back.
I think this is just more of a depth that because they're paying him less than a million bucks. So obviously nothing to write home about there. And then in the draft, I got five guys in total. They picked up Chaz Surat linebacker out of North Carolina, Patrick Jones, the second defensive end out of Pittsburgh.
They also got his teammate, Jalen Tyman, defensive tackle out of Pittsburgh, Cameron Bynum, defensive back out of Cal and then Janarius Robinson, defensive end out of Florida State. So obviously beefed up the depth on the line side of things and in the secondary department. So we'll see how they do here in 2021. I honestly have very high hopes as an unbiased fan, typically a Zimmer defense is always locked down always shut down.
But being as a Bears fan, I really hate that because it looks like they're actually going to be good again this year. That all being said, let's look quickly at 2020 before I tell you all about 2021 here, the projected starters. The Vikings on defense allowed opponents to average 6.1 yards per play last year. I think that ticks down a little bit right around the five to five and a half mark.
The their opponents completed on a 66.1% clip and then on third down, they converted at a 39.46% clip. So not too bad. Obviously holding opponent offenses very minimally once they get to third down there. So I like that number to remain somewhat the same because obviously they had a lot of holes and they dealt with a lot of issues last year.
And then in the red zone, they allowed their opponents to score at a 58.62 clip. I think that stays right around the same just because of the opponents that they play. A lot of the opponents that they play are successful in the red zone. So I think that's going to stay right around the same even though they are dominant.
But what I think does improve a little bit is the opponent yards per play. That all being said, stock just a little bit about the 2021 projected starters here before we give you some outlooks. So far as the defensive line goes coming back after injury last year, Daniel Hunter on the left side of line next to him, Dalvin Tomlinson, defensive tackle, then Michael Pierce opposite him. And then it looks like Eversing Griffin will probably be the opposite side edge rusher.
Not too certain it's a little bit murky, but I don't know why they would have brought him in yesterday when he was the main right end before he hit the free edge of market. Then you have behind the linebackers running out the front seven Anthony Barr and Eric Kendrick's both two guys who are very dominant in their own right. Anthony Barr more of a Russian guy Eric Kendrick's more of a coverage guy. So obviously they have that cover there.
No pun intended coverage guy covered secondary. Obviously there is one kind of question mark on one of the slides. Either Jeff Gladney will get the start where they do obviously have a lot of other depth to kind of choose from. But then it obviously looks like McKinsey Alexander will get the slot spot and then Patrick Peterson will obviously be the number one defensive back here.
And then I hate to say it as a Bears fan, but my favorite safety in the league Harrison Smith. I've loved him since he's been in the league back when I had or I still have it, but I haven't played in a while when I was playing Mad in 2012, 2013. I would play with that Vikings defense have 15 picks a game with Harrison Smith. So I can't wait to see him again.
I think he has another elite level production here in 2021 and then just talked about a little bit ago Xavier Woods brand new off the free edge of markets and looks like he's going to be taken over the free safety position right away. So a lot of solid names in this team are defensively wise. If I had one area that I would complain, it would be the cornerbacks defensive backs. I love Patrick Peterson.
I do. He's always been good, but he's just I've already said it. He's not that Patrick Peterson that we come to know and love over the course of the last few seasons or over the course of his career. That's why he got shipped out of Arizona.
It's just it's part of getting old in the NFL. That's what it is. Jeff Gladney potentially getting the start. Maybe one of the new guys.
I just think there's too much up in the air right now and too many question marks in this secondary. So they're really going to have to tighten that up before week one and their early season does not look the easiest. So they're going to have to definitely get with it quick fast and in a hurry. That's what I think defensively partner anywhere you can fill in some holes, give any other insights there defensively from Minnesota.
Yeah, as far as corners, I have very similar opinions as you. I think that is going to be the one week spot. The other thing is really the health of the front seven. If they're 100% healthy, all these guys are back playing the full season and you know, even some of these new additions pan out and play healthy and play really solid.
That front seven is going to look like a top 10 if not top five front seven in the league. And I think we expect that, but I do think we might see a little bit of some injury issues, Hunter, Anthony Barr. These guys have some pretty significant injuries. So I'm interested to see how they bounce back from that.
The addition, re-addition of ever since Griffin is huge, especially if you have a tandem of any three combo of him, whether Lee and Hunter are coming in now off the edge. That's really solid with all three of those guys are healthy. So I think I have, I want to say high hopes, but you know, I think it's a good, not great unit. Good, not great is one hell of a way to put it.
Most definitely I would have to be with that as well. So wrapping things up defensively here for the Vikings key rankings. Once again, courtesy of the guys over at SFA. This front seven comes in ranked as the eighth best unit in the league.
So I think they're definitely worthwhile of that. Obviously, my partner just mentioned some of the injuries with Anthony Barr, Eric Kendrick, stuff like that. I'm not too sure that that's going to be too much of an issue this year. I think they bounced back no problem whatsoever.
And then this defensive line, especially with the Neil Hunter coming back, can't wait to see what he does return in from injury. I think this defensive line, especially too with bringing back ever since Griffin yesterday, I think they're going to be just fine. And they live up to that. Might even crack the top five if I'm a little bit hot, take you today.
Then the secondary comes in ranked as the 17th ranked unit in the league. Obviously, the guys at SFA have as many question marks as we do. Just got to tighten up some stuff and some of the names in there just aren't as elite as they once were in their career as you know. I'm going to wrap things up for the entire team breakdown.
Who leads these men into battle on a Sunday by Sunday or maybe Monday or Thursday basis? Well, I'm so glad you asked because that is head coach Mike Zimmer. Roll birds. Will you?
Roll these fucking birds? We still love Mike Zimmer, even though he is the coach of the Vikings against two of our favorite teams. However, roll fucking birds. And then offensive coordinator, we already talked about it multiple times.
Clint Kubiak coming in. Gary Kubiak's son. And if you didn't know, Gary Kubiak was the OC here in Minnesota last year. And for his second year now, talk about the nepotism.
Adam Zimmer coming in as the defensive coordinator, obviously going under his dad's wing. I don't know how much longer Zimmer has in the NFL. You know, I ever like to put a cap on a guy who still has plenty of potential, even though he's getting up there in years now. I think he has plenty of time left, but obviously, grooming his son to kind of get into the same position that he finds himself in now.
Yeah, I mean, as far as Zimmer himself, Mike Zimmer, that is, it's time for the Vikings. Could be numbered. You know, if things go south this year, next year, that might be the end for him. But he'll have, if he wants, he'll have a job in the NFL for a long time.
Most stuff, most stuff. And it's just any opportunity I get. I've already said it three times or one more. Roll fucking birds.
I mean, I'm going to be here with Harvard as a Midwest. Harvard of the Midwest, ladies and gentlemen, the Illinois State University. Fucking shout out. Shout out to that amazing university.
All right. Let's keep a rock and roll. And if you didn't know we are alumni and we absolutely love our alma mater. That all being said, that does it.
Full team breakdown for the purple people, eaters. Let's get into second segment of the day. The full schedule breakdown. Oh shit.
Wrong way. Schedule breakdown. All right. Here we go.
Time for the predictions coming from the crew. If you haven't been around yet for the updates for the schedule, we're not going to eat by week. We could do an all that jazz. We'll save that now for the betting preview.
So we'll just give you straight up our predictions, what we're thinking, how we're feeling. I like to kind of come into this blind sometimes, especially when we start talking about the offense and getting the juices flow in. All right. Now I'm seeing it.
Okay. I see their schedule. Yeah. I'm fresh.
Everything's fresh in my mind. Let me dish out some predictions. So let's get into it right now, my friends. First things first, obviously we got to talk about it.
Their division. Our division. Our division. The blind.
North baby. Overall, we've been really low on the Vikings. We already talked about all three teams. We talked about the Packers, Lions and the Bears.
If you haven't seen all those, go back and watch them. They were all loaded episodes in their own right. Right. We were really, really talk on low on them.
As far as the Lions go, I will give them both wins over the Lions. Those are the easiest. I got to get that out of the way. Those are the easiest ones on their schedule week, five weeks, 13.
Easy money. The Bears, I think the more I think about this, and this is not Homer. I think they lose both of those games. I think they're going to be a shootout.
I think Justin Field is going to be in prime time mode at that point in time. And those are week 15 and week 18. Okay. So I think those are going to mean a shitload for the Bears.
And I know this might be lofty, but I think the Bears have quite the potential if we start Justin Fields week one to make potentially a wildcard run potentially potentially potentially. But that's going to mean week 15 and week 18 are extremely important for the Bears. So I'm going to say to an O just how we've kind of worked through this whole thing. And then with a pack just because it's the home game sandwich in between two away games.
And I think that's the one that they have circled and all the other ones we get through 12. They're like, hard as hell, but hopefully we can get out of there. But hey, at least we have one at home against the Packers and homefield advantage is going to loom really, really large for the Vikings this year as I'll tell you about to start the betting preview. So I'm going to give them three and three in the NFC North.
Okay. Very interesting. I will say three and three, but a much different three and three outside of the Lions. I think they sweep the Lions.
No problem. Swapped them last year. Had a little bit of close game a week. A 17 almost 18.
I'm going to say, you're going to do you know where I'm going. Gee. What do you think I'm going to do? You think I'm going to give him a sweep your fucking Packers.
Leave my Bears alone. I think they split with the Bears. These Bears Vikings games over the last three years have always been very close. I think they have either split or I think it's been a split or maybe even the Bears have won both games the last three years, but both games were very back and forth.
I think it's going to be a clean split home and home. Bears get it at home on Monday, night and week 15 and the Vikings get it back in week 18 at home. And then as far as my pack, I will say the Packers get both games there. The Vikings that was their one lone win versus that was really the only one that they could boast about last year.
I think the Packers get this one back. Last year it was in Lambo actually. And it was really just like perfect recipe for a win. There you go.
Perfect recipe for the win for a win. The win was whipping like crazy. The Vikings had a perfect game plan. I got to give it credit.
Couldn't stop down when Cook kept Aaron Rodgers off the field. I think the Packers will have a different type of game plan this time around. And having lost that game that being their only division lost last year, they're going to be wanting that lickback. So I'm going to give the pack a crisp 2-0, so a 3-3 for the Vikings out of the NFC North.
Yeah, obviously we were going to pick our favorite team situation, but yeah, obviously 3-3, one way or another for the both of us in the NFC North. I'm going to talk to the loss of the lines in the other game. I would be too. And moving right along, those are the first 6 games that we are discussing.
Now, the 8 main non-divisional games outside of that. They got the AFC North and the NFC West. We talked about it plenty of times. The NFC West, we didn't even think the Packers might have too much success against the NFC West.
So starting there, I will give them a modest 1-3 by 1-1 way or another. Just because Seattle, Minnesota games are always interesting and Arizona, Minnesota games are always interesting. So I feel like one way or another, they scratch out a win in those games. I think the 49ers is a fucking run away and the Rams is just an absolute defensive beat down for the Rams.
So I'll give them one way or another, modest 1-3 in the NFC West. Okay, this has been my toughest one out of all these breakdowns. I'll give them losses against the Niners and the Rams as well. Because that's where you're headed to, right?
Yeah, losses to those two teams. I'll definitely stick with you on that. I'm torn as far as one win between these two teams or two wins. I want to give them the win against Seattle.
Like you said, I can't wait for that game already. These Rams are like these Vikings Seahawks games last year's head. And I'm going to give them an absolute madness. I don't think week three in Minnesota.
And I'll also get the Vikings that one. And I am leaning towards the Cardinals in week two just because I don't like the matchup for the Vikings. Because as much as I think this defense is going to be improved for the Vikings on the road in Arizona, I think that Arizona offense is going to be high flying. And I don't know if the Vikings can keep up with them.
I'm going to go one in three. And I don't know what that total is, but I'm already going to say I'm going to hammer over and then we take game. The over and the week two games 49 and a half. I haven't got to 50 yet.
Give me an answer. We'll get in the betting preview. We'll get in the way to where we're getting way too excited. It is 16 days away.
Ladies and gentlemen, holy shush rooms. All right. Back into it. I'm sorry.
Back to this guy. One of three. That seems crazy though, man. That seems crazy to say one in three.
You're still on the NFC West. Let's get into the AFC North. Enough with the AFC or the NFC West AFC North. I will once again give them a modest one in three.
They could very well go to and two. I believe their one win does come against the Bengals, but they could very well get a win over the Steelers. The game against the Steelers is at US Bank Stadium in Minnesota. So I think they could very well get that one.
The Bengals game is their week one matchup. So they open up the season. I just don't see the Viking start in lackluster. And I see the Bengals kind of struggling to start the season.
Joey B kind of getting his feet wet again, getting his full game speed. I'm obviously seen the preseason, but he's taken a couple hits. That's not the same as regular season full speed top. He's got to see that first.
So I potentially little bit of a lean with that week 14 matchup in Minnesota against the Steelers could go to and two. But I'm going to stay a little bit more modest. One in three. I'm doing a more than more confident than I was on the NFC.
I'm going one in three a little more confidently here. I think they get that week one win, open it up against the Bengals. I'm not going to say too much because you said basically what I'm thinking there. And I think they struggle against the Browns and Ravens.
That Browns matchup. Kevin Stavansky. I don't think they played each other last year. That's going to be Kevin Stavansky revenge game if you want to call it that.
It's in Minnesota. So I'll take the Browns and that one. They get the Ravens off of the Ravens by in Baltimore. That is not a good recipe.
Don't give me that one. And then I think that I like what you said it is in Minnesota that there's going to get to Steelers. But I think that's the worst matchup potentially on their entire schedule for the Vikings. I'm not super high on the Steelers offense, but I am pretty high on their defense.
And I think that is the perfect defense to match up with this Vikings offense. And Kirk Cousins doesn't play two well in prime time games. So give me the Steelers in that one. And I'll go with the confident one in three out of the NFC North.
You're taking the one win against the Steelers instead of the one win against the Bengals. I'll say in the Steelers. Yeah, I can be in prime time. Yeah, just so we're both three.
Now for the remaining three games, they get off of the NFC West man. They're remaining three games. I don't even have to hear him and know what he's thinking. Three remaining games.
Chargers, Cowboys and the Panthers. This one's a little bit interesting here. Let me click back over the schedule because this one's going to depend a lot on scheduling. I think the Chargers get that victory.
That one's in so far. Then the Panthers and the boys. The boys is going to be interesting. That's Sunday night football.
You just said it because it isn't good in prime time. And those Cowboys liking games much like the city. The Vikings are just a big, crazy. And that's coming out of the Vikings by week.
So all lean Minnesota there just because it's in Minnesota and those two teams always. Something crazy. It looks like a negated by week though. I think both teams aren't the by.
So then Carolina, that leaves Carolina. They played them before the by. They should get that win, but they very well could easily be looking past them looking into the by week and probably one of their bigger games of the season. Everybody knows they're always shooting out against the Cowboys and weekgates.
So one way or another, I see two in one. Oh really? One way or not? One in two actually.
Yeah. One way or another. Either they clip off against the Cowboys or the Panthers. And then they lose either to the Chargers and those two aforementioned teams.
I just don't know. I hate that I'm so modest. I'm trying to think. It might just be a bias.
I just want to turn it off. But it's just, I don't know. I'm going to say again, I'm modest. One in two.
I am right there with you one way or another. One in two. And again, especially with this one, I feel because we were high on the Panthers and it is in Carolina. And it's tough for me to say that they lose to the Carolina Panthers, but I'll say one way or another.
They either beat the Panthers or the Cowboys. Like I said, I don't like taking the Vikings in prime time with Kirk Cousins. Having said that, Mike McCarthy is also not the best coming out of his by week. His by week records are not very good.
So one way or another can be one in two. It's another one that I'm less confident in. I really think the Chargers smack him in the mouth in LA. So give me one in two.
All right. So one and two. So we got three and three, one and three, one and three, and then one and two. So three, four, five, three, four, five, six, and three, six, nine, ten, eleven, six, and eleven, my friend.
Oh boy. That seems very pessimistic. That seems very, very pessimistic. I even kind of want to read back or walk back a little bit.
But again, the AFC West is going to be like that was tough, man. The NFC West is going to be lights out. The AFC North is going to be lights out. The remaining three they have, the Cowboys are going to be good this year.
I mean, they're going to at least be good offensively. Dax back. They're going to be hanging in it. And you know, maybe the Panthers fucking surprise us in week six and the Chargers with the curse of Anthony Lynn out of the building and they already producing with him in the building.
And less Brandon Staley is just nothing at all. I don't see them not having success. So I know that seems pessimistic. It is all shit, but yeah.
Shit. That stretch of weeks eight through 12 Cowboys, Ravens, Chargers, Packers, Niners. I mean, if they can come out of that in two and three, then hell, they got a chance. And you know, maybe we're being a little too pessimistic Cardinals Seahawks Panthers, but aside from that, man, they've got some tough games.
I mean, you look back at their schedule last year. I said it already. Their only game that they could boast about was the one game against the Packers. All their other ones were either bad or mediocre teams.
And I will say, I think they're going to be a lot tougher at home this year. But I mean, their home schedule is even tougher than it was last year, man. So we'll talk about that in the betting preview too. But kind of a quick comparison.
2020 to 2021, they had a lackluster season last year with those bad opponents that you just talked about. They played the AFC South Texans weren't anything to write home about. The Jags weren't anything to write home about Colts had a prolific ability to shoot themselves in the foot with 30 seconds left to go in a football game and the Colts smacked in the mouth. Yeah.
And then the Titans. So OK, the Titans were probably the best one out of that. Then you got the AFC South. The Falcons couldn't hold a lead past five seconds into the second half.
The Panthers were a fucking dumpster fire. Sometimes here or there who knew the Saints, they weren't the normal regular Saints and then OK, you had the Bucks. The Bucks was really hard. But then the boys in the Seahawks, those are the two shootout games back and forth.
That's what it's going to be. So well, outside of the main three or outside of the additional three, it gets so much harder within the division, the improvements within the division and in the main eight non-division games. Not to mention even these wins that they had against bad teams, six of them were against bad teams. Only one of them was more than one score win.
14 point win over the Lions. All these other ones, they took the Jax over time. They lost to the Cowboys with Andy Dalton starting quarterback for fuck's sake. So let's move on.
Yeah, that does it pretty much in full. Oh, just quickly. The key rest and kind of the key stats there. They play five opponents that have over a week to prepare for them.
Ouch. They play one opponent that has less than a week to prepare for them. Ouch. They have four games that they play on a rest disadvantage.
Ouch. And only one game that they play with a rest advantage. Ouch. They have no short week road games.
So good there. But they're putting cousins in prime time a lot and actually two Sunday night or Monday night football games and the team plays a road game off of those Sunday night or Monday night football games. So the schedule makers, yeah, they don't necessarily get to pick and choose who they play, but they get to pick and choose when they play them. And the schedule makers are doing one of these numbers to the old Vikings in the season.
So across the board today, looking good there. That might loom large into our record predictions overall. Yeah, that one advantage is week 15, Monday night football at Chicago. Yeah, absolutely.
Let's keep this move right along. We're a little bit behind schedule here. We're getting a little windy. So third segment of the day into the full season betting preview.
Now, as always, we'll kick things off. Go back to 2020 real quick and got some key things to talk to you guys about here because I think a lot of people will be fading the Vikings in some situations, but hey, hey, hey, hey, hold on. Wait a minute. There's actually some value on these boys.
Before we get into all of their betting trends of 2020, they had an average line. They were favored by 0.3 points in 2020. They come into 2021 getting just a little bit less respect on average about two tenths of a decimal point down to 0.1 favorites, getting a point one of a point. They were favored in nine games this year, dogs in seven games, and then they had the one pick them against Carolina in week six.
So interesting there, as we were talking about Carolina, should be the game that they take care of. The books got it as a pickle. So again, it just keeps getting to build on upon itself that the Vikings might struggle a little bit here this season. However, in 2020, they definitely struggled against the number six and 10, ATS with a seven and nine straight up record.
They were two and seven against the number as a favorite and four and three against it as a pooch. Now, at home, once you listen up real quick, this is very, very, very, very key. At home, they were two and six, ATS, three and five straight up. As a home favorite, they were one and six.
As a home dog, they were one and oh. Now, this is the spot that you are going to be able to back the Vikings again this year. Let me tell you why. Over the course of the last five seasons, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, since my Dzimmer has been there.
He's actually been there seven years, but just the five since 2016. The Minnesota Vikings are 26 and 17 ATS at home. Going into 2020, they were 24 and nine ATS at home under Zimmer. So, I think they returned to that ladder number there.
They improve upon that heavily because why? All 32 stadiums are going to have full capacity fans. Let's fuck it. That is very important for the Minnesota Vikings and US banks stadium because little did you know their roof is built.
So that's going to home field advantage. Bananas fans and everything that they're spewing out of their faces, bounces off the ceiling and right back into the players' ears on the field. So, I think it's going to loom very large and I think that they'll be just fine. And one final thought, in case you think I'm crazy, my Zimmer has a 58.6% cover rate since he has been the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings.
So, I think you can have some faith again in the Minnesota Vikings at home. Now, the road is going to be a little bit of a different story. Don't really know what I can tell you there. It's going to take the right spot because they were four and four against the number ATS last year, four and four straight up.
One in one as in a way favorite and one or three and three as an away dog. So, obviously split break even. It's going to take the exact spot. You're going to have to talk to them against a specific team.
It's going to, you might even on the road there, they might be fade worthy in a lot of storms. But at home, I think that you're going to want to target the Minnesota Vikings, especially if they're a home dog or on some very small spreads. That all being said, how about some game totals? In 2020, they had an average line of 50.9.