A Look At The 2014 Vikings Schedule

It may be over six months until the 2014 NFL season gets underway but there is no reason not to look ahead to the schedule and what could happen this coming season for the Minnesota Vikings. This is a look at the schedule before free agency begins so some of the thoughts on the games could change depending on what the Vikings do in free agency. There will be a look at the official week-by-week schedule when that is released in April. This is just a look at the games as a whole.

Home Games

Chicago Bears- This is the last team the Vikings played outside in Brett Favre’s final game. It’s going to be difficult for the Vikings to beat the Bears right now with their poor secondary so at this point in time, this is likely a loss.

Detroit Lions- A game that the Vikings should have a great chance of winning. They did it last season against Detroit in a game that should have meant something to the Lions. This has all the makings of an Adrian Peterson running all over the Lions sort of win.

Green Bay Packers- A healthy Aaron Rodgers will make this a hard game to win. It will be nice to get these two teams outside however in an old-school sort of game. Green Bay likely wins right now however.

Atlanta Falcons- The Falcons had a rough 2013 with injuries but are going to be back at full strength when the 2014 season starts. Matt Ryan and company have too many weapons even outside of the dome. This is a loss right now.

Carolina Panthers- A swarming defense and a rookie quarterback don’t mix very well. This may get bad before it is all said and done. It is another loss.

New England Patriots- Tom Brady makes his first appearance in Minnesota since 2006. He will have his normal assortment of receivers and that doesn’t bode well for one of the worst pass defenses in the league.

New York Jets- The Jets are a complete mess. They struggled with their own rookie quarterback this past season and it is a game that the Vikings should have a great chance in one way or another. It’s time to pencil in a Minnesota win.

Washington Redskins- Robert Griffin III comes to town with a new coach just like the Vikings will have. There is really no reason why the Vikings can’t slow Griffin down. It would be close but this is a game that Minnesota will win.

Road Games

Chicago Bears- Just like the game at home, the Bears are too good on offense right now for the Vikings. Chalk up a road loss in this one.

Detroit Lions- This game has all the potential of a road win. Who knows what the Lions will do in 2014 as they seem to play well for the first half of the year and then fall apart. Minnesota finds a way to win this one way or another.

Green Bay Packers- It’s as simple as a healthy Rodgers against a bad secondary. It would be great to get a win against your rival but won’t happen in 2014.

New Orleans Saints- Drew Brees and the high-powered Saints attack in the Superdome will be a hard game to win. The Vikings will stay in the game but fall in the end.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers- The Bucs had some issues in 2013 with injuries but aren’t the most scary team out there. It all depends on how the offense is running when this game is played but the Vikings win here.

Buffalo Bills- Another team that had a rookie quarterback last season. There is no reason why the Vikings can’t garner a victory here especially with the weak Buffalo passing game.

Miami Dolphins- The final game against the AFC West is one that should come right down to the final whistle. Miami is getting better though and likely squeaks out a win.

St. Louis Rams- There is changes afoot with the Rams but they have a very good defense that will cause the Vikings some problems. However, their offense isn’t another special. Minnesota wins this one in the dome.

If all of those games finish the way envisioned here, the Vikings would be 7-9 in 2014. It wouldn’t get the team a playoff spot but it would be an improvement over the 5-10-1 season they just had.