After another disappointing season when they sported a losing record for the second straight year, the Minnesota Vikings decided it was time to move on from Mike Zimmer as Head Coach replacing him with former LA Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell. Whether O’Connell will be a better head coach than Zimmer is debatable. Change for the sake of changes isn’t always the right thing to do but the Vikings had to do something. The 37-year-old will bring a new offensive approach and will be reunited with quarterback Kirk Cousins when they crossed path in Washington back in 2017. Cousins is an easy punching bag but regardless of what others might think, he isn’t a bad quarterback. Cousins cannot complain about his supporting cast which is why he keeps posting great numbers.
The trio of WR Justin Jefferson, WR Adam Thielen and RB Dalvin Cook are a top-five triumvirate in the league but the Vikings’ offense can only succeed if Cousins can get the ball into the right hands. The problem on offense has been the weak offensive line but the unit should improve this season. OT Christian Darrisaw played well after returning from injury last year and he will be playing with G Ezra Cleveland, who has been a decent run blocker in his young career but the former second-round pick needs to work on his pass protection abilities. Right tackle is also a strength with Brian O’Neill but there are questions at the other two positions. Center Garrett Bradbury has struggled despite being a first-round pick while the right guard position could be manned by rookie Ed Ingram.
Defensively, the Vikings lost four starters in free agency but they were able to compensate for this by making a big splash on the open market, signing LB Za’Darius Smith to a $42 million contract. Smith is a high-risk, high-reward player. Smith and perennial All-Pro LB Danielle Hunter will form one of the top edge-rushing duos in the league. The Vikings had huge concerns with their secondary entering the offseason but addressed the situation after using their first and second-round pick on a safety and cornerback. S Lewis Cine will fill the void as safety, vacated by the departed Xavier Woods CB Andrew Booth, who was projected to be a first-round pick should be able to start right away. Safety Harrison Smith may be 33 but still very spry to be the kind of rush, cover and a savvy disguise weapon he was during Zimmer’s outstanding defensive seasons.
Apart from a couple of battles with Green Bay, games against Arizona, Buffalo and Dallas, the Vikings have a relatively easy schedule. They play the Lions and Bears twice this season and have the Giants, Saints, Jets and the Commanders on their slate.
Minnesota Vikings Offseason Moves:
Notable Additions: WR Albert Wilson, TE Johnny Mundt, OT Jesse Davis, DE Za’Darius Smith, DE Johnathan Bullard, DT Harrison Phillips, LB Jordan Hicks, CB Chandon Sullivan
Notable Departures: WR Chad Beebe, TE Tyler Conklin, C Mason Cole, DE Everson Griffen, DT Sheldon Richrdson, LB Anthony Barr, S Xavier Woods
1st and 2nd Draft Picks: S Lewis Cine (32), CB Andrew Booth (42), G Ed Ingram (59)
2022-23 Minnesota Vikings NFL Futures Odds
- Odds to win the 2023 Super Bowl LVII: 30/1
- Odds to win the 2022-23 NFC Conference: 18/1
- Odds to win the 2022-23 NFC North: +260
- 2022-23 Regular Season Win Total: Over 9½ (-120)
- Odds to Make the Playoffs: Yes -145 | No +110
- Official website: vikings.com
- Twitter Account : @Vikings
The Bottom Line:
O’Connell should help in his first year but he won’t be able to transform Cousins into an elite quarterback, who is a notorious underachiever under the bright lights. The Vikings certainly won’t upset the Packers at the top of the NFC North but should battle for a playoff seed, but barely.
Last year’s record: 8-9
My Prediction: 9-8
2022-23 Minnesota Vikings Stage of Elimination
- To Miss the Playoffs -115
- To Lose in Wildcard Round +200
- To Lose in Divisional Round +450
- To Lose in Conference Championship Game +1100
- To Lose in Super Bowl +3000
- To Win Super Bowl +4000
Odds According to Bovada as of September, 2022
2022-23 Minnesota Vikings Season Team Specials
Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen & Irv Smith Jr combined over 20.5 Receiving TDs EVEN
MIN Vikings to score over 420.5 Reg Season Points EVEN
Kirk Cousins over 30.5 Passing TDs and Dalvin Cook over 10.5 Rushing TDs +325
Justin Jefferson Over 1500.5 Receiving Yards and Over 11.5 Receiving TDs +550
Justin Jefferson to have at least one 200 Yard Receiving yard game in the Reg Season +550
MIN Vikings to win NFC North and Dalvin Cook over 1199.5 Reg Season Rushing Yards +550
Dalvin Cook to Rush for at least 200 yards in any Reg Season Game +1000
Justin Jefferson to break Single Season Receiving Yards Record (Over 1964.5) +1100
MIN Vikings to reach NFC Championship Game and Justin Jefferson over 9.5 Receiving TDs +1100
Kirk Cousins Most Reg Season Passing Yards and Adam Thielen Over 7.5 Receiving TDs +3000
Aengus NFL Season Special Prediction on TEAM_NICK_NAME:
- Cousins will go over 4,500 yards passing
- Dalvin Cook will go over 1,000 yards rushing
- Minnesota will not make the playoffs
- Justin Jefferson will go over 1,500 receiving
- Minnesota will finish second in the NFC North
- Adam Thielen will not go over 1,000 yards receiving
Season Props According to Bovada as of September, 2022
Bet on the Minnesota Vikings 2022-23 Season Props at Bovada Sportsbook.
Minnesota Vikings 2022-23 Schedule
| PRESEASON | |||||
| W. | Date | Time | Opponent | Game site | TV |
| 1 | 14-Aug | at Las Vegas Raiders | Allegiant Stadium | ||
| 2 | 20-Aug | San Francisco 49ers | U.S. Bank Stadium | ||
| 3 | 27-Aug | at Denver Broncos | Empower Field at Mile High | ||
| REGULAR SEASON | |||||
| W. | Date | Time | Opponent | Game site | TV |
| 1 | 11-Sep | 4:25 p.m. | Green Bay Packers | U.S. Bank Stadium | Fox |
| 2 | 19-Sep | 8:30 p.m. | at Philadelphia Eagles | Lincoln Financial Field | ABC |
| 3 | 25-Sep | 1:00 p.m. | Detroit Lions | U.S. Bank Stadium | Fox |
| 4 | 2-Oct | 9:30 a.m. | at New Orleans Saints | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (UK) | NFLN |
| 5 | 9-Oct | 1:00 p.m. | Chicago Bears | U.S. Bank Stadium | Fox |
| 6 | 16-Oct | 1:00 p.m. | at Miami Dolphins | Hard Rock Stadium | Fox |
| 7 | Bye | ||||
| 8 | 30-Oct | 1:00 p.m. | Arizona Cardinals | U.S. Bank Stadium | Fox |
| 9 | 6-Nov | 1:00 p.m. | at Washington Commanders | FedExField | Fox |
| 10 | 13-Nov | 1:00 p.m. | at Buffalo Bills | Highmark Stadium | Fox |
| 11 | 20-Nov | 4:25 p.m. | Dallas Cowboys | U.S. Bank Stadium | CBS |
| 12 | 24-Nov | 8:20 p.m. | New England Patriots | U.S. Bank Stadium | NBC |
| 13 | 4-Dec | 1:00 p.m. | New York Jets | U.S. Bank Stadium | CBS |
| 14 | 11-Dec | 1:00 p.m. | at Detroit Lions | Ford Field | Fox |
| 15 | Dec 17/18 | TBD | Indianapolis Colts | U.S. Bank Stadium | TBD |
| 16 | 24-Dec | 1:00 p.m. | New York Giants | U.S. Bank Stadium | Fox |
| 17 | 1-Jan | 4:25 p.m. | at Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | CBS |
| 18 | Jan 7/8 | TBD | at Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | TBD |
All Time EST
Bet on the Minnesota Vikings 2022-23 Season at Bovada Sportsbook.
