Minnesota Vikings Record Prediction: Select any game on the schedule

The football season is here.

With the Vikings’ 2022 campaign kicking off against the Packers on Sunday, it’s time to get on the record and provide my game-by-game predictions for the first season of the Kevin O’Connell era.

Will this age badly? Probably. But I’ll try it anyway.

Let us do this.

Week 1 vs. Packers: WIN (1-0)

It’s hard to feel overly confident about picking the Vikings to beat Aaron Rodgers and co. but I think they’ll pull it off in the opening game. The Vikings are healthy, US Bank Stadium will rock, and their wide receiver advantage can help offset their quarterback disadvantage. The O’Connell era begins with a win that sends optimism soaring in Minnesota.

Week 2 at Eagles: LOSS (1-1)

Monday night football in a hostile street environment against a team that could be one of the NFC’s best? That’s a tough sell. The Eagles traded for AJ Brown this offseason to give Jalen Hurts a No. 1 receiver, and they added a ton of talent to a defense that already had plenty — James Bradberry, CJ Gardner-Johnson, Jordan Davis, Kyzir White. They look like potential competitors. Kirk Cousins won’t shake the MNF narrative on this one.

Week 3 vs. Lions: WIN (2-1)

Honestly, watching Hard Knocks this year has given me hope that Dan Campbell’s Lions will have some success in 2022. They have a sympathetic group in this building, not to mention a fanbase hungry for quality football. Still, Jared Goff isn’t going to come down to Minneapolis and beat the Vikings. Ed Donatell’s defense will give him seizures.

Week 4 in Saints (London): WIN (3-1)

The Vikings have never lost in London! This matchup will be tougher than games against a mediocre Steelers team in 2013 and the 0-16 Browns in 2017, but I think the streak will grow to three. The loss of Sean Payton could hurt the Saints this year, and Jameis Winston can usually be counted on for a turnover or two. The Vikings win just across the pond.

Week 5 vs Bears: WIN (4-1)

I don’t think the Bears will be the worst team in the NFL this year. However, I think they will be in the bottom five. Akiem Hicks and Khalil Mack can’t hurt you anymore, Vikings fans. Despite some jet lag earlier in the week, Minnesota wins in a blowout behind another big day from Justin Jefferson.

Week 6 at Dolphins: LOSS (4-2)

This Dolphins team is going to be tougher than some people might think, especially at home. Mike McDaniel will plan explosive plays for Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert on the ground, and Tua Tagovailoa is good enough to launch the ball to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. There are some nice plays in defence, too, including Xavien Howard and Jaelan Phillips. The Vikings just come up short in Dalvin Cook’s return to South Florida.

Week 7 bye

Week 8 vs. Cardinals: LOSS (4-3)

A home defeat after bye week would be a disappointing result, I know that. It happened against the Cooper Rush-led Cowboys last year, if you remember. I think this one will be close, but the Cardinals will have DeAndre Hopkins back from suspension by that point. Even at 30 he will be a problem for the corners of the Vikings. Kyler Murray and company will rack up points along the way, and the Cardinals’ defense will do just enough to help them win a thriller.

Week 9 at Commanders: WIN (5-3)

Commanders from Taylor Heinicke to Carson Wentz qualify as a quarterback upgrade, but… not by much. Wentz is still a top ten starter in the league. Washington has talent on their defensive front, but the Vikings shouldn’t have too much trouble hitting the streets and winning this game.

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Week 10 at Bills: LOSS (5-4)

With all due respect to the Week 17 trip to Lambeau Field, this is the Vikings’ toughest game of the season. The Bills appear to be everyone’s pick to win the Super Bowl this year, and for good reason. They have the quarterback, the coaching, the guns, and the defense (which Miller now has). If the Vikings couldn’t match rookie Josh Allen in 2018, what will they do against superstar/alien Josh Allen in 2022? Stefon Diggs’ team defeats Harrison Phillips’ team in the Battle of Rematch matches.

Week 11 vs. Cowboys: WIN (6-4)

The Vikings have lost two straight home games to the Cowboys — with Cooper Rush and Andy Dalton in QB. The last time they faced Dak Prescott, they won. It doesn’t really mean anything since the Vikings have a brand new coaching staff, but it’s kind of funny. After losing three out of four in this scenario, Minnesota bounces back with a big home win over Anthony Barr and Dallas. The Cowboys have a ton of talent, but they’d be a much more worrying opponent if Mike McCarthy wasn’t their head coach.

Week 12 vs Patriots: LOSS (6-5)

I think the Vikings are a slightly better team than the Patriots. I also can’t bring myself to play Bill Belichick, who finds a way to slow down O’Connell’s offense in a short week (this is the Thanksgiving night game). O’Connell will want nothing more than to beat his former head coach, but Belichick is one of the best of all time for a reason. A late Mac Jones touchdown pass helps New England win a low-scoring affair, souring the holiday for Vikings fans.

Week 13 vs. Jets: WIN (7-5)

Remember how I said the Bears aren’t going to be the worst team in the league? That’s because there’s the Jets, Texans, and Falcons. The Jets have some intriguing young plays, but unless Zach Wilson makes a big step forward in his sophomore year, it will be another long season for them. This feels like an easy double-digit Viking victory.

Week 14 at Lions: WIN (8-5)

After alternating losses and wins in the first six games after the bye, the Vikings eventually win back-to-back games for the first time since their three-game streak last season. That disastrous loss to the then-winless Lions last year gave Mike Zimmer an eight-game streak against Detroit. Fear not: O’Connell will win 2-0 against the Lions in his first season.

Week 15 vs Colts: WIN (9-5)

The Colts should be the best team in the AFC South this year, although that’s not saying much given that Tennessee has been worse off and the other two teams are the Texans and Jaguars. Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman Jr. are great fun and the defense looks solid, but I have questions about 37-year-old Matt Ryan, offensive tackles and whether or not Stephon Gilmore can stay healthy. I think the Vikings stay hot with an impressive win over Indy.

Week 16 vs. Giants: WIN (10-5)

Even if you think the Vikings are a playoff bubble team, this year’s schedule is as good as it gets. For one, they get nine home games, seven away games and one neutral game. Perhaps more importantly, hers opposing QB schedule it’s just not that hard. Daniel Jones is right there with Wilson, Goff and Wentz at the bottom of the list. I liked Brian Daboll from the Giants, but his freshman year probably won’t be as competitive as O’Connell’s because every coach inherited. Make it a four-game winning streak.

Week 17 at Packers: LOSS (10-6)

The Vikings have another trip to Green Bay to start the new year, this time literally on the first day of January. Hopefully cousins can play this time. Even if he does, I’m not picking the Vikings to sweep the Packers. Rodgers and their defense are too good for that. This could be the game that seals the division.

Week 18 at Bears: WIN (11-6)

We’ve seen a lot of meaningless, season-ending Viking Bears games over the past few years, but I expect Minnesota will play for something in this game — whether it’s a playoff spot or a better starting spot. Though Soldier Fields is often a house of horrors for Vikings, this Bears team should be bad enough to make up for it.

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