During July, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be analyzing the schedules of every team in the NFL and ranking each game in order of difficulty (with one being the most difficult). This series will be split up into the eight most difficult games (ranked 1-8) and the eight easiest games (ranked 9-16) for each team. In this article, the Minnesota Vikings easiest games are the focus.
Minnesota Vikings Easiest Games in 2016
9. Week 14 at Jacksonville Jaguars
Some sports fanatics would say the Jaguars are ready for prime time after their off season spending spree, but I would disagree. They did bring in the likes of Malik Jackson, Tashaun Gipson, and Prince Amukamara to help bolster a defense that gave up the second most points in the league, while those additions help, prime time is a long ways away for this squad. It’s hard to imagine the Jaguars beating a much more mature Vikings team, without putting up a miraculous defensive performance.
10. Week 17 at Chicago Bears
Week 17 could very well be the final playoff push for the Vikings in 2016 or redemption after a week 16 match up with the Green Bay Packers. Bridgewater had no problem of disposing of the Bears last season, including a week 15 game in which he threw for 231 yards and 4 touchdowns. If the Bears defense is as porous as recent years, I can’t imagine the Vikings will have a tough time running up the score.
11. Week 12 vs Detroit Lions
It’s hard to beat a team twice, even if it is the Detroit Lions. This game comes one week after the Vikings battle the Arizona Cardinals so it could be good news for Lions fans. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had a combined passer rating of 119.45 against the Lions last year, and threw no interceptions. For this reason I don’t think the Lions can stand in his way unless their defense can magically transform.
12. Week 13 vs Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo was only able to play in four games last year and the Cowboys struggled mightily. The team finished 22nd in total yards gained and the defense was mediocre at best. While this won’t necessarily be the easiest win for the Vikings, based off of 2015, the purple and gold should be able to wave goodbye to Jason Garrett.
13. Week 8 at the Chicago Bears
The 2015-16 offseason shook the Bears hard after they lost Matt Forte, the good news is that Jeremy Langford should fill in nicely, the bad news is that the Bears still won’t finish above 6-10. Behind Jay Cutler, the Bears had the 4th worst passing attack in the game, and that doesn’t fare well against a defense that gave up 24 passing touchdowns all last regular season.
14. Week 7 at Philadelphia Eagles
Despite managing to finish 7-9 the Eagles led by Chip Kelly seemed to be one of the most dysfunctional teams around. Now with a new sheriff in town under Doug Pederson and a first year QB in Carson Wentz, this game should be a very easily winnable game for the Vikings defense. In addition, the Eagles defense was only 1 of 5 teams to give up 430 points or more in 2015.
15. Week 9 vs Detroit Lions
Calvin Johnson‘s retirement sent a shockwave through an organization that already ranked 20th in offensive yard per game last season. Now with megatron missing, the Vikings should be one of many teams who will feast on a lackluster Lions offense.
16. Week 1 at Tennessee Titans
It’s no big surprise the Vikings easiest matchup comes week 1 against a team that finished 3-13 in 2015 (tied for last in the NFL). Despite the Titans offseason addition of DeMarco Murray, who by the way was one of the least effective backs in 2015, the Vikings should win this game easily, then again Blair Walsh should have made that playoff field goal.
Be sure to check out the eight most difficult games on the Vikings schedule.
Main Photo:
