The start of the NFL season was an interesting one. As we keep plugging away week after week, the teams enter week 6. To my dismay I haven't watched enough football to even comment on my own team, the Green Bay Packers, and how they are doing. However, the majority of the teams are already at a losing season or are floundering for a chance to reach .500.
After a rough and tumble week 5 in the NFL we have one undefeated team, the Minnesota Vikings. I can't help but be amazed but in slight disbelief because of where the NFC North standings now are. The Minnesota Vikings are 5-0. the Packers trail 3-1, but the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears trail at 2-3 and 1-4.
These first five weeks have proved difficult for some teams and it has truly shown how unpredictable the NFL really is. Two undefeated teams are no longer as the fifth week ends and one remains.
The Minnesota Vikings. The Purple People Eaters. The VikQueens, as Green Bay Nation likes to call them, although that will probably cease because they are kicking our butt.
The Vikings are 5-0 and are rolling over the competition left and right. The Vikings haven't had a winning season since the 2009 season when Brett Favre was quarterback and Brad Childress was coach. They went undefeated until week seven with a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Week 1-6 they won big against teams like the Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers.
So what are the similarities between the 2009 Vikings and the 2016 Vikings?
Nothing.
Comparing the '09 Vikings and the '16 Vikings is unnecessary. Little to none of the players on the 2009 roster are still on the roster in 2016. Adrian Peterson on the offense and a handful on the defensive side have kept with the Vikings through the rough years. Even with Peterson on injured reserve and Teddy Bridgewater done for the season, newbie Sam Bradford has taken over the offense; an offense that he didn't play the preseason with but just jumped in. And succeeded.
Bradford has 719 passing yards and 4 touchdowns and completes multiple passes to multiple receivers throughout every game. While the offense is scoring the TD's, the defense is completely unstoppable. With 249 tackles, 15 sacks, 6 interceptions and 5 forces fumbles; this defense is led by the legend Norv Turner. Currently, after the Vikings big win against the Texans, their defense is ranked number one in the league only allowing 12.60 points per game.
The upcoming schedule for the Vikings looks to be a difficult one; playing the Eagles and the Redskins (those will certainly be the difficult games).
As much as I hate to admit it, the Vikings are good, really, really good. I believe they will only have one or two losses, hopefully one being in Green Bay on Christmas Eve. However, even with those two losses they will most likely still clinch the NFC North Championship, with a first week bye and will go deep into the playoffs.
I'm sure no one was expecting the Minnesota Vikings to end up 5-0, nor did anyone expect Sam Bradford to be playing the way he is.
It's obvious that Bradford has found the Vikings a good fit for him and the way he plays but I think the Vikings have found a new passion for the game of football.
With the new US Bank Stadium that was christened with a win against the Green Bay Packers, a well played quarterback and Norv Turner as the defensive coordinator; the Minnesota Vikings have truly become the Kings of the North.
