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These Vikings look familiar

November 18, 2014 at 1:12PM

1:21

(Shari L. Gross/Shari L. Gross)

The 2014 Vikings are starting to remind us an awful lot of the 2006 Vikings, which is not a terrible thing in some regards but is not a compliment in other ways. Here is a look at those two squads:

First-year coach:
2006: Brad Childress, a law-and-order type and former coordinator to whom many fans took an instant disliking.
2014: Mike Zimmer, a law-and-order type and former coordinator to whom many fans took an instant liking.
Season narrative
2006: Early optimism over a 4-2 start was diminished by a 31-7 home loss to New England, and despite a couple other bright spots the team went 6-10.
2014: Early optimism after an opening-week win over St. Louis was diminished after a 30-7 home loss to New England, and despite a couple of other bright spots the team is 4-6.
Points scored per game
2006: 17.6 (26th in the NFL)
2014: 18.1 (28th in the NFL)
Passing statistics
2006: 195 yards per game, 0.8 TD passes per game, 1.3 INTs per game, 5.4 yards per attempt
2014: 192.1 yards per game, 0.7 TD passes per game, 1.2 INTs per game, 5.2 yards per attempt
Times the team failed to score more than 21 points
2006: 12 out of 16 (2-10 record in those games)
2014: 7 out of 10 (1-6 record in those games)
Points allowed per game
2006: 20.4 (14th in the NFL)
2014: 22.0 (14th in the NFL)
Without AP
2006: In the season before Adrian Peterson was drafted, the Vikings averaged 114 yards rushing per game and 4.1 yards per carry
2014: With Peterson sidelined for nine of the first 10 games, the Vikings are averaging 117 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry
QB situation
2006: The season started with a veteran at the helm (Brad Johnson) before giving way eventually to a rookie the team hoped would become the franchise quarterback (Tarvaris Jackson).
2014: The season started with a veteran at the helm (Matt Cassel) before an injury thrust into that role a rookie the team hoped would be the eventual franchise quarterback (Teddy Bridgewater).
Progress?
2006: Vikings improved to 8-8 the next season, 10-6 and the playoffs in 2008 and 12-4 and within an eyelash of the Super Bowl in 2009.
2014: The Vikings are hoping a young nucleus built around seven first-round picks from 2012-14 will lead to better days ahead.
MICHAEL RAND

Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback Brad Johnson (14) looks to pass against the Oakland Raiders during of the first half of their preseason game, Monday, Aug. 14, 2006, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Battaglia) ORG XMIT: MPD106 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (7) drops back for a pass in the third quarter of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams in Minneapolis, Dec. 31, 2006. If Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn falls to No. 7 in Saturday's NFL Draft, the Vikings are going to have an awfully tough decision to make. Coach Brad Childress wants to see if Jackson, a second-round pick last year, has the stuff to be a starter. But Quinn may be too hard to pass up. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt) ORG XMIT: MNAH103 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel (16) passes in the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Rogelio Solis) ORG XMIT: NYOTK (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt) ORG XMIT: otkco129 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)