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Vikings expect success with mix of new, old
After adding some high-priced free agents and promising draft choices to several quality holdovers, the pieces of the puzzle seem to be in place for the Vikings to become one of the NFL's elite teams.
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Zygi Wilf did not temper his words.
"Our expectations are very high, and we set our goals very high," the Vikings owner said shortly before training camp opened. "I know we haven't gotten there yet, but we expect to win the division. We will fight for that division, and we will fight for going toward championships for years to come. It's been our No. 1 goal, it's always been our No. 1 goal."
The Vikings are 23-25 since Wilf bought them in 2005, and 14-18 in coach Brad Childress' first two seasons. But Wilf can't be faulted for his optimistic view, given the money he invested on improving a club that got off to a 3-6 start in 2007, then won five in a row before falling out of playoff contention with two closing losses.
A defense that finished first against the run in the NFL -- but last against the pass -- added Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen and safety Madieu Williams for a combined $44 million in guarantees.
An offense that was 28th out of 32 teams in passing got a potentially significant boost with the signing of free-agent wide receiver Bernard Berrian to a six-year, $42 million contract that includes $16 million in guarantees.
Given the parity that exists in the NFL (this is not a league in which teams must rebuild over an extended period) the additions of Allen, Williams and Berrian should move the Vikings from a .500 team to one that Wilf and others expect to contend for the NFC North title.
Equally important in becoming a playoff team is that Tarvaris Jackson takes a significant step forward in his development as a quarterback, including staying healthy, and running back Adrian Peterson not only continues to excel running the ball but improves as a pass blocker.
Today's special section provides a look at how the Vikings' various additions, as well as some key returning players, will be expected to have a positive impact in 2008.
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| Date/Opponent | Time | W | L | Score |
| Sep 13 - at Cleveland | 12:00 PM | 1 | 0 | 34-20 |
| Sep 20 - at Detroit | 12:00 PM | 2 | 0 | 27-13 |
| Sep 27 - vs. San Francisco | 12:00 PM | 3 | 0 | 27-24 |
| Oct 5 - vs. Green Bay | 7:30 PM | 4 | 0 | 30-23 |
| Oct 11 - at St. Louis | 12:00 PM | 5 | 0 | 38-10 |
| Oct 18 - vs. Baltimore | 12:00 PM | 6 | 0 | 33-31 |
| Oct 25 - at Pittsburgh | 12:00 PM | 6 | 1 | 17-27 |
| Nov 1 - at Green Bay | 3:15 PM | 7 | 1 | 38-26 |
| Open | ||||
| Nov 15 - vs. Detroit | 12:00 PM | 8 | 1 | 27-10 |
| Nov 22 - vs. Seattle | 12:00 PM | 9 | 1 | 35-9 |
| Nov 29 - vs. Chicago | 3:15 PM | |||
| Dec 6 - at Arizona | 7:20 PM | |||
| Dec 13 - vs. Cincinnati | 12:00 PM | |||
| Dec 20 - at Carolina | 7:20 PM | |||
| Dec 28 - at Chicago | 7:30 PM | |||
| Jan 3 - vs. NY Giants | 12:00 PM |
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