For the Vikings to reach the Super Bowl …
A week ago, we stressed the need for the Vikings to showcase quality, depth and health at the cornerback position. We saw quality in Xavier Rhodes shutting down Antonio Brown. We saw good health. But the depth was lacking as the Steelers torched Trae Waynes too often. This week, we'll stress the obvious No. 1 thing the Vikings need to have on the Road to Minneapolis: Sam Bradford playing. Without him, the Vikings are finished.
Super Bowl Dream Team?
Which NFL team that you don't root for would you most like to see reach Super Bowl LII? My pick: Detroit. Yeah, it's an NFC North foe, but how can you not pull for a franchise that has one playoff win since it beat Cleveland in the 1957 NFL title game. That's 60 years with one playoff victory in January of 1992. So long ago, the Metrodome hosted a Super Bowl that month.
Did you know?
Three people have participated in the Super Bowl as a player, assistant coach and head coach: Dan Reeves, Mike Ditka and our favorite former Gopher, Tony Dungy.
Three up, three down
Since the NFL essentially is 16 one-game seasons, perceptions of teams rise and fall dramatically every four to eight days. Three teams that nosedived after Week 2: Dallas, "Sacksonville" and Green Bay. Three teams that rose: Denver, Detroit and, of course, New England.
DESTINATION MINNEAPOLIS!
Week 2 Forecast
Oakland vs. Atlanta
Silver and Black
This week, I'll go with the last team to beat the Vikings in a Super Bowl (Oakland) versus a team that squashed the Vikings' best chance of returning to the Super Bowl (Atlanta) for the first time since the 1976 season.
Why Oakland (2-0)? The Raiders are explosive offensively and Derek Carr is being careful with the ball. And if they survive the AFC West, they'll be more than ready for the playoffs. What do you think of that, Marshawn? Marshawn?
Why Atlanta (2-0)? Yeah, losing Vic Beasley for a month will hurt. But Atlanta's offense looked alert and ready to roll to another Super Bowl thanks in part to the Packers' defensive weaknesses.
My preseason pick: Seattle (1-1) vs. Pittsburgh (2-0) – is hanging on thanks to the Seahawks and their leaky O-line getting the next closest thing to a bye: A home game against the punchless 49ers.
