Sitting at 5-1, the Minnesota Vikings have a real chance to make a run coming out of the bye week.
With a completely new coaching staff and scheme, the Vikings have a lot of room to grow.
Here are our predictions for the Vikings in each of their remaining games.
Week 8: Vikings vs Cardinals
Prediction: Win (6-1)
The Cardinals are incredibly inconsistent and the Vikings should be able to pressure Kyler Murray all game.
Week 9: Vikings @ Commanders
Prediction: Win (7-1)
This will be the first game that Kirk Cousins will play in Washington D.C. since he left the Commanders for the Vikings after the 2017 season. The Commanders will be without Carson Wentz, giving the Vikings a much easier path to victory
Week 10: Vikings @ Bills
Prediction: Loss (7-2)
It would be great to see the Vikings get a big win in Buffalo, but the Bills are the best team in football. No shame in losing to the Bills.
Week 11: Vikings vs Cowboys
Prediction: Loss (7-3)
This will be a pivotal game for how the Vikings will be the rest of the season. If they can get past the stout Cowboys’ defense, they will be a legit threat in the NFC.
Week 12: Vikings vs Patriots Thanksgiving Night
Prediction: Win (8-3)
The Vikings host their first-ever Thanksgiving game and they have a massive advantage of playing at home the week prior. That will give them a major advantage on a short week.
Week 13: Vikings vs Jets
Prediction: Win (9-3)
The Jets are off to a hot start but they will settle into who they are: an ascending team that is currently average at best.
Week 14: Vikings @ Lions
Prediction: Win (10-3)
Winning on the road in the division is no easy task, but the Vikings will be able to take care of business against the Lions.
Week 15: Vikings vs Colts
Prediction: Loss (10-4)
The Vikings have lost six in a row to the Colts with their last win coming in 1997. The Vikings can’t win them all and a Jonathan Taylor-led rushing attack could be the Vikings downfall.
Week 15: Vikings vs Giants Christmas Eve
Prediction: Win (11-4)
In the Vikings last home game of the season, they give the home crowd a great Christmas present and potentially a division championship.
Week 17: Vikings @ Packers
Prediction: Loss (11-5)
It’s hard to win divisional games on the road, especially at Lambeau Field in January. No shame in losing to the Packers in this spot.
Week 18: Vikings @ Bears
Prediction: Win (12-5)
The Vikings could very well need to win this game to secure a division title and they have had success recently at Soldier Field.
Overview
In the preseason, a 12-5 record seemed like a best-case scenario for the purple and gold. With a 5-1 start, a 7-4 finish feels very plausible for the Vikings and a potential coach of the year award for Kevin O’Connell.