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With Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings Are Contenders in NFC North

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After a wild offseason involving a myriad of trade rumors surrounding Adrian Peterson, the Minnesota Vikings made it to OTAs with their All-Pro running back still on the roster. At one point before the NFL Draft, it seemed as though a trade to the Dallas Cowboys was imminent, but nothing came of the talks. Needless to say, the Vikings are a better team with Peterson on the roster, and are now contenders in the NFC North.

Minnesota finished the 2014 season 7-9, third in the division. By no means is a 7-9 season spectacular, but with a rookie quarterback at the helm and a group of non-superstars in the backfield, the Vikings’ season should be seen as a stepping stone in the right direction.

In the 12 games that Teddy Bridgewater started, the Vikings went 6-6, losing those six games by a total of 30 points — 14 of which came against the Detroit Lions in a 17-3 Week 6 loss. Four of those losses were by three points or less, as well. In the standings, these numbers don’t show up. All you see is 7-9, and third in the division.

For a team that ranked 14th in the NFL in rushing yards, the return of Peterson will obviously be welcomed. He’ll be able to take a load of pressure off of Bridgewater, giving him a safety net to hand the ball off to. Call me crazy, but I can’t imagine Bridgewater was confident in giving the ball to Matt Asiata or Jerick McKinnon 30 times per game.

As far as the NFC North goes, finishing in the top half isn’t out of the question for Minnesota. The Green Bay Packers will likely claim the top spot once again, but the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions have question marks on both sides of the ball. The Vikings also had a strong draft, adding the top cornerback in Trae Waynes and arguably the best inside linebacker in Eric Kendricks. Danielle Hunter will also contribute as a run-stopping defensive end, and offensive lineman T.J. Clemmings was seen as a steal in the fourth round.

With a strong secondary that includes Xavier Rhodes, Harrison Smith and Waynes, and the ability to run the ball consistently again, the Vikings are an under-the-radar team in the NFC North. It wouldn’t be surprising to see them win nine-plus games in 2015.

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