Questions Answered: Favorite Part of Vikings Schedule, Record Prediction, Thayer Thomas
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the May 16th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: Favorite Part of Vikings Schedule, Record Prediction, Thayer Thomas
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: What’s your favorite part of the Vikings’ 2024 schedule?
Answer: The back half before the final two games.
This is our favorite part:
- Week 9 — vs. Indianapolis Colts
- Week 10 — at Jacksonville Jaguars
- Week 11 — at Tennessee Titans
- Week 12 — at Chicago Bears
- Week 13 — vs. Arizona Cardinals
- Week 14 — vs. Atlanta Falcons
- Week 15 — vs. Chicago Bears (MNF)
- Week 16 — at Seattle Seahawks
After murderous contests from Weeks 2 through 8, the schedule lightens up, and J.J. McCarthy could be playing by then. In fact, if Minnesota is better than most pundits’ forecast, perhaps around .500 after Week 8, this section of the schedule can produce some wins.
Q: You might’ve covered this before, but do you have a Vikings win total prediction for 2024?
Answer: 7-10
We’ll likely talk ourselves into 8-9 after training camp steam, but 7-10 feels fair. Sam Darnold must prove that he’s better than his first six campaigns, and until then, it’s merely best-laid plans for the man to have lofty expectations.
Vikings fans should consider the 2024 season as a springboard to 2025. That’s when the team will become J.J. McCarthy’s, and Minnesota can perhaps contend for the division.
Q: Kevin O’Connell seems high on Thayer Thomas. Do you think he could win the WR3 job?
A: No. Making the 53-man roster would be a feat for Thomas.
The WR3 will likely be Brandon Powell, Trent Sherfield, or Jalen Nailor. Thomas needs more time to blossom, so WR4, not WR3, should be his 2024 ceiling.
You’re right, though, about O’Connell’s ardor for Thayer. He recently said, “Looking at Thayer, I was joking with him out there, cause really one year to the day of the first time we got on the grass with him. Just the growth, and the development, and the mindset that he has now. And really being a calming presence out there.”
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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