The Minnesota Vikings had a Super Bowl season on their minds a month ago, and they don't plan on lowering expectations just yet.
The plan was to pound the ball with Adrian Peterson, let Teddy Bridgewater continue his development with a legitimate set of weapons, and lean on one of the league's best defenses. Two-thirds of it are now out the window, but there's still hope.
The defense has been phenomenal through two games despite missing starting defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd and shutdown cornerback Xavier Rhodes. They've already generated a plus-five turnover differential, and are ranked the fifth-best unit overall.
The real questions are on the offensive side of the ball.
The offensive line is improved from last season, but it's not good enough to continue the ground-and-pound attack plan without Peterson. Jerick McKinnon, Matt Asiata, and freshly signed rusher Ronnie Hillman will all have to do their part to make up for the All-Pro's absence, yet none will be expected to emerge as the offense's centerpiece - that role has already been assigned.
Through two full weeks of NFL action, the league's leading receiver is none other than the Vikings' Stefon Diggs. The second-year receiver stole the show against the Green Bay Packers in Week 2, and holds a 59-yard lead as the league's most productive pass-catcher. He's even drawn comparisons to Vikings legend Randy Moss, due to the quick start to his pro career.
| Player | Games Played | Catches | Yards | 100-yd Games | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stefon Diggs | 15 | 68 | 1005 | 4 | 5 |
| Randy Moss | 15 | 64 | 1281 | 4 | 16 |
While Diggs and Moss have completely different skill sets, the 22-year-old has shown signs that he can excel as a No. 1 receiver in the NFL. He's going to need his fellow receivers to chip in, but there's plenty of opportunity to improve as they all become more accustomed to playing with their new quarterback.
Sam Bradford was expected to have chemistry with Peterson, his college teammate at Oklahoma, but when that plan hobbled back to the locker room Sunday night, he didn't miss a beat.
The former Philadelphia Eagle earned ProFootballFocus's second-highest quarterback grade after two weeks and shockingly got a win against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in his Vikings debut. Bradford even outperformed the two-time MVP in yards, touchdowns, interceptions, completions, and completion percentage.
This is Bradford's chance to shine, and the Vikings really need him to do so if they want to keep those Super Bowl hopes alive. With Peterson reportedly out three-to-four months after opting for surgery on his meniscus and carrying an $18-million 2017 cap hit, he'll be pushing for a return and a shot at a Super Bowl - but he needs Bradford and Diggs to keep the ship afloat.
In the star running back's absence, Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner will have to switch gears and create a pass-oriented game plan featuring his new stars. He's worked with Hall of Fame-worthy quarterbacks Troy Aikman, Drew Brees, and Philip Rivers through his career, and should certainly have the ability to adapt to an air-it-out style of play.
There's no doubt the Vikings have a tough test ahead of them, starting with a matchup against the Carolina Panthers that will give Turner and Bradford a prime opportunity to try out a new-look offense. While the Panthers have a sound overall defense, their front seven is a much more talented, experienced group than their secondary.
If Bradford can find a way to build on his Week 2 performance and gain some momentum in the passing game, he could settle down the fan base's worries about losing the two men expected to lead the way just a few weeks ago.
