Vikings '16: New Stadium, Old Problems

English: Sam Bradford before a game in Denver on 11-28-2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After successfully convincing a skeptical Minnesota Legislature and its constituents that a new stadium would be an asset to the community (otherwise they'd move to a different community), the Minnesota Vikings will start play this season in a new football palace in downtown Minneapolis that resembles a glorified greenhouse more suited to growing plants and crops.

The team, having won the NFC North division title last season, considered themselves Super Bowl contenders this season.  With coach Mike Zimmer in his fourth season, the offense would be led by quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and running back Adrian Peterson--though their offensive line is rather iffy, and the defense is one of the best in the NFL.  What could go wrong?

Well, something did go wrong.  Bridgewater wrecked his knee during a practice and is out for the season--and maybe beyond.  Concerned that their number one starter might not be the same player he once was if he ever plays again, and that veteran backup Shaun Hill isn't the answer, the Vikings traded their top draft pick in 2017 to Philadelphia for Sam Bradford, a quarterback the Eagles and their fans have soured on.  We'll have this season to figure out why they were more than happy to get rid of him.

Literally overnight, after Bridgewater went down, the Vikings went from Super Bowl contenders to also-rans in the eyes of oddsmakers and football experts.  They have just handed the division championship to the Green Bay Packers, provided that quarterback Aaron Rodgers stays healthy.  With Bradford on board, though, a wild card spot isn't out of the question.

But hey, at least you can use this season to get acquainted with the new stadium as the Vikings struggle to make the playoffs.  The stadium you helped pay for, that is.

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Meanwhile, back in the NFL . . .

• Commissioner Roger Goodell is in his tenth season.  Where has the time gone?  Why, it seems like only yesterday . . . 
• The Rams have returned to Los Angeles after a two-decade sojourn in St. Louis.  Will the San Diego Chargers or Oakland Raiders (if they don't gamble on Las Vegas) join them there?
• As of September 6, Colin Kaepernick is still a member of the San Francisco 49ers.  He'll inspire a lot more folks to kneel down instead of stand for the National Anthem, but he also won't be playing a lot.
• Peyton Manning retired as an NFL quarterback after leading the Denver Broncos to the Super Bowl championship.  He'll continue to be a presence this season through TV commercials and taking in brother Eli's New York Giants games.  How can we miss Peyton if he won't go away?
• Johnny Manziel, having partied his way out of the NFL, is reportedly going to classes at Texas A&M University.  If this is part of the path to a new and more mature Manziel, then we're all for it.
• NBC joins CBS and the NFL Network as the league's Thursday night TV partners this season.  Now, what does NBC do with Mike Tirico, who left ESPN to be Al Michaels' or Bob Costas' heir apparent?  Tirico was scheduled to work the Thursday night games until the NFL decreed that Michaels must call those games along with "Sunday Night Football".  Something to do with using the same network crews in prime time for familiarity's sake.  Meanwhile, Sean McDonough becomes Tirico's replacement on ESPN's "Monday Night Football".
• Behold, our predictions for division winners and wild cards.  You're welcome.

NFC NORTH:  Green Bay Packers
NFC SOUTH:  Carolina Panthers
NFC EAST:  Washington FC
NFC WEST:  Arizona Cardinals
WILD CARDS:  Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings

AFC NORTH:  Cincinnati Bengals
AFC SOUTH:  Indianapolis Colts
AFC EAST:  New England Patriots
AFC WEST:  Kansas City Chiefs
WILD CARDS:  Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans