Minnesota Vikings Tickets

2008 Minnesota Vikings Season Preview The Minnesota Vikings fell apart down the stretch last year and lost out on the final NFC wild card spot to the Washington Redskins, but offseason additions may have them thinking of a deep postseason run in 2008.

Rookie running back Adrian Peterson was everything the Vikings dreamed of and more despite missing a few games with a knee injury. He managed to break the single game rushing record set by Jamal Lewis, an incredible feat in just his first year in the league.

With the passing game being their major weakness, the Vikings went out in the offseason and snared wide receiver Bernard Berrian from the division rival Chicago Bears. They are also expecting big things out of Sidney Rice, especially after letting first round bust Troy Williamson walk.

Quarterback is really the only position of concern, but it certainly is a big one. Tavaris Jackson is still extremely young and raw and showed little improvement last season. Some of that can be attributed to injuries that cost him several games, but his poise and accuracy leave a lot to be desired.

With their roster built to win now, the Vikings might do well to try and acquire a veteran quarterback. The only problem is, no one worthwhile is even available.

The big offseason splash came on the defensive side of the ball. The Vikings traded a hefty amount of draft picks to the Kansas City Chiefs for defensive end Jared Allen, one of the top pass rushers in the game.

While the price was steep, Allen is an immediate upgrade to a strong defensive unit that really excelled against the run but had issues against the pass. His ability to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks significantly upgrades their pass defense and makes them a serious playoff contender.

In a less publicized but equally as important move, the team upgraded its secondary by signing safety Madieu Williams. Williams' strong play with the Cincinnati Bengals was overshadowed by the terrible players around him. He should excel in Minnesota.

The Vikings still have serious issues at quarterback, but it's hard to find another weakness on this team. They should compete for the NFC North title, and should the QB situation work out, a Super Bowl is not out of reach.