Vikings (-2.5) @ Titans: Week 1 2016 Season. 9/11 1pm EST

It seems like Vikings fans are perpetually bracing themselves for the worst, while hoping for the best. I don’t think there was any level of bracing that could have prepared me for Teddy Bridgewater suffering a season ending knee-pocalypse last Wednesday. This Venn diagram was about the only thing I could think about.

The season seemed to be in the balance, and then Rick Spielman rolled the dice and gave up a 2017 first round pick and a conditional 2018 4th round pick for much maligned Sam Bradford.

Nobody knows how it’s going to go with Bradford as the eventual starter. I personally believe that the coaches in the Vikings’ locker room are going to find a way to get the most out of Bradford as they have done all over the roster, and with late round draft choices such as Stefon Diggs, Rhett Ellison, and Everson Griffen. That’s not to say that Zimmer and company are infallible of course, but they seem to have a good working relationship among the members of the front-office and the coaching staff that creates a synergy unlike anything fans have seen in awhile. The Chilly “triangle of authority” days are long gone. Thank goddess.

So here we stand. It’s week 1, and the purple are on the road against a 2nd year QB and a Titans team that has been pretty disappointing of late. The Titans made what I thought was a smart move and traded out of the #1 overall pick, and added a left tackle and a running back alongside Marcus Mariota that in theory should help him be successful. Below is a look at the matchups in this game position-by-position.

Quarterback

As a fan of the Oregon Ducks, I am basically obligated to like Marcus Mariota. With that said, I like him objectively better than either of the Vikings’ options going into this game. Bradford will have had just over 7 days of exposure to Norv Turner’s Air Coryell system, and it may mean that Shaun Hill gets the start. Either way, I think the edge goes to Mariota. Advantage: Titans

Running Back

All Day Adrian Peterson is the best pure runner in the league. Murray has excelled in prior seasons, but is coming off of a disappointing year in Philadelphia and Henry is a rookie who looked good in the preseason, but is unproven. There’s no question this matchup favors AD. Advantage: Vikings

Wide Receiver

Stefon Diggs has all the tools to be a good player on the outside. I believe he will make a big step forward in his development this season, but I wonder how long it will take for him to develop a rapport with Sam Bradford. On the Titans’ side Tajae Sharpe has emerged from a pretty poor WR corps as the number 1 option. The 5th round pick has a lot to prove to overtake Diggs even given the quarterback situation in Minnesota. Advantage: Vikings

Tight End

Delanie Walker is a guy with a solid reputation. I had him on my fantasy team a few years ago and he did jack. I trust that he’s good, because smart people say he’s good. Kyle Rudolph has had some issues staying healthy, but he can get open, and should be a good security blanket for whichever QB gets the nod. Advantage: Push

Offensive Line

A much maligned group in Minnesota. They have a lot to prove. Mike Zimmer called the Titans’ tackles “top 11”. Both of these units will have to be effective for the offenses to operate on schedule. Both teams want to run. Advantage: Titans

Defensive Line

This is the Vikings’ deepest unit, and it might be its best unit when healthy. Everson Griffen, Sharrif Floyd, and Linval Joseph are as good as any 3 teammates on the defensive line in the league. Jurrell Casey is supposed to be legit and there was some consternation over the fact that he was left out of the annual top 100 lists across the media. I suspect he’ll have the advantage lining up against most of the Vikings front, but the depth of the Minnesota D-Line tips the scales in their favor. Advantage: Vikings

Linebacker

Anthony Barr is one of the top LB in the league. Barr and 2nd year LB Eric Kendricks are fast, smart, and versatile players. These two young stars along with the offseason additions of Emmanuel Lamur and Kentrell Brothers and the aged wisdom of Chad Greenway overshadow the skillset of the Titans’ LB group headlined by Brian Orakpo. Advantage: Vikings

Defensive Backs

This is another strong position group on a very talented Vikings defense. I don’t see one position where the Titans can match up along the defensive backfield, and that includes the strong safety position. I think Jayron Kearse will eventually wrestle the job away from Andrew Sendejo. No matter this week. Advantage: Vikings

Special Teams

The Vikings have the advantage at every special teams position. I have a lot of love in my heart for Blair Walsh. Advantage: Vikings

Overall

The problem with Tennessee as I see it, is philosophy. Mike Mularkey has stated publicly that he wants to run the ball early and often utilizing his ‘exotic smashmouth’ brand of football. Since this phrase was coined in February of 2016, no one really knows exactly what that means. What we do know is that successful teams have effective passing games, and are flexible in their game planning strategies on a week-to-week basis.

Bill Belichick has made a living changing philosophies depending on the strengths and weaknesses of opponents. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard him claim to have any kind of specific philosophy, and I’ve certainly never heard him announce to the league what his strategy was going to be going into a game, let alone an entire season. Mike Zimmer will not be outcoached in this game. Advantage: Vikings

Final Prediction: Vikings 31 Titans 17