Minnesota Vikings 2023-24 Season Guidebook

While the summer season brings much enjoyment to the average person, for an NFL fan, it represents a desolate wasteland where Sundays just aren't quite as vibrant as in the autumn months.  However, with each passing day, we inch closer to the beginning of the 2023 NFL season, which officially kicks off on September 7 this year.

Whether you've had your favorite team's tweet notifications turned on all summer or if you've decided to tune out all football news entirely, you'll be able to learn everything you need to know about your team going into the 2023-24 season right here.
 
In today's article, I'll be discussing the Minnesota Vikings.

I wrote a guidebook for every team in the NFL heading into the 2023 season.  To check out an article for another team, click the link below:
https://www.bucketsquadsportsreports.com/nfl

2022 Season Recap

The Vikings were one of the best teams in football for the entirety of the regular season, which was highlighted by a wild overtime win at Buffalo and the largest comeback victory in NFL history against the Colts.  They won the NFC North with a 13-4 record and clinched the 2nd overall seed, but were eliminated in the wild card round by the Giants.  It was an extremely sour end to an otherwise very successful season.
 
Minnesota struggles defensively all season, allowing the 3rd most points per game of any team in the league.  Their passing defense was the 2nd worst in the NFL, as Kirk Cousins and the offense drove the team’s success all year.  They were great through the air behind Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen, and will hope to repeat their offensive success with a slightly different lineup in 2023.
 
Significant Roster Moves

The Vikings will be without one of the league’s top running backs, Dalvin Cook, as well as pass catchers Adam Thielen and Irv Smith Jr. for the 2023 campaign.  They also lost several defensive backs along with linebackers Eric Kendricks and Za’Darius Smith.  Most of those guys will be replaced from within the roster, though they did bring in Dean Lowry, Marcus Davenport, and Byron Murphy Jr. to start at defensive end, outside linebacker, and cornerback, respectively.  Brandon Powell and Josh Oliver will see some action, but shouldn’t be massive difference makers this season.
 
2023 Draft Class

Minnesota had six draft picks, which they split between the offense and defense.  1st round pick Jordan Addison will take over Adam Thielen’s role as the number two receiver, while everyone else is unlikely to make much of an impact initially this year.
 
They spent a 5th round pick on quarterback Jaren Hall out of BYU, who will spend his rookie year learning behind veterans Kirk Cousins and Nick Mullens.  Interestingly, though it doesn’t mean anything, the Vikings used all six picks on players from commonly abbreviated universities.
 
Season Schedule

The Vikings will take on the NFC South and the AFC West in 2023 to go along with their six divisional games.  Their other three opponents are the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and Cincinnati Bengals.  With an opponent prior season win percentage of .497, Minnesota has the 14th easiest schedule in the NFL.

Minnesota’s primetime games include one Thursday night games at Philadelphia, two Sunday night games at Denver and versus Green Bay, and two Monday night games versus San Francisco and Chicago.
 
Depth Charts

Offense

Defense

Special Teams

The Vikings return 14 of their 22 offensive and defensive starters from last year.  While the offense will largely be the same (minus two big names), the defense will look a lot different in 2023.  That could be a good thing, though, with how much that side of the ball struggled in 2022.  Even though Kirk Cousins will receive a lot of the blame if Minnesota falters, the Vikings should live or die by their defensive performance this year.
 
Coaching Staff

Kevin O’Connell returns for his 2nd season as head coach of the Vikings.  Two coordinators return for their 2nd season as well: Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips and Special Teams Coordinator Matt Daniels.  Minnesota hired Brian Flores to become their Defensive Coordinator for the 2023 season after he spent one season in Pittsburgh following a 3-year head coaching stint in Miami.
 
Betting Odds

Oddsmakers have set the regular season win total for Minnesota at 8.5 games.  As of right now, the Vikings are the 2nd most likely team to win the NFC North and are the 7th most likely team to win the NFC as a whole.  At +3500 to win Super Bowl LVIII, they are tied for 15th among all teams in the league.
 
Bucket Squad Predictions

Bucket Squad Sports Reports predicts the Vikings to finish 11-6 in 2023 for 1st place in the NFC North.  They’ll secure the final automatic division champion spot in the playoffs with hopes to avenge their early exit last season.

What do you think?  Will Minnesota be better or worse than I'm projecting?  What offseason moves made by the Vikings surprised you the most?  Leave a comment down below and be sure to check the "NFL" section of the website for more NFL team guidebooks as I finish them.

Written by Nick Swatson
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