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Predicting The Minnesota Vikings 2015 Wins, Losses

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Let the prognosticating and guessing begin. The Minnesota Vikings released their 2015 regular season schedule Tuesday night.

It includes at least two appearances on national television, one of which is the season opener on Monday Night Football. The Vikings are coming off a 7-9 season in 2014, one played mostly without star running back Adrian Peterson. Assuming he returns, can the Vikings make the playoffs this year? Can Mike Zimmer improve the defense and will Teddy Bridgewater develop in his second year in the NFL?

Now that we have a schedule, the season can start to take shape. Here's a look at how the season could transpire, in our opinion.

Week 1: The Vikings have a great chance to open the season with a victory at San Francisco on Monday Night Football. The 49ers replaced coach Jim Harbaugh and have several holes on defense. Result: Vikings win.

Week 2: Minnesota hosts NFC North rival Detroit for its home opener, and the Lions have a lot to replace on the defensive line after losing two of their best players. Result: Vikings win.

Week 3: Philip Rivers comes to Minneapolis with a variety of weapons to throw to against the Vikings. Minnesota will need to put pressure on him, but it's certainly a winnable game. Result: Vikings win.

Week 4: Easily the toughest of the first four games, the Vikings travel to Denver to face Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Minnesota's defense will need its best game to have a chance. Result: Vikings lose.

Week 6: The Vikings host the Kansas City Chiefs after a bye week. Alex Smith is an average quarterback, but the Vikings will get a test on defense from running back Jamaal Charles. Result: Vikings win.

Week 7: Minnesota heads to Detroit for its first divisional road game. The Vikings always seem to have a tough time on the road in the division, and Detroit will be hungry after losing to Minnesota in Week 2. Result: Vikings lose.

Week 8: The Vikings get their second straight divisional road game, heading to Chicago to face the Bears. Minnesota never plays well in Chicago, so there's no reason to think that won't continue unless the Vikings do something to change that. Result: Vikings lose.

Week 9: Minnesota returns home to face the St. Louis Rams, a team that lacks depth and overall star power. The Vikings shouldn't have trouble if they play like they're capable of. Result: Vikings win.

Week 10: The Vikings head west to face the Oakland Raiders, a team that is often beyond dysfunctional. Minnesota could be facing its old quarterback if Christian Ponder can take the job from Derek Carr. Result: Vikings win.

Week 11: Minnesota has a huge test, hosting NFC North rival Green Bay. The Vikings will be fired up after two straight wins and playing in front of the home crowd. Result: Vikings win.

Week 12: The Vikings start a brutal three game stretch at Atlanta, a team loaded with offensive firepower and a physical defense. Minnesota needs to contain Matt Ryan to have a chance. Result: Vikings lose.

Week 13: Minnesota's biggest challenge of the season comes at home against the Seattle Seahawks, one of the NFL's top defenses. The Vikings will need their best game of the season to have a chance against a team that's been in the Super Bowl two straight years. Result: Vikings lose.

Week 14: Just four days removed from Seattle, the Vikings travel to Arizona to face the Cardinals. It will be a tough test with limited preparation, especially if Carson Palmer is healthy. Result: Vikings lose.

Week 15: The Vikings need a win to get back on track, and there's not a better way to do it than a home game within the division. Minnesota will be looking for its defense and Teddy Bridgewater to beat the Bears. Result: Vikings win.

Week 16: Minnesota hosts the New York Giants for its last home game of the regular season. The Vikings defense has an advantage against inconsistent quarterback Eli Manning and the more pressure, the better. Result: Vikings win.

Week 17: It's a huge game to end the regular season as the Vikings travel to face rival Green Bay. Both teams could be looking to secure a playoff spot. Minnesota will have its hands full with Aaron Rodgers, so the best defense might be keeping him on the sidelines. That's easier said than done. Result: Vikings lose.

That puts Minnesota's 2015 regular season at 9-7. Whether that's enough for a playoff spot is far too early to know. But it's at least an improvement over 7-9 in Zimmer's first year. But if Peterson is back, the defense and Bridgewater improve, 9-7 should be the minimum for the Vikings.

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