The 2022 NFL season officially kicks off this week.
Before the players take the field, fans are filled with anticipation with what direction their team will be heading this year.
Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports recently looked at all 32 NFL teams and provided each team's ceiling and floor for the upcoming season.
Kerr projected the Minnesota Vikings ceiling at 11-6 and winning a playoff game. He wrote:
The Vikings have the skill-position players to compete for the NFC North, as Minnesota has one of the top wide receiver duos in the conference in Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. Dalvin Cook is one of the best running backs in the game and quarterback Kirk Cousins is good enough to make plays for this team.
The Vikings brought in new coach Kevin O'Connell to make this offense elite and provide stability on the roster. O'Connell may be the difference between missing the playoffs and becoming an NFC contender. Minnesota's defense will certainly help, starting with the dangerous pass-rushing duo of Za'Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter. Jordan Hicks and Eric Kendricks are also a threat at linebacker.
Kerr added the Vikings potential floor would be 7-10 and missing the playoffs. He said the offensive line and secondary will be areas to watch.
Vikings CB Chandon Sullivan has plenty of 'emotions' in preparation to face former team
To say Chandon Sullivan is excited for the upcoming NFL season is an understatement.
The Vikings cornerback will suit up for the first time for the purple and gold on Sept. 11. Not only that, but on the opposing sideline will be his former team, the Green Bay Packers.
"It's the first game, so you're always excited about that," Sullivan said, who recently caught up with Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "It's a first game in a new jersey, and I'm going against my old team. So you know I'm full of emotions, but I'll be ready."
Sullivan, along with Vikings outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith, spent the past three seasons with Green Bay before signing with Minnesota in the offseason.
Sullivan said he thought about re-signing with the Packers but decided it was a better situation for him to join the Vikings.
"(It was) just a better opportunity, I felt, to show my talents and be respected and appreciated," Sullivan said. "A better chance for me to be a leader, and I see more of a future here, for sure.''
Tomasson said Smith isn't the only familiar face making the trek with Sullivan across the border. He wrote:
Vikings Assistant Head Coach Mike Pettine was Green Bay's defensive coordinator from 2018-20, which included Sullivan's first two seasons with the Packers. And Vikings Outside Linebackers Coach Mike Smith had that role the past three years with Green Bay.
Tomasson added that Sullivan is comfortable with the 3-4 defensive scheme the Vikings will implement under Defensive Coordinator Ed Donatell.
"It's been a smooth transition,'' Sullivan said. "I knew what I was getting into with the coaching staff and the players that are here, and it made it an easy transition, and I'm ready to go. I've been in similar defenses the last few years, so I'm able to use my experience from last year and the years before to come out here and be a veteran leader."
When it comes to providing any tips on how to slow down Green Bay's offense, especially quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Sullivan said he'll do his best.
"I'm just going to give what tiny details that I have that I can share, but you never know what you're going to get," Sullivan said. "It's the first game, and we're going to have a lot of un-scouted looks … But we've just got to be disciplined and trust our details."
