We're one month away from Vikings football, as Minnesota plays its first preseason game on Aug. 9 on the road in New Orleans.
Minnesota's regular-season opener is now less than two months away, as the Vikings kick off the 2019 season at home on Sept. 8 against Atlanta.
While there is plenty to be sorted out until then, a pair of analysts recently delved into the Vikings schedule on NFL Total Access to make a record prediction for the 2019 season.
Former No. 1 overall pick David Carr and former Lions defensive tackle Andre Fluellen each took half of Minnesota's schedule, and the duo **came away with an 11-5 record for the Purple**.
Fluellen, who took the first eight games, had the Vikings going 5-3 at the halfway mark with wins over Atlanta, Green Bay, New York, Philadelphia and Washington.
"They are 3-0-1 in the last four games against Green Bay, and I think they continue that trend," Fluellen said of Minnesota's road opener at Lambeau Field. "I have them winning that game."
Carr then predicted the final half of the season and had Minnesota going 6-2. Carr projected Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer's squad getting wins over the Chiefs, Broncos, Seahawks, Lions, Packers and Bears.
"I think, in Kansas City, Minnesota goes and wins that football game," Carr said of the Vikings Week 9 road game at Arrowhead Stadium. "I think that's going to be a fantastic football game."
Carr had the Vikings at 9-5 before picking Minnesota to close out the season with two straight home wins over division foes Green Bay and Chicago, wins that the analysts believe would help the Vikings claim their third NFC North title in five seasons.
"I think they're the NFC North champs," Carr said.
Added Fluellen: "I think so. I agree."
The Vikings won division titles in 2015 and 2017, but they struggled in 2018 with a 8-7-1 record to miss the postseason.
"The Minnesota Vikings [will have] a good bounce-back year," Carr said. "Good defense, the run game is going to step up, Kirk Cousins is going to play good football … I'm excited about the Vikings."
CBS Sports ranks Rudolph among NFL's top 10 tight ends
A second-round draft pick back in 2011, Kyle Rudolph has established himself as one of the top tight ends in Vikings franchise history.
He can also still hold his own with his peers around the league, according to CBS Sports, which recently included him in its list of the top 10 tight ends in the NFL.
CBS Sports writer Jared Dubin compiled the list and **had Rudolph at No. 10 in his rankings**.
Dubin wrote:
Rudolph is a quality receiver near the goal line, and though he's heading into his age-30 season, he should still have something left in the tank.
Rudolph, who hasn't missed a game in the past four seasons, has 386 career catches for 3,787 yards and 41 touchdowns. [YL1]Just changed it from "come away with" since you use that phrase in the following sentence
