With the NFL’s schedule release behind us, we have officially hit the doldrums of the offseason. Players are signing their rookie contracts, veterans still available are finding new homes and OTA’s are in process of beginning.
This is the time to start truly looking forward to the 2022 season. And it’s a pivotal one for the Vikings. They have put the franchise in the hands of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell with the idea being they’ll elevate the team in ways Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer were unable to do so.
This is the first of a three-part series where I dive into the main storylines of the Vikings opponents for the 2022 season. The first edition lies with the AFC opponents. The Vikings play the AFC East and the second place team in the AFC South.
After the Dolphins traded back from the No. 3 pick to No. 12 in the 2021 NFL draft, they immediately traded back up to No. 6 so they could secure the future at the wide receiver position in Jaylen Waddle. This offseason, they traded for the other top speed demon in the league, Tyreek Hill.
Having that kind of speed on both sides presents a massive challenge for the Vikings’ secondary. Two players having the speed to take the top off of the defense will present challenges that the Dolphins can exploit in both the running and passing games.
Will the Vikings’ corners be able to cover the Dolphins’ receivers down the field consistently enough, or will Ed Donatell have to play two-high all game?
The Buffalo Bills and Stefon Diggs' revenge game
We know all of the drama surrounding Diggs during the end of his tenure with the Vikings. It started after the Week 4 game against the Chicago Bears. He didn’t come to the building for practice and said, “There’s truth to all rumors,” when asked if he requested a trade.
On the first day of the legal tampering period in 2020, the Vikings signed Kirk Cousins to his extension and Diggs made his feelings known.
At the end of the day, Diggs was right in wanting an offense focused on throwing the football. He will be the talking point leading up to kick-off and will likely play with a huge chip on his shoulder when the Vikings face the Bills in Week 10.
Another talking point that will be discussed: Josh Allen leaping Anthony Barr and destroying the Vikings in his second career start.