The Vikings started the season in great form on Friday and are tied with the Bears and Lions at the top of the NFC North. They are half a game ahead of the struggling Packers, who were dismantled 36-16 by the Seahawks in their NFL opener on Thursday.
(Full disclosure: We think this game said more about how good Seattle is than how bad Green Bay could be, but it’s possible both are true.)
Regardless, the Vikings have a chance to beat their border rivals by a game-by-game margin if they win on the road in St. Louis on Sunday.
They say: The Vikings didn’t win a road game in 2013, why should they start now? And we say: Well, um, uh… no! … We say: Things could change under head coach Mike Zimmer, and this game in St. Louis is the perfect start.
Not only did it look like the game was winnable before training began, but thanks to Sam Bradford’s injury, it might even be winnable now.
Plus, the Vikings won’t have to deal with the same hostile environment the Packers faced on Thursday. That said, we can’t imagine St. Louis police needing to dress like Vikings fans to catch unruly Rams fans in the act. First, there are more important things to do in the area; second, this game isn’t exactly a big hit and could bring with it a lot of empty seats.
ESPN.com’s weekly NFL schedule lists the number of tickets available on StubHub for each game, as well as the cheapest price for a ticket for all games. The Vikings/Rams game has the most tickets available on StubHub (nearly 4,000 as of Friday morning) and also has the cheapest price ($14) for a ticket.
It’s a game that could set the tone for the entire season (especially considering the Vikings’ schedule soon includes stronger opponents), and in a potentially stagnant Dome, it’s a game where a fast start could set the tone for the entire game.
