Just about every NFL preview on this site has so far predicted that its team would make the playoffs and/or win the division. Should that come true, we may be witnessing a historic season folks.

But nothing would be more historic than the Minnesota Vikings playing in January again. For that would make them the first team in NFL history to reach the playoffs in consecutive seasons without actually implementing the quarterback position.

When we last saw the Vikings (Brad Childress Not Explaining Away The Brett Favre Fiasco Edition): Minnesota limped to a 1-3 start before winning seven of its last nine en route to a Wild Card berth. Purple Jesus took home the NFL rushing title in his second season, carrying the team behind 363 rushing attempts. The Vikings’ first home playoff game in eight years was lost when Philly’s Brian Westbrook converted a reception into a 71-yard score. For the game, Tarvaris Jackson was just 15-of-35 for 164 yards and an interception yet Minnesota only trailed by TWO heading into the fourth quarter.

As you may have surmised this offseason, the Vikings quarterback depth chart is a punch line. And it could get worse. Tarvaris Jackson was benched after two games last year but returned in Week 14 when Gus Frerotte’s back was rendered to dust particles. In other 2008 developments, the Vikings’ run defense continued a reign of terror so good that Childress would’ve been forgiven for lining up Jared Allen at quarterback at some point.

BIG TIME FREE AGENT QB GRAB: Sage Rosenfels is a 31-year-old journeyman QB whom Childress owes some SERIOUS cheese. Why else would he continue to insist that the Vikings are alright at QB? Rosenfels earned a fan base in Houston filling in for the oft-injured Matt Schaub and he will be an upgrade over Frerotte. Can’t say he’s exceptionally better than T-Jack though (Jackson’s one of the league’s better running QBs and tossed just two interceptions last season). Furthermore, Rosenfels’s penchant for game-destroying picks would make a certain Wranglers pitchman’s eyes well up. Every 5-6 incompletions last year was an INT. Also, every scramble carried with it a 93 percent chance of high comedy.

Draft-tastic: Explosive Florida WR Percy Harvin is signed and ready to practice. So is OL Phil Loadholt of OU. Both could contribute early and often. All eyes will be on Harvin to see if he can buck the trend of drafted Vikings receivers not quite panning out. It’s too early to judge Sidney Rice (Round 2, 2007). At 6-foot-4 he could be a red zone threat if healthy. But Minny’s still reeling from their 2005 7th overall selection of Troy Williamson who famously challenged Childress to scrap after the coach fined him a game check for attending his grandmother’s funeral.

Mandatory College FB Reference: For at least the preseason, two stars of the epic 2007 Fiesta Bowl are on the same depth chart. Adrian Peterson scored two TDs for OU that night. Minnesota also drafted Ian Johnson from Boise State in this year’s draft, conjuring images of his game-winning 2-point conversion and subsequent marriage proposal to a cheerleader. Enjoy it while it lasts. Johnson is a long-shot to make the roster.

AWKWARD: Team leaders Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen, Steve Hutchinson and Antoine Winfield reportedly phoned and texted Brett Favre at length throughout his courtship with the Vikings. One gets the sense that these guys knew that even a Favre pushing 40 would get them over the hump to the NFC title game and perhaps beyond. Now they get to suit up every day with the dejected Rosenfels and Jackson. Yeeeeah, about that. They’ll also suit up with Visanthe Shiancoe. Too easy?

Vegas Baby!: The NFC North will be more competitive than it will get preseason credit for. Oddsmakers have the over/under on Vikes wins this season at 8.5, the same for Green Bay and 8 for Chicago. Better question: O/U on games until John David Booty takes a snap?

Unscientific Schedule Talk: The Vikings get an easy early going with two road games at Cleveland and Detroit to start, followed by San Francisco at home, they host Green Bay for the Monday Night Football game that was supposed to be much bigger before travelling to St. Louis. Back-to-back contests against the Steelers and Ravens in Weeks 6-7 may actually kill one of their quarterbacks and a backloaded schedule after their Week 9 bye (both Chicago games, @ Arizona, @ Carolina and home against the Giants in Week 17) could make things interesting.

Statistical Revelations: No Vikings QB has passed for 300 yards since 2006 and in that span a QB has only passed for more than two TDs in a game three times … only Oakland has attempted fewer passes the last two seasons … Adrian Peterson’s 10 100-yard games last season was a franchise record … Minnesota allowed an NFL-high 7 TD on returns … Peterson had a league-high four fumbles … T-Jack wasn’t far behind with three.

TBL NFL 2009 Prediction Beer of the Day: Wild Blue. A blueberry lager that’ll have you wondering whether you’re drinking beer or wine. And by the sixth bottle of this 8% beer, you’ll think that the Vikings are OK at QB after all. I’m looking at you Brad!

Prediction: 10-6 seems about right but to tell you why the Vikings could just as easily finish 9-7 or 8-8 would be an insult to your comprehension. The Vikings would do terrible things to acquire a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers or Jay Cutler…wait, they have Brad Childress so no they wouldn’t. At any rate, having a once-in-a-generation running back, an outstanding defensive line — Kevin & Pat Williams may not be suspended for four games as previously thought — and a quality offensive line could be enough to keep the Vikings atop the division.

The Vikings play one of the easiest schedules in the last 17 years on paper but so do the Packers. The Vikings, Bears and Packers all have their own questions and either could end up North champs. I think 10-6 will win the NFC North while the 9-7 runners-up pray for a wild card berth.

Get well soon, Kenechi Udeze.

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2009 NFL Preview: New York Giants