LAST SEASON: 5-11, 4th in NFC Central
PROJECTION: 3rd in NFC North

	Let's hope the game-breaking Randy shows up.

STRONG SIDE

WR: The Vikes signed FA Derrick Alexander from the Chiefs, hoping the eight-year vet could replace Cris Carter's production (minus his attitude). Good move. A healthy Alexander plus emerging TE Byron Chamberlain give Minnesota a solid receiving group with the potential -- if a fired-up Randy Moss shows up on most plays -- to be spectacular. But showing up is the key: Moss' stats last season (only 1,233 receiving yards and 10 TDs) had better be a glitch. Still, if Daunte Culpepper is physically right, maybe the Vikings can put off those Sunday ice-fishing plans until January. (Unless, of course, the lakes freeze hard earlier.)

WEAK SIDE

LB: Everybody in the North Country knew the Vikings needed to overhaul their D. Too bad nobody in the Vikes front office remembered that the D includes linebackers. Henri Crockett, MLB for the 30th-ranked Falcons D last season, replaces Kailee Wong. Next to him are second-year man Patrick Chukwurah (3 starts in '01) and rookie Raonall Smith. Depth, experience? No. Blue-chip talent? Not much. Forecast? Not pretty.

NFC North

1. Packers

2. Bears

3. Vikings

4. Lions

Scouting Report Index

OTHER UNITS

QB: The numbers weren't there even before Daunte Culpepper's season ended with a knee injury: 11 games,14 TDs, 13 INTs. Culpepper looked fit and sharp in preseason, but can he return to his 2000 form, when he passed for 3,937 yards and 33 TDs? Not with this offense. Even with Randy.

RB: Anybody seen Robert Smith lately? The Vikes hoped Michael Bennett, their No.1 pick in 2001, could fill the gaping hole Smith left and keep D's honest as a runner and receiver. But Bennett gained only 682 yards and caught only 29 passes. Problem is, backup Moe Williams is just that -- a backup.

OL: No unit was more devastated by Korey Stringer's death than the OL (47 sacks). This year's group isn't much better. LT Bryant McKinnie, a No.7 draftee who gave up zero sacks in college, held out through preseason. Best case? He beats out Lewis Kelly and boosts an unremarkable line to respectable.

DL: High-octane DT Chris Hovan was the bright spot. Underrated FAs Kenny Mixon and Lorenzo Bromell are huge upgrades at DE for a unit that didn't get to QBs (27th in sacks) or runners (30th in rushing D). Can they blot out D-line coach George O'Leary's Dome daydreams? Probably not.

DB: Cards FA Corey Chavous goes to one corner, second-year man Eric Kelly to the other. The safety slots are still up for grabs, with Willie Offord and Ronnie Bradford the leading contenders -- not a good sign. Minny was dead last in takeaways last season, so this situation can't get any worse. Can it?

ST: New PK Doug Brien played in three games (two in Tampa, one in Indy) in '01. The Vikes lose nearly 5 yards a punt with Kyle Richardson (38.9 ypp) replacing Mitch Berger (43.5).

This article appears in the September 16 issue of ESPN The Magazine.