Vegas is clocking the Minnesota Vikings at a measly 8.5 wins for 2026, but if you are buying that, you have not been listening. Two Old Bloggers hosts Dave Stefano and legendary analyst Drew Bunting are already yelling about how wrong that number is, looking at a roster that is generating serious buzz heading into training camp. These guys, armed with stats and pure passion, just dropped a full temperature check on every unit, and it sounds like Vegas needs to check its own forecast.
The Number One Tackler Nobody Saw Coming
The biggest revelation? Drew Bunting is calling linebacker Blake Cashman the most undervalued player on the entire roster. Seriously, he says, “If Blake Cashman played a full season, he would be the NFL’s number one tackler in the entire league.” That is a bold claim and a massive statement about Cashman’s potential. Imagine if that actually happens! On defense, Brian Flores has a loaded unit, and the rise of Dallas Turner has even made the Greenard trade look smart. Drew flat out said, “If Brian Flores did not have faith in Dallas Turner, Greenard would still be here,” which tells you everything about the confidence in Turner. Then there is the quarterback situation, Kyler Murray versus J.J. McCarthy. Drew’s bold call is that both guys see the field in 2026, with McCarthy eventually emerging as the future. He predicts Murray starts, gets “banged up” at some point, and then McCarthy steps in and plays “really good football.” Talk about drama!
Play-Calling Problems and a Full Roster Wipeout
It is not all sunshine and rainbows, though. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell’s play-calling aggression is a major concern. Drew Bunting said he “cowers in those moments,” and that “a 14-point lead in modern-day football is nothing.” That is a harsh but honest take. Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips is also on the hot seat, with his role remaining a mystery. One quote from the episode hits hard: “I made you a menu with 350 plays. You called 60.” Yikes. To top it off, the 2022 draft class, orchestrated by GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, is a total “wipeout,” with zero players left on the roster. But hey, it is not all bad news. Rookies Jacobe Thomas and Charles Demmings in the secondary are getting massive praise from Drew. And the defense, overall, is clearly the team’s strength. Drew believes, “The defense of this team will hold their own every single game.” Special teams have some bright spots too, with Reichard having a “near-perfect 2025 season” and De’Vondre Claiborne showing up as a “home-run threat” in the backfield and on returns.
With training camp heating up, the stakes are high for this Vikings team to prove the doubters wrong. Can their defense really carry them? Will McCarthy live up to the hype? Every snap will matter as they look to flip that 8.5-win narrative and show the league what they are truly made of.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Daily Norseman.
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