Somewhere around the time of Adrian Peterson's return to the Vikings fold in early June, the NFL's Minnesota-based franchise became a popular pick as a surprise playoff contender in the 2015 season. Peterson is expected to bring another dimension to a Vikes offense which already boasts playmakers in the up-and-coming Charles Johnson and the likely-to-return-to-prominence Cordarrelle Patterson and which saw young franchise signal-caller Teddy Bridgewater take significant steps even without much of a running game to speak of last season, while the defense saw an influx of talent at a couple of key positions like corner, Trae Waynes, and linebacker, Eric Kendricks.
In short, whatever specific issues ailed Minnesota last season seem to have been improved exponentially by GM Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer this offseason, meaning those suddenly sky-high expectations don't actually seem all that out of line with reality.
Just don't tell that to Bridgewater.
"Right now, we're not as good as what we think," he said recently, via Tom Pelissero of USA TODAY Sports. "We know that the ceiling is very high and the expectation level is very high - not only for the players, but from a coaching staff also. We know what's being asked of us, but we have a long way to go."
It's a good mindset to have for a player who showed ample promise, but has yet to actually achieve much at the NFL level, being asked to helm a franchise whose league-wide reputation has shifted seismically seemingly overnight.
Only, just don't think for a second that because Bridgewater is attempting to pump the brakes on the Vikings hype train it means he doesn't have his own lofty goals.
"I have high expectations for myself, and this team has high expectations also," said Bridgewater.
With Peterson home, Patterson looking to rebound, tight end Kyle Rudolph healthy and Brandon Fusco hopefully back for good, Bridgewater will have a phenomenal supporting cast as he looks forward to Year Two.
What it all amounts to in the end, of course, will very much be up to the arm, legs and brain of Bridgewater, but it certainly seems like things are looking up for a Minnesota franchise forced to endure a recent string of misfortune.
