Football action can’t come soon enough when the Minnesota Vikings and the Pittsburgh Steelers go head-to-head in the 2015 Hall of Fame game. Both the Vikings and Steelers have gone through plenty of changes over the offseason. The exciting things in store for both teams will be on full display when they take the field at Fawcett Stadium. Read on for an idea on what to expect in the 2015 Hall of Fame game.
What’s in store for these two teams in their respective divisions? Find out in our NFC North and AFC North win total predictions.
[sc:Football ]Minnesota Vikings vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 2015 Hall of Fame Game Preview
Where: Fawcett Stadium, Canton, OH
When: Sunday, August 9, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Minnesota Vikings vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – view all NFL lines
Betting on the Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings nailed the jackpot last season, drafting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater as the 32nd pick overall. After a successful rookie campaign, Bridgewater seems to be everything the Vikings could hope for. Having an excellent rookie quarterback to build around on, the Vikings decided to beef up their defense through this year’s draft.
This Hall of Fame game gives the Vikings a chance to see how far Bridgewater improved with his rookie season already behind him as well as test a couple of new players on defense. It also gives Minnesota a chance to see running back Adrian Peterson back in action after missing the final 15 games last year.
[sc:NFL240banner ]The Vikings used their 11th overall pick on cornerback Trae Waynes of the Michigan State Spartans. Waynes was part of the Michigan State team which won the Big Ten Championship in 2013 and the Rose Bowl in 2014. He was also a First Team All-Big Ten selection in his final playing year. Waynes gets quite a challenge in his first taste of pro football against Pittsburgh’s passing duo Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown.
Waynes isn’t the only Vikings defensive standout to look out for in this game. Second round pick inside linebacker Eric Kendricks also fits the bill after a highly-successful collegiate career. Kendricks won the Butkus Award (best linebacker) and Lott Trophy (defensive impact player of the year) in 2014. He also won the Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP in 2015.
Another thing to take note of in this game is how running back Peterson looks in his first action since Week 1 of the 2014 regular season. Peterson sat out all but one game of last year’s campaign due to being indicted for child abuse for disciplining his young son.
With the charges now behind him, the 2012 NFL MVP is excited to get back on the field with a young group brimming with potential and a solid coaching staff. Peterson has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in all but one of his previous eight seasons when playing in 12 games or more.
The Vikings have won their past five preseason games.
Betting on the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers get a dress rehearsal for the upcoming 2015 NFL regular season starting with the 2015 Hall of Fame game on August 9. This extra preseason game will be very important for the Steelers to figure out how they go around Le’Veon Bell’s suspension for the first three games of the regular season as well as evaluate their new acquisitions.
The absence of Bell gives the Steelers a great chance to see wha they have in free-agent DeAngelo Williams ahead of the 2015 regular season.
Williams set the Carolina Panthers’ franchise records for most career rushing yards (6,699), most career rushing touchdowns (46), longest rushing attempt (77), most rushing yards in a single season (1,515 in 2008), most rushing touchdowns in a single season (18 in 2008), most rushing touchdowns in a single game (four) and most rushing yards in a single game (210 in 2012) in nine years with the team.
Pittsburgh also gets a sneak peek at rookie wide receiver Sammie Coates as a potential No. 2 beside Antonio Brown – last year’s receiving leader. Coates was a capable wideout for the Auburn Tigers during his college career, posting 1,643 yards and 11 touchdowns in his final two years. The rookie receiver gets his chance to shine with an excellent quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger.
With Pittsburgh’s offense pretty much intact with Roethlisberger, Brown and Bell, the Steelers invested heavily on their defense in this year’s draft. They drafted linebacker Bud Dupree, a First-team All-SEC selection in 2014 and cornerbacks Senquez Golson and Doran Grant. Golson and Grant are two of the best cornerbacks in the draft and should help solidify Pittsburgh’s passing defense which ranked 27th last season.
The Steelers have lost seven of their last eight preseason games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Vikings’ young core will be fired up to prove themselves in this preseason game. Minnesota wins its sixth straight preseason contest. Create a betting account now and get ready for the exciting football action to come.
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