This upcoming football season has me more intrigued than excited.

I’m very curious to see if the Minnesota Vikings are a true contender or just a very good team that doesn’t have a quarterback who can win them a big game.

Teddy Bridgewater certainly did his part in the final drive of the game in Minnesota’s playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks back in January. He made some big completions, namely the one to Kyle Rudolph down the right side of the field. He did what was required of him — give the Vikings a chance to beat Legion of Boom and the Seahawks. If it wasn’t for the Blair Walsh missed field goal, I believe there was a better-than-good chance Minnesota beats the Arizona Cardinals the next week.

But that’s kind of how us Minnesota fans live — woulda, shoulda and coulda.

Back to my main point, though.

I love the way Minnesota is setup. I want to see its defense take another step forward this season. Anthony Barr is my favorite player on the entire defense. I appreciate Everson Griffin, man he is so fun to watch. He plays with a full-throttled motor all the time. It’s a joy to watch. However, my underdog for this year — even though it might not be a big underdog — is Danielle Hunter.

First, he had a great rookie season. In limited time, he recorded 25 tackles, six sacks and one forced fumble in 14 games. He was used mostly on third downs, but did get some starts. He size (6’6 and 240) and age (still 21) have me wondering what he could be in three years?

Mike Zimmer is a great captain of the ship, and his steadiness helped guide the Vikings to a divison title in just his second year.

So, what do the Vikings have in store for us fans this season?

Well, not only do they move into their brand new $1.1 billion stadium, but they host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football in Week 2 to kick off their tenure at U.S. Bank Stadium, but the Vikings have a very favorable schedule in my opinion. Carolina, Arizona and Green Bay are the only teams with which I see the Vikings having trouble.

I’m not predicting a 13-3 record, assuming Minnesota splits with Green Bay and loses to Carolina and Arizona, but I am expecting a second consecutive double-digit win total.

With Adrian Peterson, Stefon Diggs, Kyle Rudolph (please just catch the ball), dual-threat running back Jerrick McKinnon and newly-drafted wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, Bridgewater has viable options and weapons, and he will need to step up and deliver.

Year 3 always seems to be a break-or-make year for teams and quarterbacks, so we will find out if Bridgewater is our guy. I don’t need him to put gaudy box scores, but I don’t want to see him consistently be a game manager.

Also, I would like to take some time and reflect on the passing of former Minnesota coach, Dennis Green. I vividly remember that magical 1998 season, in which the Vikings ran all over the league with a superstar rookie named Randy Moss, HOF-er Cris Carter, Robert Smith and Randall Cunningham. Green was the coach of that team, and he hit all the right buttons. He was a fierce competitor. He coached the Vikings for 10 years. I was a young boy at the time, but he brought stability and success to a city that has had very little of both when it comes to coaches and team success recently.

The Vikings made the playoffs eight times during Green’s tenure.

He might be best-known for his 2006 rant, in which his Arizona Cardinals lost a 20-point second half lead to the Chicago Bears. Green proceeded to go on a rant laced with profanity during his postgame press conference. However, the line we all remember was, “The Bears are who we thought they were,” Green said. Later, he clarified by saying the Bears were one dimensional.

Denny, you will be missed by many.