NFL Opening Week: Predicting All 16 Games As Pro Football Returns

Minnesota Vikings @ St. Louis Rams 1 PM Fox

Jul 25, 2014; Mankato, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) runs through drills at training camp at Minnesota State University. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

The match-up: This is a battle between two sub-.500 teams from last season and both appear to do the same this season. The Rams had planned to make Sam Bradford their starting quarterback, but he got injured and thus Shaun Hill will be under center. The Vikings have named Matt Cassel their starting quarterback after competition from Teddy Bridgewater and Christian Ponder. You have to expect the leash to be short on Cassel as Bridgewater had a good training camp and Ponder has shown he is capable to handle the job as well.

Why St. Louis will win: Jeff Fisher teams always have good defense, and this season certainly is no exception. With Bradford gone, it will be up to the defense to win games. Among those helping out will be Aaron Donald who was a first round draft pick from the University of Pittsburgh this year. James Laurinaitis leads defensive returners having played all 80 games in five seasons and recording 512 solo tackles and 634 combined tackles.

Why Minnesota will win By his standards 2013 was a down year for Adrian Peterson, not only on the field but off of it. Peterson missed a practice for personal reasons and it was later known that his son was in critical condition. His son ended up passing away due to injuries suffered from an assault. Peterson had his second lowest rushing total and second lowest average yards per carry last season. This year, he needs to be a focal point of the offense once again.

Final score: Rams 17 Vikings 13