The facts say that Minny was 9-0 last season at the Metrodome, but only 4-5 anywhere else. They won
one road game all year over a team that finished with a winning record, and lost
three games to teams that finished with losing records. None of that screams "AT LEAST the 3rd best team" to me.
The Vikes were (and are) a good team, but they also benefited from an extremely favorable schedule in 2009.