Former Pro Bowler Sidney Rice: Minnesota Vikings Are A 'Threat' to Detroit Lions And Will Make It 'Deep' In The Playoffs

The 2024 Vikings are one of the biggest surprises of the NFL, starting out the season with one of the league's best records at 10-2. They've done so despite the offseason departure of four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins and a season-ending injury to their first-round rookie J.J. McCarthy.

"They'll make it deep into the playoffs and we'll see," says Rice in a one-on-one interview. "Their loss was to the Lions. I have them going deep into the playoffs and hopefully they can pull it out and win the NFC."

Outside of the 11-1 Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions, the Vikings have the best record in the league. Although the Vikings previously lost to the Lions in Week 7 – it was their first loss of the season – they did so by just two points. Rice, a member of the Vikings from 2007 until 2010, says Minnesota is definitely a "threat" to the Lions, who most consider the best team in the NFL.

"Definitely a threat to the Lions," says Rice. "I do feel like the Lions are probably the most explosive and best well-rounded team in the NFL. Unfortunately, they lost their All-Pro rusher, but they're still getting it done, coming out, putting up points and it's tough to compete with that. With that offense that they have, that one-two punch with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs and then the two wide receivers that they have in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams and their tight end, it's just ridiculous. They're a great team, well-rounded, well-coached and definitely, probably the best. But when it comes to division ball, it's always up in the air – I still like my Vikings."

Rice says one of the keys for the Vikings moving forward will be to continue moving the ball downfield. Minnesota did a good job of that in their 23-22 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13, which saw Darnold throw the game-winning touchdown pass to Aaron Jones with 1:13 remaining in the game.

It's also pivotal considering the Vikings feature arguably the best receiver in the league in Justin Jefferson and one of the better No. 2 threats in Jordan Addison.

"They just have to continue to move the ball downfield," says Rice. "They have some great stars on their team and I'm very impressed with Justin Jefferson as everybody else is. It's really cool to watch where they are right now and I'm rooting for them."

After posting a season-low five receptions for 27 receiving yards in their Week 12 win over the Chicago Bears, Jefferson bounced back to post nine receptions for 99 receiving yards in the win over the Cardinals. The fifth-year receiver entered Week 13 ranked second in receiving yards. Rice – who was a Pro Bowler on the 2009 Vikings squad that advanced to the NFC Championship Game – calls Jefferson the "best" receiver in the game today.

"Yes, he has to be," says Rice when asked if Jefferson is the best receiver in the NFL today. "When he gets the opportunity, it's just fun to watch. The guy is, he's so fast, his route running is superb and he has a knack for bringing the ball down every single time. It's super exciting for me to watch. Jefferson is really cool to watch. He's an elite wide receiver and definitely I think is the best wide receiver in the NFL. Always excited to watch him play."

The 25-year-old Jefferson has 68 receptions for 1,038 receiving yards and five touchdowns through 12 games of the season. He's on pace for 96 receptions and 1,471 receiving yards this season. It was only two seasons prior that Jefferson posted one of the best receiving seasons in NFL history with 1,809 receiving yards, the sixth-best single season receiving total in NFL history.

Rice believes that Jefferson could be the first receiver to post 2,000 yards in a single season. The NFL single-season record hold for receiving yards is Calvin Johnson with 1,964 receiving yards.

"I don't think so – I can't even say that – no way," says Rice if there's any comparison between him and Jefferson. "The guy is fast. His route running ability is insane. He's not the biggest guy, but he's fast and his routes, his release is impeccable and he's always open. I wouldn't be surprised if he's the next one to get 2000 yards."

One of the biggest reasons for the team's surprise success has been the emergence of Sam Darnold. The sixth-year quarterback and former No. 3 overall draft pick had been a journeyman QB during his first several years in the league, failing in stints as a starter with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers. Prior to the 2024 season, he had posted a 20-35 career record.

"I don't think Sam Darnold was put in a fair situation," says Rice of Darnold's stints with the Jets and Panthers. "He went to the Jets organization, which I don't think is a great organization. You can see the disarray they're in right now, even with Aaron Rodgers. He just didn't have the opportunity to succeed. Bounced around as a young quarterback, then he was put in the system that was built for him to succeed. I think that was the biggest thing for him.

He's found his footing this season with a stable organization in Minnesota and a proven head coach in Kevin O'Connell. It also doesn't hurt that his receiving core with Jefferson, Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson is one of the best in the NFL."

Entering Week 13, Darnold ranked fifth in the league in touchdown passes and eighth in passer rating.

"He's out there, he has some weapons, he has time to throw the ball," says Rice. "He's not just running around and forcing. I'm super happy for him."

Sidney Rice Keeping Busy In His Post-NFL Career With His Wine Business

Since the end of his NFL career, Rice has made a name for himself as an entrepreneur and businessman in the state of Washington. Although Rice is best known for his stint with the Vikings, he spent the final three seasons of his career with the Seattle Seahawks, winning a Super Bowl ring during his final season there.

Since the end of his playing career after the 2013 season, Rice has since invested in wine, opening up his second wine tasting room earlier this year in July with his wine company, Dossier Wine Collective.

"We opened up our second tasting room about three-and-a-half months ago," says Rice. "We opened up our second tasting room here. We just had our one-year anniversary in November on the first one that was out in Walla Walla, Washington. We opened one over here on the West side."

Although Rice started drinking wine back in 2008 as a member of the Vikings, he never envisioned making a career out of it as a wine businessman in his post-NFL life.

"Not really, I had no idea," says Rice. "But luckily, I was able to meet a gentleman who became a mentor and got me to invest in some franchises while I was still playing. It's probably the best move I made. We did that, we brought the first Wing Stops to the state of Washington, which was really cool. Then after that, I really had no idea. I love entrepreneurship, different opportunities, things in tech, all kinds of stuff. I'm wide open to learn and understand and happy I stumbled upon this."

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