Matt Cassel To Start At QB For Vikings Sunday

The Minnesota Vikings will start Matt Cassel at quarterback Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With Christian Bonder out with a broken rib, Matt Cassel will get the chance to prove he should be the starter in Minnesota.

For Matt Cassel, the opportunity to start is Minnesota is huge. Despite taking the Vikings to the playoffs last year, Christian Ponder has been a very average quarterback in his three NFL seasons. We’ve seen a number of quarterbacks lose their jobs to backups because of injuries, and Matt Cassel could be next in line.

Matt Cassel is no stranger to starting in the face of adversity. He was Tom Brady’s backup in 2008 when Brady tore his ACL week one. Cassel took over, and managed to lead the Patriots to an 11-5 record, although the team missed the playoffs.

That offseason Matt Cassel was franchise tagged by the Patriots, who then traded him the Kansas City Chiefs.

In 2010 Cassel led the Chiefs to the playoffs and made his Pro Bowl. He threw for over 3,000 yards with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The wheels fell off the bus for Matt Cassel last season though and he posted a career worst six touchdowns against 12 interceptions.

In three years as the Vikings starter, Christian Ponder has thrown 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions with QB rating of 75.8.

Christian Ponder’s injury is incredibly unfortunate, but like Brandon Weeden in Cleveland, it could cost him his job.

Matt Cassel is a good quarterback with talent around him, and the Vikings have Greg Jennings, Kyle Rudolph, and Adrian Peterson, so he should perform admirably.

Do you think Matt Cassel will make a difference in Minnesota?

[image via Wikimedia Commons]