Image courtesy of Vikings.com
All eyes are on the Minnesota Vikings. A season after winning 11 games and clinching the NFC North division title, the pressure is on to exceed last year’s surprising results. The Vikings won’t open the regular season at U.S. Bank Stadium — they’ll host the Green Bay Packers in Week 2 — but the team has released its full 2016 regular season schedule.
As winners of the division last season, the Vikings will play the most difficult schedule of all NFC North teams. Minnesota currently has the 18th-toughest schedule in the league, as their opponents finished 2015 with a combined 125-131 (.488) record. While the Packers, Lions, Bears, and Vikings will play games against the NFC East and AFC South — two of the league’s worst divisions last year — Minnesota is the only one among the four to play both the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals.
The Vikings’ sudden turnaround makes the team an attractive option for major networks like NBC, ESPN, and the NFL Network. Thus, Minnesota will appear in multiple primetime slots this season, from a Monday Night Football game against the New York Giants on October 3 to a Halloween night matchup with the Bears at Soldier Field.
Below, a full schedule of dates and times taken from the team’s official website:
Vikings.com put together this nice graphic that nicely presents the 2016 MInnesota Vikings schedule.
The Vikings have another early bye week, this time coming in Week 6 of the regular season. They’ll also play four primetime games, with three of those coming in U.S. Bank Stadium. On another note, the Vikings only have one multi-game road stretch, which comes in the middle of October.
What do you think of the schedule? Are you excited to attend some games in the new stadium? Predict the team’s way-too-early record in the comments below!
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15-1
I like your optimism KG!! Must have been a Packers troll that disliked your comment. Oh well, we might just have the last laugh this year. SKOL!!
Looks like a good schedule
13 and 3 record this coming year. I see good things coming the Vikings way this year. We need wr and wide receiver in draft. But if billings is still there at 23 , i could see defense then wide receiver. Go VIKINGS !!!! SKOL !!!!
i could see 12 or 13 wins. as a viking fan, always cautiously optimistic, but it's time to think big. time to think we can win a title
LET'S KICK SOME AZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As you stated, we Vikes fans are cautiously optimistic often, but who else was cautiously optimistic in '98? But I don't think that your prediction is out of the question. Other than the other NFC division winners, they likely have fortunate draws in both the NFC East and AFC South, but I do think the AFC south is going to be a bit stronger this year, especially the Jags who could easily become an offensive juggernaut with Bortles getting better and two VERY good WR's. Nonetheless, the NFC East probably the weakest in the NFC. I don't think 12 is a great stretch Cal.
wow! the packers have to start on the road this year as well as last year. 2 road openers in a row after like 5 of 6 home openers in previous seasons. Thank you league for at least trying not to be biased for GB.