The Minnesota Vikings failed to meet expectations in 2016. After a 2015 season that included a division title and plenty of hope for the future, a 3-8 finish to the 2016 season has many questioning Minnesota’s validity as a playoff-caliber team.
The 2017 season will put those questions to the test and provide the Vikings will the opportunity to prove the doubters wrong.
The official schedule for the upcoming season was released Thursday night. By finishing third in the NFC North in 2016, the Vikings will play the third-toughest slate of all NFC North teams in terms of opponent winning percentage in 2016.
Overall, the Vikings’ 2017 opponents combined for a winning percentage of .453 in 2016, which is the fifth-lowest number in the NFL and the lowest in the NFC North. The Indianapolis Colts have the easiest strength of schedule (.424) and the Denver Broncos will play the toughest slate (.578).
The Green Bay Packers have the toughest strength of schedule in the NFC North (.480), with the Chicago Bears (.479) and Detroit Lions (.469) rounding out the division.
The Vikings will be featured in three primetime games this season, in contrast to last season where they were featured in four. It is not uncommon for teams to see a dip in their number of primetime appearances after a disappointing season.
Below is a look at the official schedule (with primetime games in bold), via the team’s website:
Week 1 | Monday, Sept. 11 | vs. New Orleans Saints | 6:10 PM CDT, ESPN
Week 2 | Sunday, Sept. 17 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | 12:00 PM CDT, FOX
Week 3 | Sunday, Sept. 24 | vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 12:00 PM CDT, FOX
Week 4 | Sunday, Oct. 1 | vs. Detroit Lions | 12:00 PM CDT, FOX
Week 5 | Monday, Oct. 9 | at Chicago Bears | 7:30 PM CDT, ESPN
Week 6 | Sunday, Oct. 15 | vs. Green Bay Packers | 12:00 PM CDT, FOX
Week 7 | Sunday, Oct. 22 | vs. Baltimore Ravens | 12:00 PM CDT, CBS
Week 8 | Sunday, Oct. 29 | at Cleveland Browns (in London) | 8:30 AM CDT, NFLN
Week 9 | BYE
Week 10 | Sunday, Nov. 12 | at Washington Redskins | 12:00 PM CDT, FOX
Week 11 | Sunday, Nov. 19 | vs. Los Angeles Rams | 12:00 PM CDT, FOX
Week 12 | Thursday, Nov. 23 | at Detroit Lions | 11:30 AM CDT, FOX
Week 13 | Sunday, Dec. 3 | at Atlanta Falcons | 12:00 PM CDT, FOX
Week 14 | Sunday, Dec. 10 | at Carolina Panthers | 12:00 PM CDT, CBS
Week 15 | Sunday, Dec. 17 | vs. Cincinnati Bengals | 12:00 PM CDT, CBS
Week 16 | Saturday, Dec. 23 | at Green Bay Packers | 7:30 PM CDT, NBC
Week 17 | Sunday, Dec. 31 | vs. Chicago Bears | 12:00 PM CDT, FOX
The schedule is finally out, Vikings fans. Let us know your thoughts in the comments! Also, cast your vote in the poll below. How many wins do you see on the Vikings 2017 schedule?
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This team should be able to compete at Soldier Field.
10-6
good sked. let's capitalize. 10 wins or more should get us into the playoffs, chance to play at home in the SB