Jan 15, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings fans cheer during the second quarter of a wild card game against the New York Giants at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings regular season kicks off in 48 days at home against the Tom Brady-less Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The team began training camp Sunday, with 25 rookies and 12 veterans reporting for duty. Everyone else is scheduled to arrive Tuesday.
And when the Vikings get cracking on Sunday, September 10th, a familiar name with call the game on CBS, a man victimized by the 2022 Vikings — Matt Ryan.
Indeed, the 2016 NFL MVP joined CBS Sports this offseason, and his first order of business is returning to the building where he helped enable the largest comeback in NFL history.
The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov tweeted Monday, “CBS Sports has announced its game announcers for the 2023 NFL season. Former Falcons and Colts QB Matt Ryan will be calling games throughout the season.”
Ryan’s Colts tabulated a 33-0 lead on the Vikings in Week 15 last year after a painfully terrible showing by Minnesota in the game’s first two quarters. Following halftime, the Vikings offense wanted to score a touchdown out of desperation — just to appear competent. And after that score, momentum snowballed.
Minnesota eventually tied the game, sending the contest to overtime, where kicker Greg Joseph closed out the Colts — and etched the Vikings spot in NFL history, perhaps for decades.
The Vikings won 39-36, orchestrating the biggest comeback in the sport’s history, and Ryan was victimized by an otherworldly turn of events for the second time. His Atlanta Falcons previously melted down to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI after bungling a 28-3 lead.
Those were only the bad parts of Ryan’s career, though. Aside from the two gaffes, he’s a fringe Hall of Fame candidate, as voters will consider his resume for the prestigious recognition in about five years.
For now, however, Ryan is in charge of the commentator booth on Sundays, an endeavor he’s likely to master.
Against Tampa Bay, the Vikings encounter a bit of a paradox in Week 1. Most NFL pundits consider the Buccaneers one of the worst teams in football, but their roster isn’t abhorrent. They’re basically ‘the Bucs’ with Baker Mayfield instead of Brady. On the other hand, the Vikings showdown versus Tampa Bay is outwardly the easiest game on the 2023 schedule. So, something’s gotta give.
As a starter, teams led by Ryan were 3-5 (.375) against the Vikings in his 15-year career. Ryan ranks seventh all-time in passing yards and ninth in passing touchdowns.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.