Vikings open season at home against 49ers, have four national TV games. Here’s a look at the schedule:Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, vs. San Francisco 49ers, noon, Fox
San Francisco running back Jerick McKinnon no doubt hopes to have a creative touchdown celebration against his former team. He played the past four years with Minnesota.
Week 2: Sunday Sept. 16, at Green Bay Packers, noon, Fox
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers faces the Vikings for the first time since linebacker Anthony Barr broke his collarbone with a hit last October. The two then launched into a war of words.
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, vs. Buffalo Bills, noon, CBS
When the Vikings face the Bills, it conjures up memories of games played in adverse weather. Oh well, for just the fourth time the teams play indoors.
Week 4: Thursday, Sept. 27, at Los Angeles Rams, 7:20 p.m., Fox, NFL Network
The Vikings play their first game in L.A. since losing to the Los Angeles Raiders 24-7 on Sept. 5, 1993. They last played the Rams in Los Angeles on Nov. 29, 1992, winning 31-17.
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, at Philadelphia Eagles, 3:25 p.m., Fox
A Philadelphia radio station reported last month the Super Bowl champs would open the NFL campaign against the Vikings. Perhaps the league ended up being scared off by Minnesota’s 38-7 loss in the NFC Championship Game, so the Eagles got Atlanta.
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, vs. Arizona Cardinals, noon, Fox
Cardinals star receiver and Minneapolis native Larry Fitzgerald could play his final game in his hometown. Often-injured quarterback Sam Bradford will face his former team if he lasts that long in 2018.
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 21, at New York Jets, noon, Fox
Could the Vikings run into Teddy Bridgewater, their starting quarterback until suffering a devastating knee injury in August 2016? First, Bridgewater needs to make the Jets’ roster.
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, vs. New Orleans Saints, 7:20 p.m., NBC
The Saints are looking for revenge. They lost 29-24 in the playoffs on Case Keenum’s miraculous 61-yard TD pass to Stefon Diggs on the final play.
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, vs. Detroit Lions, noon, Fox
The Vikings are looking for payback. They’ve dropped two straight home games to Detroit, half their defeats in two years at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Week 10: Bye week.
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, at Chicago Bears, noon, Fox
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, a Chicago-area native, loves to win in his hometown. He’s done it two of the last three years after Minnesota lost seven straight at Chicago.
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, vs. Green Bay Packers, 7:20 p.m., NBC
The Packers aren’t happy about being 0-2 at U.S. Bank Stadium. That includes a 17-14 Sunday night loss in 2016 in the stadium’s first regular-season game.
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, at New England Patriots, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Many thought this would be the Super Bowl matchup last February. Perhaps this game will be a Super Bowl preview.
Week 14: Monday, Dec. 10, at Seattle Seahawks, 7:15 p.m., ESPN
The Vikings have struggled recently against Seattle, losing four straight. But this is hardly the same outfit that once was dominant in the NFC.
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, vs. Miami Dolphins, noon, CBS
With the Dolphins coming north in December, the Vikings might wish they could play outdoors. But it might not matter since Miami could be playing out the string.
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, at Detroit Lions, noon, Fox
Spending time around the holidays in Detroit is becoming the norm. After two straight Thanksgiving games there, they now visit two days before Christmas.
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, vs. Chicago Bears, noon, Fox
For the fourth time in his five seasons, Zimmer’s Vikings close at home against Chicago. They’re 3-0 so far.
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BRIEFLYThe Vikings finalized their preseason schedule. They play at Denver at 8 p.m. Aug. 11, home against Jacksonville at noon Aug. 18, home against Seattle at 7 p.m. Aug. 24 and at Tennessee at 7 p.m. Aug. 30. … Former Vikings defensive tackle Keith Millard learned Thursday he will announce the team’s second-round draft choice April 27 in Dallas. “It is a great honor for the Vikings to choose me to represent our great team, city, our fans,” he said.
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Topic: Da Vikes 2018 schedule: (Read 8175 times)
