On April 20th the NFL officially released the schedule for the 2017 season. This year, the Minnesota Vikings will look to redeem themselves from a disappointing 2016 season. Minnesota will host a primetime game at the home of Super Bowl 52 as well as play in three more on the road including a holiday.
Minnesota Vikings 2017 Schedule Breakdown
Quarter One
The Vikings will start their season at home on a Monday Night Football (ESPN) game facing the New Orleans Saints. Oddly enough, this is only the second time in the past decade the season has started with Minnesota at home. The last time Minnesota played the Saints, we saw quarterback Teddy Bridgewater‘s first action as he took the place of an injured Matt Cassel. The biggest story in the opener by far is the the return of Adrian Peterson, who signed with the Saints on April 25th. Now the Vikings will look for a big first impression as they play their longtime former-teammate in Adrian Peterson.
After the season opener, Minnesota will go on the road to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh will be the first of four AFC North teams the Vikings will face off against this year. Head Coach Mike Zimmer has had more than enough experience playing in Heinz field in his time with the Bengals. The Steelers are coming off a hot 11-5 season and are a team with hopeful Super Bowl aspirations.
The Vikings return home in Week 3 to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa will be a NFL-wide fan favorite team to watch this year. With the young potential, new additions, and a smart quarterback in Jameis Winston. The Buccaneers will be a team to not gloss over.
The Vikings will end the first quarter of the season as they play at home against the Detroit Lions. Newly signed tackle Riley Reiff will look play against his former team for the first time. Minnesota looks to seek redemption as they were swept by Detroit both games last year. The Lions are the beginning of a three-game span that Vikings will face within the division.
Quarter Two
In Week 5, Minnesota will play yet another Monday Night Football game in Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears for the second consecutive year. Last year, the Vikings lost arguably the worst played game last year by the team in a 20-10 loss. This will be the first the Vikings see Chicago’s newly acquired quarterback Mike Glennon.
Following the trip to Chicago, the Vikings will host reigning division champion Green Bay. The Packers will be a much different team when we see them in Week 6. In free agency, the Packers lost Eddie Lacy, Micah Hyde, T.J. Lang, and Julius Peppers to name a few. However, their biggest move of the offseason was signing former-Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett.
In Week 7, the Vikings will host the Joe Flacco and Baltimore Ravens. Former-Viking wide receiver Mike Wallace will make his first return to Minnesota since his departure from the team in 2016. This will be a good challenge for the Vikings’ defense to stop Joe Flacco through the air.
Minnesota will fly across the pond in Week 8 as they play the Cleveland Browns in London. This is one of the five games of the year that will be held internationally. However, Minnesota has previous experience playing in London as they played Pittsburgh in 2013.
Quarter Three
Week 9 bye week.
After the bye week, the Vikings will go to Washington to take on the Redskins for the second straight year. Last year, the even matched teams played a close game resulting in a 26-20 loss to add to the Vikings woes. This year, the Vikings should be well rested from the bye and ready for a rematch.
After two away games, the Vikings will host the LA Rams at U.S Bank Stadium. This will be Minnesota quarterback Sam Bradford‘s first opportunity to play against his former team since his departure from the Rams in 2014. The Vikings’ will find another opportunity to take advantage of a previously weak Rams’ Offense.
Week 12 Minnesota will once again play the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving for the second straight year. This will take place at 12:30 p.m. ET as the first of the triple-header games on Thanksgiving day.
Week 13 doesn’t get any easier as Minnesota will fly down Atlanta to take on the reigning NFC Champion Falcons. The Vikings will get a good look at the league’s newest stadium while facing off against Matt Ryan and Julio Jones.
Quarter Four
The Vikings will take a trip back down Charlotte, North Carolina for the second straight year to play the Panthers. This will be a big reunion as Matt Kalil, Captain Munnerlyn, and Charles Johnson all left Minnesota this year via free agency and signed with Carolina. Newly signed tackle Mike Remmers will go back to his former team as well.
In Week 15, Minnesota will host Cincinnati Bengals at U.S Bank Stadium. Mike Zimmer will play against his former team for the first time. Mike Zimmer was Defensive Coordinator for the Bengals from 2008-2013. Now he will have the chance to get a win against his former Head Coach and friend Marvin Lewis.
Week 16 will involve yet again going to Lambeau Field to face the Packers late in the season. Last year, the Vikings took to a trip to Green Bay on Christmas Eve in attempt to keep their playoff hopes alive. Minnesota took a brutal 25-38 loss and look to turn things around this year.
The Vikings will end the season playing the Bears at home. This is a familiar sight as Minnesota has hosted Chicago Week 17 three of the last four years. This will be one of the easier games in a hard ending stretch of the schedule and Minnesota will hope to close the season out strong.
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