The Minnesota Vikings finished the 2018 season with an 8-7-1 record that kept them out of the playoffs. This was a massive disappointment for a team that had Super Bowl aspirations. During the off-season, the Vikings bolstered their offensive line, using their first-round draft pick on center Garrett Bradbury out of North Carolina State. They also hired Gary Kubiak as an offensive assistant to help the team transition into a run-heavy offensive philosophy. The Vikings should be a playoff contender in 2019 with a strong defense led by defensive backs Harrison Smith and Xavier Rhodes, defensive linemen Danielle Hunter and Linval Joseph, as well as linebacker Anthony Barr. They also have weapons throughout their offense like wide receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, in addition to running back Dalvin Cook and quarterback Kirk Cousins. The Vikings enter the 2019 season with the 14th-most difficult schedule, according to Sharp Football’s Strength of Schedule Model. Let’s take a look at the Vikings eight most games in of the upcoming season.
Minnesota Vikings Easiest Games of 2019
Minnesota Vikings: Difficult Games of 2019
1. Week 2: @ Green Bay Packers
A trip to Lambeau Field is tough for any team, especially against this year’s version of the Green Bay Packers. The Packers should benefit from a coaching change, as head coach Matt LaFleur will help ignite an offense that became stagnant under the departed Mike McCarthy. Green Bay also signed pass-rushers Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith in free agency and drafted pass-rusher Rashan Gary with their first-round pick. Their defense should be much-improved heading into the 2019 season. The Packers look like Super Bowl contenders this year, so this will be a very difficult game for Minnesota.
2. Week 9: @ Kansas City Chiefs
Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City has always been one of the most imposing places to play. It’s even more difficult now with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and that explosive Chiefs’ offense. The Vikings’ defense will have a tough test limiting the damage here. But their new approach of running the football and maintaining possession might work well against an up-tempo offense like the Chiefs. The Vikings will have to win the turnover battle and keep Kansas City’s offense off the field to win this one. The Chiefs remain one of the best teams in the NFL heading into the 2019 season.
3. Week 6: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles look like the best team in football right now. The addition of deep-threat wide receiver DeSean Jackson will help Carson Wentz return to form. Jordan Howard and rookie Miles Sanders lead the way for an improved running back unit. Philly still has one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, led by stalwarts like tackles Lane Johnson and Jason Peters, as well as center Jason Kelce. The Eagles also have a wealth of pass-rushers both on the interior and outside, with Fletcher Cox wreaking havoc inside and Brandon Graham and Derek Barnett on the perimeter. This will be a massive test for the Vikings’ offensive line. They’ll need to run the ball effectively to keep pressure off of Kirk Cousins.
4. Week 10: @ Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have Super Bowl aspirations for 2019, so this will be another challenging game for Minnesota. Dallas was a totally different team upon acquiring wide receiver Amari Cooper – they went 8-2 after the trade. Dak Prescott became a much better quarterback once he had a number one receiver. The Cowboys still have a top offensive line and now they get back Center Travis Frederick. Dallas also has a strong defensive led by pass-rusher Demarcus Lawrence and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. The Cowboys finished 7-1 at home last season, so defeating them here will be a daunting task for Minnesota.
5. Week 4: @ Chicago Bears
The Bears were one of the surprises of the 2018 season, winning the NFC North with a 12-4 record behind a dominant defense and innovative offense under head coach Matt Nagy. While we should expect some regression from their defense due to the departure of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, this will still be a playoff contender in 2019. Another season in Nagy’s offense should help quarterback Mitchell Trubisky improve as a passer. The Bears finished 7-1 at Soldier Field in 2018. This is another tough divisional game for the Vikings.
6. Week 13: @ Seattle Seahawks
Century Link Field is another one of the most challenging places for a road team in the NFL. The Seahawks continue to have a strong running game with an up-and-coming young defense, led by star quarterback Russell Wilson. Their run-heavy philosophy and ball-hawking defense is a similar approach to Minnesota’s style. This will likely be a physical and low-scoring game. Vikings’ quarterback Kirk Cousins has had some recent success in Seattle, leading the Washington Redskins to a victory here back in 2017. While I don’t think that the Seahawks are on the same level as the teams mentioned above, this will still be a challenging game for Minnesota.
7. Week 15: @ Los Angeles Chargers
Since moving to Los Angeles, the Chargers have been sub-par at home, with a 10-6 record playing in their temporary stadium of Dignity Health Sports Park. That being said, the Chargers still have a strong defense led by pass-rushers Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, as well as dynamic defensive back Derwin James. Quarterback Philip Rivers still has some juice left in the tank and wide receiver Keenan Allen is among the top route-runners in the NFL. The Chargers could be without star running back Melvin Gordon, who is currently mired in a holdout with the team. This is another major test for Minnesota’s offensive line.
8. Week 16: vs. Green Bay Packers
The rubber match of the divisional series should be an easier matchup for the Vikings, since they will be at home. There’s a decent chance that this game will have major implications on the NFC North division title. It could also be a preview of the wild-card round, since I believe that both of these teams will make the playoffs. The Vikings should be able to have more success slowing down Aaron Rodgers with their pass rush within the friendly confines of U.S. Bank Stadium.
Outlook
The Vikings should aim for a 5-3 record in this gauntlet of imposing opponents. If they could accomplish this goal, they will likely be looking at a return to the NFL Playoffs. It’s more important for the team to win the conference and divisional games – if they could afford to lose one of this selection, it would be against the AFC opponent Chargers. With a strong defense, solid running game, and reliable passing attack, the Vikings should be able to stay competitive in each of these contests.
Minnesota Vikings Easiest Games of 2019
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