Kirk Cousins should be at his greatest throughout 5 essential video games in October. (Picture by Adam … [+]
The discharge of the Vikings schedule comes with a number of messages. The primary, and maybe an important is that the NFL believes the Vikings might be probably the most attention-grabbing and maybe memorable groups within the league. They’re featured in 5 prime time broadcasts this season.
It solely is sensible, as this staff is coming off a 13-4 common season that noticed them win the NFC North title with relative ease.
Even when they don’t end with pretty much as good an everyday season document as they did final yr, they’re prone to win the division title as soon as once more.
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The season begins off with a really winnable sport, as they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with out Tom Brady and with Baker Mayfield at quarterback. A victory within the first sport of the season could be good, and the season takes on a really acquainted tone after that.
The Vikings play the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Evening Soccer. Final yr the Vikings opened the season with a razor-sharp victory over the Inexperienced Bay Packers earlier than going to Philadelphia. Kevin O’Connell and his staff blew into Philadelphia with confidence, however the Vikings by no means had an opportunity.
The protection merely couldn’t include Jalen Hurts and his assault, and the offense that may carry the staff all season, was overwhelmed by the Philadelphia protection.
The Vikings didn’t comprehend it on the time, however the sport was a watershed second for the staff. The second sport of the 2023 season will virtually actually match that very same class.
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Minnesota needs to be ready once they host the Los Angeles Chargers 10 days after assembly the Eagles. The Chargers had been a playoff staff a yr in the past, and their season ended with essentially the most painful of defeats as they managed to blow a 27-0 lead and switch it right into a 31-30 defeat. It’s the sort of sport that’s prone to gasoline a staff for a full season.
The fourth sport of the season is prone to be probably the most emotional of the season. The Vikings go to Carolina and a chance to face high draft decide Bryce Younger and a reunion with Adam Thielen. The long-time Vikings receiver left as a free agent throughout the offseason, and each the staff and the receiver had nothing however good issues to say about one another. That signifies that Thielen needs to be ready to point out the Vikings what a mistake they made in letting him depart.
The house-road make-up of the schedule continues via October because the Vikings host the Tremendous Bowl champion Chiefs, play the Bears on the street, host the Niners on Monday Evening Soccer and meet the Packers in Inexperienced Bay.
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Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce will problem the Vikings at U.S. Financial institution Stadium October 8. (Picture … [+]
October is prone to set the tone for the season. Can the Vikings maintain their very own towards the Chiefs and San Francisco? Will they be up for a street sport towards Justin Fields and Chicago? How will they deal with new Packers quarterback Jordan Love? Hopefully, a lot better than the outdated Inexperienced Bay quarterback who might be toiling for the New York Jets.
After the journey to the not but Frozen Tundra, it’s one other street sport towards the Atlanta Falcons earlier than coming residence to face the New Orleans Saints. Then it’s a Sunday night time journey to Denver adopted by a Monday night time residence sport with the Bears.
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On the floor, the 4 video games in November all appear winnable. Nevertheless, winnable video games in November usually flip into among the best challenges of the seasons.
After internet hosting the Bears, the Vikings have their scheduled bye throughout Week 13. For O’Connell’s sake, that bye hopefully doesn’t come at a degree that’s too late to do the gamers any good.
If the staff comes again refreshed, street video games towards the Las Vegas Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals might be four-quarter challenges. If not, these video games might transform one-sided losses.
The ultimate three video games of the season are NFC North battles. Two of these video games are with the Detroit Lions, prone to be the Vikings’ greatest challenges for the division title. The opposite might be a Sunday night time residence sport towards the Packers.
Primarily based on final yr’s outcomes, Vikings opponents deliver a successful share of .497 into the 2023 season, which means the problem ranks 15th. Nevertheless, the one factor that issues is how the staff is ready in every sport.
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O’Connell proved he can put together an offense final season. If new defensive coordinator Brian Flores can do the identical along with his unit, it has an opportunity to be a really attention-grabbing yr.
Schedule
Sept. 10: vs. Tampa Bay
Sept. 14: at Philadelphia (TNF)
Sept. 24: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Oct. 1: at. Carolina
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Oct. 8: vs. Kansas Metropolis
Oct. 15 : at Chicago
Oct. 22: vs. San Francisco (MNF)
Oct. 29: at Inexperienced Bay
Nov. 5: at Atlanta
Nov. 12: vs. New Orleans
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Nov. 19: at Denver (SNF)
Nov. 27: vs. Chicago (MNF)
Bye
Dec. 10: at Las Vegas
Dec. 17: at Cincinnati
Dec. 24: vs. Detroit
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Dec. 31: vs. Inexperienced Bay (SNF)
TBD: at Detroit
