The Minnesota Vikings will try to defend their NFC North title in 2016 while playing in their new home, U.S. Bank Stadium. A team that had Super Bowl aspirations will have to overcome the loss of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to a knee injury, but the Vikings' defense and the presence of Adrian Peterson could still propel Minnesota to a playoff spot, especially if Sam Bradford is able to assimilate himself into the offense quickly. Their season could be decided by a number of pivotal matchups at home.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 11, at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. ET
The Vikings' opener in Nashville, Tennessee, shouldn't be seen as a cakewalk, considering the Titans should be improved from a 3-13 record a year ago. But if the Vikings can get a lead, their defense can take advantage of an offensive line that allowed the 11th-most pressures in the league last season, and Peterson could have a solid day against the NFL's 18th-ranked rushing defense from a year ago. Record: 1-0.
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 18, vs. Green Bay Packers, 8:30 p.m. ET
The first regular-season game at U.S. Bank Stadium is the show-stopping matchup the Vikings wanted: a nationally televised duel with their biggest rival. Ideally, they would have had Bridgewater to duel with Aaron Rodgers, but their ace in the hole here actually could be Mike Zimmer, a defensive mind who has won Rodgers' respect after stifling him through the years. The emotions of the night, not to mention the noise in the building, should help fuel the Vikings' defense, and Minnesota will grind out a close victory. Record: 2-0.
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 25, at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET
It's tough to see the Vikings coming out of this one undefeated, considering the Panthers have won 13 straight at home (including the playoffs). Carolina's running game could create problems for a Vikings defense that has struggled to stop the run over the past two years, and had some issues with it again in the preseason. Considering Carolina was third in the league against the run last season, Vikings QBs Bradford (who figures to be starting by this point) or Shaun Hill could have plenty on their plate in this one. Record: 2-1.
Week 4: Monday, Oct. 3, vs. New York Giants, 8:30 p.m. ET
The Vikings routed the Giants in a Sunday night game in Week 16 last season, though Odell Beckham Jr. was suspended that night. Xavier Rhodes will likely be shadowing him in a Monday night matchup, assuming both players are healthy. Rhodes has been able to slow down elite receivers before and he'll need to do it again here. Peterson and Jerick McKinnon combined for 193 rushing yards against the Giants last year and they could carry the Vikings again. Record: 3-1.
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 9, vs. Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET
This isn't the easiest assignment coming off a short week, considering all the trouble J.J. Watt & Co. could give the Vikings' offensive line. DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller could test the secondary, too. It's a tough spot on the schedule for the Vikings to catch a team that made the playoffs last season, and if Brock Osweiler is playing well enough, the Texans could be tough to beat, especially if Bradford or Hill gets knocked around by the Texans' defensive front. Record: 3-2.
Week 6: Bye week
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 23, at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m. ET
Coming out of a bye week, the Vikings get a team that should have a better defense under new coordinator Jim Schwartz than it did last season. The Eagles, though, allowed more rushing yards than any team in the league last season, and Peterson could be in line for a big day on the road. Record: 4-2.
Week 8: Monday, Oct. 31, at Chicago Bears, 8:30 p.m. ET
Peterson can keep the Vikings rolling in a Halloween matchup that sends Minnesota to a city where it won last season for the first time since 2007. The Bears were tied for 22nd in the league against the run last season, and games the Vikings can win by running the ball are the easiest ones to project for their win column after Bridgewater's injury. Mark this one down as a victory. Record: 5-2.
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 6, vs. Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. ET
The Vikings have beaten the Lions at home three of the past four years, and they'll get their first look at the team without Calvin Johnson. The Vikings harassed Matthew Stafford in Minneapolis last season, and without Johnson to worry about, they'll be able to give the quarterback a hard time again. Record: 6-2.
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 13, at Washington Redskins, 1 p.m. ET
Record: This is one of the tougher road games on the Vikings' schedule, as they face the reigning NFC East champion in a matchup that pits Zimmer against Jay Gruden, his former coaching colleague in Cincinnati. Kirk Cousins has Josh Doctson -- one of the other rookie receivers the Vikings considered heavily in the draft -- and a solid set of playmakers will help the Redskins come out ahead of the Vikings here. Record: 6-3.
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 20, vs. Arizona Cardinals, 1 p.m. ET
Arizona bested Minnesota on a Thursday night last season, when the Vikings were missing Harrison Smith, Anthony Barr and Linval Joseph. Even if they're healthier this time, the Vikings will face a tough test from Carson Palmer, up-and-coming running back David Johnson and a deep group of receivers. It's tough to imagine the Vikings' offense being able to keep up with Arizona's in this one. Record: 6-4.
Week 12: Thursday, Nov. 24, at Lions, 12:30 p.m. ET
Coming off two tough matchups and traveling to face the Lions on Thanksgiving Day, the Vikings can't expect an easy time against a team that hasn't lost its annual home holiday game since 2012. Detroit has struggled to protect Stafford in recent matchups against the Vikings, and the defense will help Minnesota get a win here, while Peterson gears up for a big day on national TV. Record: 7-4.
Week 13: Thursday, Dec. 1, vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:25 p.m. ET
Tony Romo figures to be back from his back injury by this point, but it's difficult to know what to expect from the aging quarterback. The Vikings will have to rattle Romo (or Dak Prescott) by beating one of the best offensive lines in football, but a defense looking to create more takeaways this season could get a couple of them against an opponent that gave the ball up 33 times last year. Record: 8-4.
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 11, at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET
The Jaguars are improving and their defense could get a boost from rookies Jalen Ramsey and Myles Jack. But even though Blake Bortles directs one of the league's more prolific passing offenses, the Vikings have a way of slowing down teams that rely primarily on the pass. Bortles was sacked 51 times last season and if the Vikings can make the Jaguars one-dimensional, they'll be able to get after the third-year quarterback. Record: 9-4.
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 18, vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET
The Colts are looking to bounce back in 2016, assuming they have a healthy Andrew Luck, and they could turn this game into the kind of offensive duel the Vikings probably won't be equipped to handle this season. The Vikings will have to hope they can get a lead and let their defense go to work on Luck, but we have Indianapolis making a few too many plays for the Vikings in this one. Record: 9-5.
Week 16: Saturday, Dec. 24, at Packers, 1 p.m. ET
The second of two high-profile meetings between the division rivals comes at Lambeau Field on Christmas Eve. The Packers lost to all three NFC North opponents in Green Bay last season, but assuming they're healthier than last year, they're likely to be favored in this one. Eddie Lacy has given the Vikings quite a bit of trouble over the past few years and could be a handful again on a cold December day. Record: 9-6.
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 1, vs. Bears, 1 p.m. ET
The nice thing about playing the Bears late in the season, as the Vikings have found out in recent years, is the chance you might run into a disinterested Jay Cutler. As the Vikings try to lock down a playoff berth, they could reap the benefits of a late-season matchup with the Bears, who could be out of the playoff mix by Week 17. Record: 10-6.