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          NFL Nation

          Minnesota Vikings open U.S. Bank Stadium with two prime-time games

          Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings will be in their new home in 2016. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo
          • Ben Goessling, ESPN Staff WriterApr 15, 2016, 12:20 AM
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            • Previously covered Vikings for St. Paul Pioneer Press
            • Also covered Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Wild and Washington Nationals
            • Twin Cities native and University of Minnesota graduate
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          Breakdown: Mike Zimmer joked last year that the Minnesota Vikings were still in the NFL's low-rent district. In the team's first year at U.S. Bank Stadium, the coach won't be able to say that anymore. The Vikings have five nationally televised games, including the first two at their new stadium, and they'll play on Thanksgiving Day for the first time since 2000.

          Complaint department: The Vikings will have to be sharp early, thanks to back-to-back matchups with the Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers in Weeks 2 and 3. But high-profile early-season matchups are a fact of life for contending teams, as the league's TV networks seek to start the season off with a bang. They'll also play on back-to-back Thursdays, much as the Packers and Lions did last year, but they'll have a mini-bye week before their final three games of the year against the Colts, Packers and Bears.

          Prime-time opener: The Vikings had wanted to open their new stadium with the Packers, and they'll get their wish: They'll play host to their rivals on Sunday night in Week 2 after opening the season on the road against the Tennessee Titans. The Vikings beat the Packers 30-25 in the first game at renovated Lambeau Field back in 2003; now, they'll play Green Bay for the second consecutive time on Sunday night after their NFC North title game with the Packers in Week 17 last year.

          Strength of schedule: 18th, .488

          Vikings Regular-Season Schedule (All times Eastern)

          • Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 11, at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

          • Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 18, Green Bay, 8:30 p.m.

          • Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 25, at Carolina, 1 p.m.

          • Week 4: Monday, Oct. 3, NY Giants, 8:30 p.m.

          • Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 9, Houston, 1 p.m.

          • Week 6: BYE

          • Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 23, at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

          • Week 8: Monday, Oct. 31, at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

          • Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 6, Detroit, 1 p.m.

          • Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 13, at Washington, 1 p.m.

          • Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 20, Arizona, 1 p.m.

          • Week 12: Thursday, Nov. 24, at Detroit, 12:30 p.m.

          • Week 13: Thursday, Dec. 1, Dallas, 8:25 p.m.

          • Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 11, at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

          • Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 18, Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

          • Week 16: Saturday, Dec. 24, at Green Bay, 1 p.m.

          • Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 1, Chicago, 1 p.m.