The Minnesota Vikings’ 2020 NFL schedule was released on Thursday, and there is a lot to choose from as to which is the most enticing matchup of the season.
The Vikings play the Packers at home for their opening game, and they play the Saints on the road on Christmas Day. Both those two matchups are a good indication of whether Minnesota will improve, get worse or stay the same next season.
Minnesota also plays against the Buccaneers and Colts, two teams that added notable quarterbacks in the offseason.
Vikings Wire took a look at the team’s schedule and broke down the big storylines headed into the 2020 regular season. You can see all analyses on the next pages!
Will the Minnesota Vikings get revenge on the Seattle Seahawks?
The Vikings have lost to the Seahawks in six consecutive contests. Granted, the core players on the Vikings in 2020 were not the same ones as the group playing against Seattle in the past. but those last couple of losses had to have stung for the veterans on the team.
In 2018, Kirk Cousins’ first season with the Vikings, the offense was stifled on the road by Seattle in a 21-7 loss.
In 2019, Cousins and the offense wasn’t the reason the team lost the game, but the Seahawks’ offense came alive. Chris Carson had 102 yards rushing and a touchdown. Russell Wilson kept the Vikings defense in check with 240 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, resulting in a 37-30 loss for Minnesota.
Not only do the Vikings have to make up for past losses, but this game is in a primetime slot on Sunday night. It will be interesting to see whether the Vikings can go on the road and change the narrative about them in Seattle.
How good is the NFC North?
You could tell me that four NFC North teams would be in playoff contention for 2020 and I would believe you. You could also tell me the Division leader went 9-7 and I’d buy that, too.
It’s hard to tell just how good any of these teams in the NFC North will be next season. The Vikings lost a lot of veteran talent, but had a very good NFL draft by many accounts.
The Packers had a questionable draft, but the team was 13-3 in 2019 and still has a menacing front seven. Aaron Rodgers looked in decline last season, but isn’t a declining Rodgers still pretty good?
The Bears, after winning the Division in 2018, took a step back in 2019. However, the team added a new quarterback to the mix: Nick Foles. I don’t have to tell Vikings fans that Foles can have his moments.
There’s also the Lions, who added Jeff Okudah, who could be a very good shutdown corner at the NFL Level. They also added running back D’Andre Swift, who could help improve Detroit’s running game and maybe give their offense a much-needed boost.
I think Minnesota has a very good chance of competing, but how the entire division will shake out is anyone’s guess.
Will the Saints get revenge on the Vikings?
New Orleans has suffered two devastating playoff losses to the Vikings recently.
If the division is close, a Week 16 victory on the road could be crucial for playoff implications. The Vikings beat the Saints in overtime last season, so New Orleans will be eager to bounce back against them.
The game is on a Friday, so it will be a shortened week. It’s also on Christmas, so there are plenty of distractions surrounding this matchup. However, if the Vikings pull off a win on the road, they could easily move onto Week 17 and win in Detroit. Two wins down the stretch could be significant for their playoff hopes. Despite the loss of veteran talent this offseason, Minnesota has the capability of solidifying a playoff berth and picking up right where the team left off in 2020.
