2020 Minnesota Vikings Schedule Predictions

On Thursday night the NFL unveiled its 2020 NFL schedule which includes an unchanged 17-week regular season with a 4 week pre-season schedule before it. As it stands the league expects that there will be fans in all games. That is subject to change but lets get started!
The 2020 Minnesota Vikings have a lot of tough matchups ahead of them. 
This indicates primetime games.

Week 1
Sunday, September 13 vs. Green Bay Packers
This is a different turn of events then normal for the NFL, as usually the division games don't start until Week 2. But this will be a nailbiter to start of the year for this new Vikings team. I think this team will pull out the win no matter how difficult the Packers may be. The Vikings will keep a stout 4-1 record against the pack in US Bank Stadium.
Record: 1-0

Week 2
Sunday, September 20 @ Indianapolis Colts
This reminds me to bring up that the rumor earlier this week, that the NFL was going to schedule the majority of the inter-conference games earlier in the season so they could be moved if needed. This game will be an interesting matchup the Vikings have not seen for a while. The last time the Vikings played against the Colts in general was in December of 2016, and the last time the Vikes saw Lucas Oil Stadium was in September of 2012. 
This will be a hard fought matchup that I think we will see the Vikings win, especially since besting Philip Rivers last year when Minnesota visited LA. 
Record: 2-0

Week 3
Sunday, September 27 vs. Tennessee Titans
This should be a fun matchup for the Vikings defense. The last time the Vikings played the Titans was in 2017 when the defense scored all of the Vikings points that game and won. I think that this Titans team will struggle this year, especially playing inside US Bank Stadium where they have never played.
Record: 3-0

Week 4
Sunday, October 4 @ Houston Texans
Another AFC matchup not often seen by Vikings fans. In the four matchups these two teams have played, Minnesota has won all of them. The last time these two teams met was in 2016 when the Vikings started 5-0. Another really good matchup that I think is winnable for the Vikings. I still give Minnesota the edge and will come out on top.
Record: 4-0

Week 5
Sunday, October 11 @ Seattle Seahawks - Sunday Night Football
These days the Vikings always seem to draw the Seahawks on primetime at CenturyLink Field. But this one will be probably not as tough as last year's nail-biter. But still not enough for the Vikings to pull this one out. I think the Vikings will drop their first game here.
Record: 4-1

Week 6
Sunday, October 18 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Another matchup against the Falcons, another victory for the Vikings. I won't spend much time on this one. Here is the gist: this Falcons team still has a lot to figure out and nothing makes me think the Vikings has a shot to lost to this struggling team. Another one to add to the win column.
Record: 5-1

Week 7 - Bye

Week 8
Sunday, November 1 @ Green Bay Packers
This game was placed later in the season then usual. But the Packers always seem to know how to beat the Vikings in Green Bay so I don't really think that it will change this year despite my objections about Aaron Rodgers. Second loss of the season comes in Green Bay.
Record: 5-2

Week 9
Sunday, November 8 vs. Detroit Lions
Since the Vikings have opened US Bank Stadium they have lost to Detroit once, in the year the opened it 2016. I don't think that will change this year. Detroit is another team that has a lot to fix and change in 2020, and potentially a head coach on the hot seat. Add it to the win column.
Record: 6-2

Week 10
Monday, November 16 @ Chicago Bears - Monday Night Football
Another matchup the NFL seems to like on prime-time a lot! Not sure why since its usually one of the most boring Vikings games of the year. However I still don't think the Vikings will pull this one out so they lose in Chicago yet again.
Record: 6-3

Week 11
Sunday, November 22 vs. Dallas Cowboys
This will be an intriguing game. I honestly think this game will be a candidate for being flexed to the Sunday Night Football slot, especially since Raiders at Chiefs is on that night. This will be a good game regardless of how good the Cowboys are at this point. I still think Prescott will be their QB and Elliott as their RB. It will be a good game that I can't wait to watch!  I do think the Vikings will get the win here.
Record: 7-3

Week 12
Sunday, November 29 vs. Carolina Panthers
This will be Teddy Bridgewater's first time playing in Minnesota since he left back in 2018. While he was here with the Saints previously, he did not play. I would expect a very large crowd appreciation of Bridgewater. I also hope he plays well. But I think the Vikings will win this one as well.
Record: 8-3

Week 13
Sunday, December 6 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Yeah this one won't really be much of a game, I am expecting a blowout. Not going to say much else here besides that the Vikings will win this one handily. 
Record: 9-3

Week 14
Sunday, December 13 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This will the Vikings' first meeting with Tom Brady as a member of the Bucs. Should be quite the game for the Vikings. While I am expecting a good game from both sides I cannot quite figure out who will win cause the Bucs are full of unknowns. I'm going to go on the safe side and say that the Vikings will lose this game because Tom Brady.
Record: 9-4

Week 15
Sunday, December 20 vs. Chicago Bears
I am surprised this isn't the last week of the season but the Vikings will host the Bears and I do think they will beat them inside US Bank Stadium. A lot of unknowns with the Bears as well though too.
Record: 10-4

Week 16
Friday, December 25 @ New Orleans Saints - Christmas Day
This is the first Christmas Day and Friday game since 2009 for the league. This should be quite the matchup for Christmas Day, and I would anticipate it will be a lot of entertainment for viewers all over the country on Christmas. However it will make me a nervous wreck at the family Christmas. I am actually going to be gutsy here and say the Vikings will win this one. Not really based on much but that I think these guys can do this.
Record: 11-4

Week 17
Sunday, January 3 @ Detroit Lions
This will be the first time in years that the Vikings will finish the season outside of US Bank Stadium. They will finish in Detroit this year. This shouldn't be much of a game but always ends up being one. I still think the Vikings win this one. Completes quite the magical season for this group.
Record: 12-4

Final Record: 12-4
This season could go really well or really terribly. There are lots of factors in these predictions I kind of intentionally left out that may come into play in these games. If this teams is really good I don't see why they can't go 13-3. But if they are more like the team a couple years ago we may see 9-7. But lets keep our hopes up!

#SKOL