Minnesota Vikings 2018 Schedule Analysis

The Minnesota Vikings' Schedule analysis:

Week 1: vs. San Francisco Sept. 9th 12 noon CT
Jimmy G will be quite good this year, but not so much this game. Vikes pull out the first game of the season; they move to 1-0.

Week 2: @ Green Bay Sept. 16th 12 noon CT
​A lot of analysts seem to think the Vikes will lose this game, I don't really see why. Yeah Aaron Rodgers will be back, but we have beaten him before with a far less experienced team. Vikes pull this one out and move to 2-0.

Week 3: vs. Buffalo Sept. 23 12 noon CT
Not much of a contest without Taylor. Vikings cruise to a 3-0 start.

Week 4: @ Los Angeles Rams Sept. 27th 7:20 PM CT (Thursday Night Football)
Quite the matchup this one will be on TNF, very much different then last year's game played in Minnesota. This will be one of the closest games the Vikes will play all year long, and they will come out on the winning side. MN is 4-0.

​Week 5: @ Philadelphia Oct. 7th 3:25 PM CT
The rematch of last year's NFC Championship will be very different from the original game. With Kirk Cousins at the helm, the Vikings make this game quite close. But Cousins could not beat his former division rival this time. Vikings lose a close one, falling to 4-1.

Week 6: vs. Arizona Oct. 10th 12 noon CT
Minnesota potentially faces their former QB Sam Bradford. While it is a great cover story for the game, it fails to describe how lopsided this game will be. Vikings blow out the Cardinals to advance to 5-1.

Week 7: @ New York Jets Oct. 21st 12 noon CT
Another potential reunion in Vikings former QB Teddy Bridgewater. Unfortunately it won't be very close. Vikings keep on rolling to advance to 6-1.

Week 8: vs. New Orleans Oct. 28th 7:20 PM CT (Sunday Night Football)
SNF gets the privilege to host this magnificent game. A rematch of last year's NFC Wildcard game that ended in the Minneapolis Miracle. This game is another close one, but doesn't require an intense catch by Stefon Diggs. Vikings advance to 7-1.

Week 9: vs. Detroit Nov. 4th 12 noon CT
The Vikings second divisional game of the year, and first divisional game at home does not end like last year's abysmal 14-7 ending. Minnesota pulls this one out and advances to 8-1.

Week 10: BYE
Great bye week. Definitely a great thing given our upcoming schedule.

Week 11: @ Chicago Nov. 18 12 noon CT
Last year this was an unnecessary nail biter. Not this year. Won't be as close but not a great win either, Vikings squeak out a win and advance to 9-1.

Week 12: vs. Green Bay Nov. 25 7:15 PM CT (Sunday Night Special on FOX)
This time, the primetime game against Green Bay is in Minnesota at U.S. Bank Stadium. Its going to be loud and it will favor the Vikings, do you remember the last time the Packers visited U.S. Bank Stadium in primetime? Yeah the Vikings win this one and sweep the season series vs. Green Bay and advance to 10-1.

Week 13: @ New England Dec. 2 3:25 PM CT
Not the greatest moment in Vikings history this one will be. The Patriots are a good team and this doesn't change that. The Vikings fall to the Pats and go 10-2.

Week 14: @ Seattle Dec. 10 7:15 PM CT (Monday Night Football)
The Vikings have never played great in Seattle. The Seahawks are not the team they used to be. But this field is a weakness to the Vikings, good thing is they shouldn't play them in the playoffs. Vikings fall to the Seahawks and go 10-3.

Week 15: vs. Dolphins Dec. 16 12 noon CT
Not much of a contest, the Vikings blow out the Dolphins and advance to 11-3.

Week 16: @ Detroit Dec. 23 12 noon CT
Not an easy game, but its better then heading to Green Bay every year in Week 16. I will take it and the Vikings squeak out a win in Ford Field, advance to 12-3.

Week 17: vs. Chicago Dec. 30 12 noon CT
Yet another year where the Vikings play the Bears in a meaningless game for both teams at the end of the season. Vikings finish the season 13-3. 

I have to say I was not optimistic about the Vikings schedule this year, given their opponents. There are a couple of games that could go either way, MN could easily go 11-5 or 12-4 or even 10-6.

But still, quite the optimistic viewpoint.