2011 Minnesota Vikings Schedule
Written by Steve Janus
The Minnesota Vikings begged for Brett Favre to come back for one more season in hopes that he could lead them to the Super Bowl after losing to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship Game the previous year, but it ended up being a season of major disappointment. Minnesota struggled right out of the gates, and ended the year tied for last in the NFC North at 6-10. Now the Vikings head into the 2011-12 season with huge questions at the quarterback position. They surprised everyone by using their first round draft pick (12th overall) on Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder. Whether or not Ponder ends up the starting quarterback this season will depend on what the Vikings do once the lockout is lifted and teams can either trade or sign free agents. There is plenty of talent on the Vikings roster for them to compete for a division title, but it’s hard to imagine Ponder being the solution in his rookie season.
To get a better idea of where the Vikings might be headed this season, lets take a look at their opponents for the upcoming season. Outside of the six division games against the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and Detroit Lions, Minnesota will face off against the NFC South, AFC West, Washington Redskins, and Arizona Cardinals.
Minnesota went just 1-5 in their six division games last season, with the only win coming at home against Lions in week 3. If they are going to turn things around this year, it will start with a much better effort against these three teams. Out of the five losses, only one came by fewer than a touchdown. How they will do this year depends a lot on who their starting quarterback is, but the goal has to be to at least split their six games and go 3-3.
The Vikings will be put to the test in their four games against the NFC South. Minnesota has to go on the road to take on the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons, while getting the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home. The only game you can look at right now and say the Vikings should win, is at Carolina in week 8. The other 3 games are all going to be very tough for this team to win unless they go out and get a veteran quarterback.
Things should get a little easier in the Vikings four games against the AFC West. Other than a week 1 road game against the San Diego Chargers, Minnesota figures to be in contention in their two home games against the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders along with their road game at Kansas City. Just because the Vikings can compete with these three teams doesn’t guarantee they will walk away with a win. I could easily see this team going anywhere from 3-1 to 0-4 against this division.
The final two games to look at are the Vikings two conference games against the Redskins and Cardinals. They get Arizona at home in week 5, while having to go on the road to take on Washington in week 16. You have to like the Vikings chances in both of these games, but with the uncertainty at quarterback neither game is a sure thing.
| 2011 Preseason Schedule | |||
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
| 1 | Saturday, August 13 | @ Tennessee Titans | 8:00 PM |
| 2 | Saturday, August 20 | @ Seattle Seahawks | 10:00 PM |
| 3 | Saturday, August 27 | Dallas Cowboys | 8:00 PM |
| 4 | Thursday, September 1 | Houston Texans | 8:00 PM |
| 2011 Regular Season Schedule | |||
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
| 1 | Sunday, September 11 | @ San Diego Chargers | 4:15 PM |
| 2 | Sunday, September 18 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1:00 PM |
| 3 | Sunday, September 25 | Detroit Lions | 1:00 PM |
| 4 | Sunday, October 2 | @ Kansas City Chiefs | 1:00 PM |
| 5 | Sunday, October 9 | Arizona Cardinals | 1:00 PM |
| 6 | Sunday, October 16 | @ Chicago Bears | 8:20 PM |
| 7 | Sunday, October 23 | Green Bay Packers | 4:15 PM |
| 8 | Sunday, October 30 | @ Carolina Panthers | 1:00 PM |
| 9 | BYE WEEK | ||
| 10 | Monday, November 14 | @ Green Bay Packers | 8:30 PM |
| 11 | Sunday, November 20 | Oakland Raiders | 1:00 PM |
| 12 | Sunday, November 27 | @ Atlanta Falcons | 1:00 PM |
| 13 | Sunday, December 4 | Denver Broncos | 4:05 PM |
| 14 | Sunday, December 11 | @ Detroit Lions | 1:00 PM |
| 15 | Sunday, December 18 | New Orleans Saints | 1:00 PM |
| 16 | Saturday, December 24 | @ Washington Redskins | 1:00 PM |
| 17 | Sunday, January 1 | Chicago Bears | 1:00 PM |
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