The Vikings spent last week in fast forward as they opened the season with a Thursday night loss at New Orleans.

As a result, the team is getting some time off this weekend as other NFL clubs open the regular season.

The Sunday schedule includes NFC North teams Detroit and Chicago playing at noon at Soldier Field and Green Bay opening in Philadelphia at 3:15 p.m. The Vikings' foe in Week 2, the Miami Dolphins, will play in Buffalo at noon.

The Vikings will return to work on Monday as they go through a light practice and get back into their routine for a Sunday game. That will include an off day Tuesday and then practices on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

There is certainly no reason for Vikings fans to panic about being 0-1 but the next two games are important. Minnesota will face the Dolphins and the Lions at home before getting an early bye. Success in those games will be key because the Vikings return from the bye to face four tough foes in the Jets (on the road), Dallas (at home) and Green Bay and New England on the road.

Two years ago the Vikings started 0-2 and were 1-3 but rebounded to win nine of their final 12 games and made the playoffs. The difference is that this year the expectations are this franchise will do more than simply make the postseason.