Recent years Vikings played AFC North teams — like they do in 2017 — ended badly

NFC teams, as you probably know, rotate through each of the four AFC divisions on their schedule every four years. This season, it's the Vikings' turn to play the AFC North — Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Baltimore and Cincinnati. The Vikings also played that division in 2005, 2009 and 2013.

Two of those seasons led to a head coach getting fired: Mike Tice after 2005 ended and Leslie Frazier after 2013 ended. The third (2009) ended with an overtime loss in the NFC title game to New Orleans. Going back by four years: In 2001, Dennis Green was fired. The Vikings played the Ravens, Steelers, Jaguars and Titans that year.

That's more of a footnote than a reason for Mike Zimmer to be wary. But 2017 does feel like a make-or-break season for the Vikings. Many factors will have an influence over the Vikings' 2017 trajectory, but an underrated thing will be the order of their schedule, which will be released Thursday.