Vikings week by week analysis

Monday at Green Bay

Brett Favre won't be under center for the Vikings or the Packers -- much to ESPN's dismay -- but after Green Bay filed tampering charges (later dismissed by the NFL) against Minnesota for "inappropriate contact" with Favre this offseason, there will be plenty of story lines in this one.

• 6 p.m., ESPN and Ch. 5

SEPT. 14 VS. INDIANAPOLIS

The Colts play at the Metrodome for the first time since the 1997 finale. QB Peyton Manning, assuming he has recovered from offseason knee surgery, will give the Vikings pass defense a significant test. The Vikings were ranked last in this area in 2007 but added Pro Bowl end Jared Allen in an attempt to make quarterbacks less comfortable in the pocket. Manning will pick on rookie safety Tyrell Johnson, who will start early in place of injured Madieu Williams.

• Noon, Ch. 4

Sept. 21 vs. Carolina

This game will be the regular-season debut for wide receiver Steve Smith, who was suspended by the team for fighting with teammate Ken Lucas. The Vikings will have to account for Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers, who had only 2.5 sacks last season but had a big game (three sacks and four hurries) the last time these teams played, in 2006. Peppers has been moved from left to right end, meaning he stands to match up against temporary starting left tackle Artis Hicks.

• Noon, Ch. 9

Sept. 28 at Tennessee

The last time the Vikings played in Nashville, they were finishing a 15-1 regular season in 1998 by beating the Tennessee Oilers 26-16 at Vanderbilt University. The next season the franchise moved to what is now called LP Field and changed its name to the Titans. Tennessee's quarterback situation is similar to the Vikings',with talented Vince Young still unproven.

• Noon, Ch. 9

Oct. 6 at New Orleans

The Vikings' second Monday night game of the season will be played at the Superdome. The Minnesota defense must not only account for the Drew Brees-to-Marques Colston connection but also must concern itself with new tight end Jeremy Shockey. By this point, we should know whether running back Reggie Bush is showing the type of progress the Saints are hoping to get from him in 2008.

• 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Oct. 12 vs. Detroit

The Lions' 20-17 overtime victory over the Vikings in Week 2 last season at Detroit ended a 10-game winning streak for Minnesota in this series. Nonetheless, the Vikings still have a 10-game winning streak against the Lions at the Metrodome and have not lost to Detroit at home since the second-to-last game of the 1997 season. Just for a bit of perspective, consider that Tarvaris Jackson was 14 years old at the time and Adrian Peterson was 12.

• Noon, Ch. 9

OCT. 19 AT CHICAGO

Wide receiver Bernard Berrian can expect to hear plenty of boos at Soldier Field. This will be his first game in Chicago since he bolted to sign a free-agent deal with the Vikings last March. Another Bears receiver, Devin Hester, caught an 81-yard touchdown pass against the Vikings in Chicago last year while being used as a part-time receiver. This time around, the Vikings likely will have to contend with Hester in a full-time receiving role. The good news is that the guy throwing him the ball will be Kyle Orton. Odds are the Vikings will be far more concerned about Hester as a return man.

• Noon, Ch. 9

Oct. 26: Bye

NOV. 2 VS. HOUSTON

It's only the second meeting between these teams; the Vikings beat the host Texans 34-28 in overtime Oct. 10, 2004. Houston is an improving team that has several emerging players, including wide receiver Andre Johnson, linebacker DeMeco Ryans and defensive end Mario Williams. The 6-7, 291-pound Williams finished third in the NFL last season with 14 sacks.

• Noon, Ch. 4

NOV. 9 VS. GREEN BAY

The last time Brett Favre did not start a game for the Packers at the Metrodome was Dec. 21, 1991. The Packers quarterback that day was ... Mike Tomczak. No doubt, it's going to seem a bit odd to see Rodgers, not Favre, when this game starts.

•Noon, Ch. 9

NOV. 16 AT TAMPA BAY

The Vikings get to spend a couple of weeks playing in the Florida sun and will be taking on their former NFC Central rival at Raymond James. Defensive tackle Chris Hovan, who spent five seasons with the Vikings after being the team's first-round pick in 2000, is a big contributor to the Buc defense.

• Noon, Ch. 9

NOV. 23 AT JACKSONVILLE

The Vikings will see familiar faces, including former head coach Mike Tice. The Jaguars tight ends and assistant head coach, Tice has been a member of Jack Del Rio's coaching staff since being fired by the Vikings at the end of the 2005 season. Del Rio, of course, also is a former Viking. And then there is receiver Troy Williamson, the seventh overall pick in the 2005 draft, who was traded to the Jaguars for a sixth-round pick last offseason after failing to catch on (literally) in Minnesota.

• Noon, Ch. 9

NOV. 30 VS. CHICAGO

NBC will be in town as the Vikings face the Bears in their lone scheduled Sunday night appearance of the season. Childress, who is from Illinois, is 2-2 against the Bears in his two seasons, having been swept by Chicago in his first season and then turning the tables on the Bears last year. That included a 20-13 victory Dec. 17 at the Metrodome.

• 7:15 p.m., Ch. 11

Dec. 7 at Detroit

The Vikings rebounded from their rare loss to the Lions early last season by cruising to a 42-10 victory last December at the Metrodome. The Lions are counting on having a better rushing game under new offensive coordinator Jim Colletto, but given the Vikings' success again the run in recent seasons this might play into Minnesota's strength.

• Noon, Ch. 9

Dec. 14 at Arizona

Vikings play-by-play voice Paul Allen better get ready. This will be the first trip to Arizona since Nathan Poole's last-second touchdown catch gave the Cardinals an 18-17 victory to knock Minnesota out of the playoffs in the 2003 finale. The Cardinals' comeback -- overcoming an 11-point deficit in the game's final 1 minute, 54 seconds -- came at Sun Devil Stadium and led to Allen's distraught "nooooo" call. This time the Vikes visit the Cards' new digs, University of Phoenix Stadium.

• 3:05 p.m., Ch. 9

Dec. 21 vs. Atlanta

The Vikings opened the 2007 regular season at the Dome with a 24-3 victory over what turned out to be a terrible Falcons team. Atlanta isn't expected to be much better this time, but the Falcons certainly will have a different look. Coach Mike Smith now is running the show, and first-round pick Matt Ryan will begin the season as the starting quarterback. The Falcons also have a new running back in Michael Turner, who had been LaDainian Tomlinson's backup in San Diego.

• Noon, Ch. 9

Dec. 28 vs. New York Giants

If the Vikings are to reach the postseason for the first time under Brad Childress, they'd better lock up a spot before this game against the Super Bowl champions. The Vikings routed New York 41-17 last season at Giants Stadium, but that almost certainly isn't going to happen again. The Giants have won their past three trips to the Metrodome.

• Noon, Ch. 9

JUDD ZULGAD