The NFL announced Wednesday evening that it will release its regular-season schedule sooner than expected: Thursday at 7 p.m. The Vikings and their fans will know which team will be on the opposing sideline when U.S. Bank Stadium plays host to its first regular-season game sometime in September.
The team is expected to open on the road, enabling stadium officials to work out any potential issues discovered in the two preseason games.
The first NFL game in the stadium will be a preseason game: Vikings vs. San Diego on Aug. 28, after Minnesota plays its first two preseason games on the road. The Vikings open the preseason at Cincinnati (Aug. 12-14 window) and then travel to play Seattle (Aug. 19-21). The final preseason game is Sept. 1 at U.S. Bank Stadium against the relocated Rams of Los Angeles.
The team has known its home and road opponents for some time. They are:
Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts.
Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans.
The Vikings will have the 18th hardest schedule, according to an NFL.com online post Wednesday evening.
Staff reports
