July 30, 2021; Egan, MN, USA; The Minnesota Vikings are trailing Dalvin Cook. Compulsory Credit: Brad Rampel – USA Today Sports.
The NFL released its regular schedule for 2022 a week ago, leaving the Minnesota Vikings in three games over the holidays – Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day – and putting the team up against the Green Bay Packers at home in Week 1.
It took a little longer to finalize the preseason schedule, but the team did it this week.
Here are the Vikings August plans through preseason opponents.
August 14 – Las Vegas Raiders (3:25 pm CST)
Precision Game # 1
This is a 2023 preview.
The Vikings will play the Riders in 2023 for a regular season showdown in Las Vegas. The Raiders recruited Josh McDaniel from the New England Patriots to take the team further to the playoffs after the One-and-Dawn in 2021.
Derek Carr returns to quarterback, partnering with Davante Adams, who traded to Las Vegas by the Green Bay Packers in March. Carr now has Adams, Hunter Rainfro, Darren Waller and Demarcus Robinson for offensive weapons.
August 20 – San Francisco 49ers (TBD)
Precision Game # 2
Last year, the Vikings lost a game to the 49ers that killed any emerging play-off-push momentum. Prior to the 12th week of the relationship, it was assumed that whichever team would be the winner would make waves in the post season. Pundits were right, the 49ers defeated the Vikings, reached the San Francisco NFC Championship, and Minnesota eventually went down 8-9.
Minnesota’s new general manager, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, is a former employee of the 49ers, so it implies that the two teams will bring it out in an exhibition.
The two teams can also practice together this summer.
August 27 – Denver Broncos (8:00 pm CST)
Precision Game # 3
Speaking of existing relationships, the boss out of Denver would be a mini-boss in Minnesota.
This is George Patton, and his Broncos suddenly competes in the Super Bowl. Denver has made a number of player and draft capital deals for the Seattle Seahawks for Russell Wilson this offseason. With a push of a trade button, the Broncos have expanded their position in the AFC West and should return to the post-season for the first time since 2015.
Like the Raiders showdown two weeks ago, the Vikings will play in Denver for a game in the 2023 regular season.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to her daily YouTube channel, VikesNow. She Hosts a podcast With Bryant McKinney, which airs every Wednesday Raun Sai And Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking Fandom dates back to 1996. Listed Criminal Pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos’ and The Doors (Band).
