Minnesota Vikings 2009 Schedule & Outlook

Vikes Have NFL's Second Easiest Strength of Schedule

Apr 26, 2009 Dale Van Every

The Vikings' 2009 season schedule is the 2nd easiest in the NFL on paper, at least. Here's a look at the schedule and some brief observations.

The 2009 NFL season is still more than four months from its first kickoff, but with last week’s release of the schedule, the deep pre-season analysis has begun. Here’s a look at the schedule, including exhibition games, followed by some brief observations.

Minnesota Vikings 2009 Season Schedule

(Home Games in CAPS/all times CENTRAL Standard Time)

  • Fri Aug 14@ Indianapolis Colt (Preseason)---7:30 pm
  • Fri Aug 21 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (Preseason)---7:00 pm
  • Mon Aug 31 @Houston Texans (Preseason)---7:00 pm
  • Thu Sep 3 DALLAS COWBOYS (Preseason)---TBA
  • Sun Sep 13 @ Cleveland Browns---12 pm
  • Sun Sep 20 @ Detroit Lions---12 pm
  • Sun Sep 27 SAN FRANCISCO 49ers---12 pm
  • Mon Oct 5 GREEN BAY PACKERS---730 pm
  • Sun Oct 11 @ St. Louis Rams---12 pm
  • Sun Oct 18 BALTIMORE RAVENS---12 pm
  • Sun Oct 25 @ Pittsburgh Steelers---12 pm
  • Sun Nov 1 @ Green Bay Packers---12 pm
  • Sun Nov 8 ***BYE WEEK***
  • Sun Nov 15 DETROIT LIONS---12 pm
  • Sun Nov 22 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS---12 pm
  • Sun Nov 29 CHICAGO BEARS---12 pm
  • Sun Dec 6 @Arizona Cardinals---3:15 pm
  • Sun Dec 13 CINCINNATI BENGALS---12 pm
  • Sun Dec 20 @ Carolina Panthers---7:20 pm
  • Mon Dec 28 @ Chicago Bears---730 pm
  • Sun Jan 3 NEW YORK GIANTS---12 pm

According to the NFL’s “strength-of-schedule” analysis, the Vikings will face the second easiest schedule of all teams in 2009, with only the Chicago Bears having a supposed easier road to January. However, as Bucky Brooks of NFL.com convincingly argues, “SOS” has proven to be a deceptive determinant over the few recent seasons it's been used. The NFL is just too unpredictable year to year.

Vikings Have Some Bright Spots, Rough Stretches

A brief look at the Vikings upcoming season does reveal some seemingly bright spots, however, and they seem to be in waves. If the season must open with two road games, they might as well be at Cleveland and Detroit, followed by a home opener versus the lackluster-of-late 49ers. A mid-November stretch of three straight home games, including Detroit and Seattle also looks good.

Minnesota's Week Nine Bye Will Be Advantageous

A week 9 Bye is advantageous, both for its positioning smack in the middle of the schedule, and because it comes after what will likely be the purple’s toughest stretch of games: at home versus the Ravens, followed by road games at Super Bowl champs Pittsburgh and Green Bay at Lambeau Field.

Watch for the final three games of the regular season –the Vikes' other rough patch—to determine their playoff future, particularly the December 28th Monday night game versus the Bears at Soldier Field. Carolina (away) and the Giants (home) finale round out this grouping, and the season.

Three Prime Time Contests for Vikings

Besides the December Monday night game in Chicago, Minnesota has two other prime time appearances in 2009 (before the playoffs, at least): a Monday night contest against Green Bay at the Dome, October 5th, and a Sunday night game at Carolina, December 20th.

Skol Vikings!!

Source: NFL.com

The copyright of the article Minnesota Vikings 2009 Schedule & Outlook in Football is owned by Dale Van Every. Permission to republish Minnesota Vikings 2009 Schedule & Outlook in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Adrian Peterson/Minnesota Viking, deviantart.com Adrian Peterson/Minnesota Viking
   
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