Coming off their Wild Card berth and second-place finish in the NFC North, the Minnesota Vikings will face a challenging schedule in 2013. According to NFL.com, Minnesota will face the 10th-hardest schedule based on the 2012 winning percentages.
Vikings 2013 schedule: Minnesota faces a tough road back to the playoffs
With six games against 2012 playoff teams, the Vikings will face a tough schedule in 2013.
Jamie Squire
It starts in the NFC North, where the Vikings will face four tough games against Chicago and Green Bay. The Vikings split with both teams during the regular season last year, losing on the road and winning at home. Minnesota won a pair of close games against Detroit and the Lions have improved this offseason.
In addition to the division games, the Vikings will play the AFC North and NFC East. Adrian Peterson leads the way for the Vikings and he will face a few difficult challenges in 2013 with five games against teams that finished in the top 10 in rushing defense last year. Here is a complete look at Minnesota's 2013 slate.
Week | Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
1 | Sep. 8 | @ Lions | 1 p.m. | FOX |
2 | Sep. 15 | @ Bears | 1 p.m. | FOX |
3 | Sep. 22 | 1 p.m. | CBS | |
4 | Sep. 29 | Steelers | 1 p.m. | CBS |
5 | BYE | |||
6 | Oct. 13 | 1 p.m. | FOX | |
7 | Oct. 21 | @ Giants | 8:40 p.m. | ESPN |
8 | Oct. 27 | 8:30 p.m. | NBC | |
9 | Nov. 3 | @ Cowboys | 1 p.m. | FOX |
10 | Nov. 7 | 8:25 p.m. | NFLN | |
11 | Nov. 17 | @ Seahawks | 4:25 p.m. | FOX |
12 | Nov. 24 | @ Packers | 1 p.m. | FOX |
13 | Dec. 1 | Bears | 1 p.m. | FOX |
14 | Dec. 8 | @ Ravens | 1 p.m. | FOX |
15 | Dec. 15 | 1 p.m. | FOX | |
16 | Dec. 22 | @ Bengals | 1 p.m. | FOX |
17 | Dec. 29 | Lions | 1 p.m. | FOX |
Toughest out: Seattle Seahawks
The Vikings have a few difficult games on the schedule, but only one on the road against a team that went 8-0 at home last season. Seattle is a Super Bowl contender this season and will again be tough to beat at home. The Vikings lost, 30-20, in Seattle last season, despite a 182-yard game from Peterson.
The timing of the game doesn’t help Minnesota, either. It’s the second game in a string of five straight games against teams that finished 10-6 or better last season. There is also a chance former Viking Percy Harvin could return for this game, adding even more intrigue.
Must win: Detroit Lions
Most are expecting the NFC North to be a tight race in 2013. The Vikings, Packers and Bears are all contenders for the division and the Lions are just one season removed from the playoffs. With very little margin for error, winning home games against your division opponents will be important when it comes to playoff tiebreakers.
Minnesota hosts Detroit in the final game of the regular season. The Vikings needed a win in Week 17 to make the playoffs last year and could be facing another must-win this year.
Don't overlook: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers didn't make the playoffs last year and Minnesota hosts Pittsburgh, but that doesn't mean it will be an easy game. Pittsburgh allowed just 90.6 rushing yards per game last year, the second-fewest in the NFL. Peterson is the key to the Vikings offense, and if he's limited by Pittsburgh's swarming run defense, the Vikings may need Christian Ponder to carry the load, something he hasn't proven he's capable of doing yet.
For all your Minnesota Vikings news, head over to Daily Norseman.
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