The big waves of free agency are over. The draft is complete. Now, all eyes are on the upcoming NFL season. Few teams offer as much underrated potential as the Vikings, who just missed the playoffs in 2021 and now employ former Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell atop the staff. With playmakers like Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson still in tow, it’s possible Minnesota could make a return to the postseason sooner rather than later.
First, they’ll have to make it through their 2022 opponents. Below, find a complete look at the teams set to square off with the Vikings this year, as well as a rundown of their 18-week regular-season schedule (once announced):
2022 opponents
Bears: Coming off a 6-11 season, Chicago is still in rebuild mode, with new coach Matt Eberflus looking to keep young QB Justin Fields and a stripped-down roster afloat. Barring an MVP-level breakout from Fields, they don’t look all too threatening.
Bills: If they’re not AFC favorites, they’re close. Josh Allen and Co. are fresh off an AFC Championship bid, and now they’ve got added reinforcements at pass rusher (Von Miller) and cornerback (Kaiir Elam). They should be a consistently tough out.
Cardinals: Is Kyler Murray under center (and happy)? If so, Arizona should still be a threat offensively, even with DeAndre Hopkins suspended to start the year. They may not be true contenders, but they’ve got the talent to make another playoff run.
Colts: Another year, another QB. This time Matt Ryan’s under center, and while he’s past his prime, he should bring enough savviness to a solid run-first offense to keep them in the mix for an AFC South title. They can’t be slept on.
Commanders: They’ve been scrappy at times, and Carson Wentz and Jahan Dotson should give them more offensive upside. Still, this is a volatile organization with question marks at key spots. They shouldn’t be pushovers, but they look beatable, too.
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