Thursday, April 18, 2013

What a schedule the Vikings face


The time has finally come and now I can see when I will be making a trip to Mall of America Field and when I will be home in front of the TV.

September starts out tough as the first week the Vikes get to go on the road to Detroit and face a team who was extremely disappointing last year. A home opener for Detroit and their first opponent is the Vikings. If the Lions can’t be up for this I would be shocked.

The team goes from the Motor City to the Windy City for back to back NFC North battles. Hey, speaking of windy the Vikes face Jay Cutler and all the tantrums he throws when receivers drop balls.

2-0 or 0-2 to start is one thing but with the ties breakers in the division the Vikes have to come out at least 1-1. I of course, as a diehard see 2-0.

The next 2 are home in theory as the Cleveland Browns will be part of future Vikings football trivia. The question will be: Who was the Vikings opponent to come to Mall of America Field for the last home opener in stadium history?

The team then goes to London to play the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Vikes will be the home team. I know the Vikings were going to London but I wish it was a different opponent. The Steelers fans travel so well. It would have been fun to see all the black and yellow. Oh well, it was just a hope.

The bye week is next in week 5. The only reason I like this so early is the travel the Vikings will be doing coming back. I do not want any excuses if the team does not play well due to tiredness.

The month of October has 3 games with 2 of them in prime time. October 13, the Vikes face Carolina Panthers who were blessed with the toughest strength of schedule in the NFL. I can’t wait to see Cam Newton in person. It will be even better seeing him look at the roof from his back.

Monday night football going facing the New York Giants on the road should be quite the test. It is my hope the team does not falter like it did last season in the Tampa Bay game that was on national tv. The Vikes have had good luck against Eli Manning.

The BIG GAME then follows on Sunday night football as the GREEN BAY PACKERS make their last appearance at Mall of America Field. Anybody remember the last time these 2 played here?

November has 3 road and one home. The Vikings go to Dallas on November 3rd for the first trip to this billion dollar stadium and face the overpaid Cowboys quarterback, Tony Romo.

The next week the Vikes come home and face the Washington Redskins on Thursday night football. I am so hopeful RG III is ready. The game in Washington, he made the Vikes defense look foolish. It is time for payback. It seems to be an every year game between these 2 except the last 3 have been in Washington.

The next 2 weeks are brutal going to Seattle followed by a trip to Lambeau.  I am more concerned with the Seattle game. I just think Seattle is built very strongly and now they ad Winfield and Harvin. The Green Bay game all I can say is the words, GREEN BAY!!!!! There are no words to describe this rivalry the fans speak and speak loudly. It is the best rivalry in the NFL.

December we see 5 games with 3 at home and 2 on the road. Chicago starts out the month coming to Minnesota. Will Cutler still be the quarterback by then?

The next week go to Baltimore to face the reigning World Champions. I am intrigued by this team with all their player personnel losses including Ray Lewis, Matt Birk and Ed Reed just to name a few. They still have a good quarterback in  Joe Flacco and running back, Ray Rice.

The last 3 have Philadelphia Eagles come to Minnesota with a new head coach. It will be strange to not see Andy Reid on the sidelines.

The team goes to Cincinnati which has been a playoff team the last couple of years. I am real anxious to see how the Vikings secondary does against Bengals star receiver, AJ Green.

The last game of the year is a home game which will be the last season finale at Mall of America Field. The Detroit Lions are the first game of the year and now the last game of the year.

The schedule is tough but as a fan I look forward to the week to week challenges. Three prime time games is a nice reward after having a playoff year.  The fact of no back to back home games I like as well.

I can’t wait, how about you?

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

 

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