The full Vikings 2022 NFL schedule was released into the wild on Thursday, and we're now doing a four-part analysis on clusters of games.
The first installment covered opening at home against Green Bay, visiting Philadelphia, hosting Detroit and playing the Saints in London.
The second section of Minnesota's schedule includes a home game against the Chicago Bears in Week 5 and a road trip to face the Miami Dolphins in Week 6 before the Vikings have their bye in Week 7.
Minnesota will host the Arizona Cardinals out of the break in Week 8 and visit the Washington Commanders in Week 9.
Here's a deeper look at the four opponents the Vikings will face in Weeks 5-9.
Vikings vs. Bears | Week 5
Noon (CT) | Oct. 9 | U.S. Bank Stadium
Series Results
Vikings W-L-T: 63-57-2 (includes 0-1 in postseason)
Home: 38-24 (includes 0-1 postseason); Away: 25-33-2
Last time in regular season: Vikings won 31-17 on Jan. 9, 2022
Last time in regular season in Minnesota: Vikings won 31-17 on Jan. 9, 2022
2021 Stats
Chicago Offense
Yards/Game: 307.4 (24th) | Points/Game: 18.3 (27th)
Chicago Defense
Yards Allowed/Game: 316.7 (6th) | Points Allowed/Game: 23.9 (22nd)
2022 Status
Head Coach: Matt Eberflus (first season as a head coach)
Key additions in free agency/via trade: Signed OL Lucas Patrick, WRs Byron Pringle, Equanimeous St. Brown, David Moore, Dante Pettis and Tajaé Sharpe
Key departures in free agency/via trade: WRs Allen Robinson II, Jakeem Grant and Damiere Byrd
First two selections of 2022 NFL Draft: CB Kyler Gordon, Washington (No. 39 overall) and S Jaquan Brisker, Penn State (48)
Icebreaking Storyline
This will be Chicago's earliest trip to Minnesota since Sept. 24, 2006. The Bears have created quite an overhaul at the receiver position but are still returning Darnell Mooney, who led Chicago with 81 receptions for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns last season. Robinson, Byrd and Grant combined for four receiving touchdowns, but the Bears will try to boost their team total of 16 scores through the air. Grant might be the most missed because of his threat on special teams.
Vikings at Dolphins | Week 6
Noon (CT) | Oct. 16 | Hard Rock Stadium
Series Results
Vikings W-L-T: 5-8-0 (includes 0-1 in postseason)
Home: 4-3 | Away: 1-4 | Neutral: 0-1
Last time in regular season: Vikings won 41-17 in Minnesota on Dec. 16, 2018
Last time in regular season at Miami: Dolphins won 37-35 on Dec. 21, 2014
2021 Stats
Miami Offense
Yards/Game: 307.0 (25th) | Points/Game: 20.1 (22nd)
Miami Defense
Yards Allowed/Game: 337.5 (15th) | Points Allowed/Game: 21.9 (T-15th)
2022 Status
Head Coach: Mike McDaniel (first season as a head coach)
Key addition in free agency/via trade: Acquired WR Tyreek Hill in exchange for 2022 first-, second- and fourth-round picks, as well as 2023 fourth- and sixth-rounders
Key departures in free agency/via trade: RBs Phillip Lindsey, Duke Johnson and Malcolm Brown
First two selections of 2022 NFL Draft: LB Channing Tindall, Georgia (No. 102 overall) and WR Erik Ezukanma, Texas Tech (125)
Icebreaking Storyline
This will be the third consecutive game for new Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell to match wits against another first-year head coach. McDaniel, who is just 39, arrived in Miami having spent the previous five seasons with San Francisco (2017-20 as run game coordinator; 2021 as offensive coordinator). The acquisition of Hill gives McDaniel speed to burn.
Bye | Week 7
This will be the third season in a row in which Minnesota has had its bye fall in Week 7.
Vikings vs. Cardinals | Week 8
Noon (CT) | Oct. 30 | U.S. Bank Stadium
Series Results
Vikings W-L-T: 17-12-0 (includes 2-0 in postseason)
Home: 11-4 (2-0 in postseason) |**Away:** 6-8
Last time in regular season: Cardinals won 34-33 in Arizona on Sept. 19, 2021
Last time in regular season in Minnesota: Vikings won 27-17 on Oct. 14, 2018
2021 Stats
Arizona Offense
Yards/Game: 373.6 (8th) | Points/Game: 26.4 (11th)
Arizona Defense
Yards Allowed/Game: 329.2 (11th) | Points Allowed/Game: 21.5 (T-9th)
View photos of the Vikings 2022 schedule at U.S. Bank Stadium and on the road.
Week 1 | Sunday, Sept. 11 | 3:25 p.m. CT
vs. Green Bay Packers | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 1 | Sunday, Sept. 11 | 3:25 p.m. CT
vs. Green Bay Packers | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 2 | Monday, Sept. 19 | 7:30 p.m. CT
@ Philadelphia Eagles | Lincoln Financial Field
Week 2 | Monday, Sept. 19 | 7:30 p.m. CT
@ Philadelphia Eagles | Lincoln Financial Field
Week 3 | Sunday, Sept. 25 | 12:00 p.m. CT
vs. Detroit Lions | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 3 | Sunday, Sept. 25 | 12:00 p.m. CT
vs. Detroit Lions | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 4 | Sunday, Oct. 2 | 8:30 a.m. CT
vs. New Orleans Saints | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Week 4 | Sunday, Oct. 2 | 8:30 a.m. CT
vs. New Orleans Saints | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Week 5 | Sunday, Oct. 9 | 12:00 p.m. CT
vs. Chicago Bears | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 5 | Sunday, Oct. 9 | 12:00 p.m. CT
vs. Chicago Bears | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 6 | Sunday, Oct. 16 | 12:00 p.m. CT
@ Miami Dolphins | Hard Rock Stadium
Week 6 | Sunday, Oct. 16 | 12:00 p.m. CT
@ Miami Dolphins | Hard Rock Stadium
Week 7 - BYE
Week 8 | Sunday, Oct. 30 | 12:00 p.m. CT
vs. Arizona Cardinals | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 8 | Sunday, Oct. 30 | 12:00 p.m. CT
vs. Arizona Cardinals | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 9 | Sunday, Nov. 6 | 12:00 p.m. CT
@ Washington Commanders | FedEx Field
Week 9 | Sunday, Nov. 6 | 12:00 p.m. CT
@ Washington Commanders | FedEx Field
Week 10 | Sunday, Nov. 13 | 12:00 p.m. CT
@ Buffalo Bills | Highmark Stadium
Week 10 | Sunday, Nov. 13 | 12:00 p.m. CT
@ Buffalo Bills | Highmark Stadium
Week 11 | Sunday, Nov. 20 | 3:25 p.m. CT
vs. Dallas Cowboys | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 11 | Sunday, Nov. 20 | 3:25 p.m. CT
vs. Dallas Cowboys | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 12 | Thursday, Nov. 24 - Thanksgiving | 7:20 p.m. CT
vs. New England Patriots | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 12 | Thursday, Nov. 24 - Thanksgiving | 7:20 p.m. CT
vs. New England Patriots | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 13 | Sunday, Dec. 4 | 12:00 p.m. CT
vs. New York Jets | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 13 | Sunday, Dec. 4 | 12:00 p.m. CT
vs. New York Jets | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 14 | Sunday, Dec. 11 | 12:00 p.m. CT
@ Detroit Lions | Ford Field
Week 14 | Sunday, Dec. 11 | 12:00 p.m. CT
@ Detroit Lions | Ford Field
Week 15 | Dec. 17 or 18 | Time TBD
vs. Indianapolis Colts | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 15 | Dec. 17 or 18 | Time TBD
vs. Indianapolis Colts | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 16 | Saturday, Dec. 24 | 12:00 p.m. CT
vs. New York Giants | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 16 | Saturday, Dec. 24 | 12:00 p.m. CT
vs. New York Giants | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 17 | Sunday, Jan. 1 | 3:25 p.m. CT
@ Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field
Week 17 | Sunday, Jan. 1 | 3:25 p.m. CT
@ Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field
Week 18 | Jan. 7 or 8 | Time TBD
@ Chicago Bears | Soldier Field
Week 18 | Jan. 7 or 8 | Time TBD
@ Chicago Bears | Soldier Field
2022 Status
Head Coach: Kliff Kingsbury (24-24-1 through three regular seasons, 0-1 in postseason)
Key addition in free agency/via trade: Acquired WR Marquise "Hollywood" Brown and a 2022 third-round pick from Baltimore for the 18th overall pick
Key departure in free agency/via trade: DT Corey Peters, ILB Jordan Hicks and OLB/DE Chandler Jones
First two selections of 2022 NFL Draft: TE Trey McBride, Colorado State (No. 55 overall); DE Cameron Thomas, San Diego State (87)
Icebreaking Storyline
Arizona started last season 7-0, including a 34-33 win Week 2 over the Vikings in Patrick Peterson's first game against the Cardinals. He and Hicks will have a shot at a rematch this season when Minnesota faces an aerial attack that should be helped by Brown, as well as the return from suspension of DeAndre Hopkins.
Vikings at Commanders | Week 9
Noon (CT) | Nov. 6 | FedEx Field
Series Results
Vikings W-L-T: 14-13-0 (includes 2-3 in postseason)
Home: 7-6 (2-1 in postseason) | Away: 7-7 (0-2 in postseason)
Last time in regular season: Vikings won 19-9 in Minnesota on Oct. 24, 2019
Last time in regular season at Washington: Vikings won 38-30 on Nov. 12, 2017
2021 Stats
Washington Offense
Yards/Game: 323.6 (21st) | Points/Game: 19.7 (T-24th)
Washington Defense
Yards Allowed/Game: 359.3 (22nd) | Points Allowed/Game: 25.5 (25th)
2022 Status
Head Coach: Ron Rivera (14-19 through two seasons with Washington; went 76-63-1 with Carolina from 2011-19)
Key addition in free agency/via trade: Acquired QB Carson Wentz and a 2022 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2022 third-rounder and a conditional pick in 2023
Key departures in free agency/via trade: Released S Landon Collins and CB D.J. Hayden
First two selections of 2022 NFL Draft: WR Jahan Dotson, Penn State (No. 16 overall) and DT Phidarian Mathis, Alabama (47)
Icebreaking storyline
Kirk Cousins will return to Washington to face the team he played for from 2012-17. Cousins led Minnesota to a 19-9 victory in 2019 when the teams last met. O'Connell coached Cousins in 2017 and was with the team in 2018-19 before becoming the Rams offensive coordinator. Wentz is poised to become the 11th quarterback to start a game at QB for Washington since Cousins joined Minnesota in 2018.
