By now, you've seen the entire Vikings 2020 NFL schedule, which was released last Thursday, and know that the 60th season in franchise history is scheduled to open against the Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The second quarter of Minnesota's season will include what's become an all-too-familiar trip to Seattle to play the Seahawks in prime time for the third consecutive season and a home contest against the Falcons for the second time in as many seasons. The Vikings have their bye in Week 7 before buckling up for three consecutive division opponents, including Week 8 at Green Bay and Week 9 at home against the Lions.
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Here's a look at the series history, 2019 stats, roster changes and some 2020 icebreakers for the second quarter of the Vikings season:
Week 5
Vikings at Seahawks | by @EricLSmith
7:20 p.m. (CT) | Sunday, Oct. 11 | CenturyLink Field
Series Results
Vikings W-L-T: 5-12 (includes 0-1 in the postseason)
Home: 3-4 (includes 0-1 in the postseason); Away: 2-8
Last time in regular season: Vikings lost to Seahawks 37-30 at Seattle on Dec. 2, 2019
Last time in regular season at Seattle: Vikings lost to Seahawks 37-30 on Dec. 2, 2019
2019 Stats
Seattle offense
Quarterback Russell Wilson threw a career-low five interceptions in 516 attempts in 2019. Wilson threw for 4,110 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Seattle ranked fourth in the league with 137.5 total rushing yards per game. It marked the second season in a row that the Seahawks ranked in the top four in rushing.
Seattle defense
The Seahawks tied for 22nd in 2019 with 24.9 points allowed per game. It was their lowest ranking since 2010, when Seattle ranked 25th at 25.4 points allowed per game.
Linebacker Bobby Wagner led the NFL with 159 total tackles (league stats).
Roster Refresher
Added: WR Phillip Dorsett, CB Quinton Dunbar, OL B.J. Finney, Edge Bruce Irvin, T Cedric Ogbuehi and TE Greg Olsen
First two picks of 2020 NFL Draft: Texas Tech LB Jordyn Brooks at No. 27 overall and Tennessee DE Darrell Taylor at 48
Departed (new team if player has signed)/contract expired: QB Geno Smith, RB C.J. Prosise, RB Marshawn Lynch, WR Jaron Brown, WR Josh Gordon, TE Ed Dickson, T George Fant (Jets), C Justin Britt, OL D.J. Fluker (Ravens), T Germain Ifedi (Bears), DT Al Woods (Jaguars), DE Ezekiel Ansah, DE Quinton Jefferson (Bills), LB Mychal Kendricks and S Tedric Thompson
Icebreakers
This will be Minnesota's third consecutive year playing at CenturyLink Field in the regular reason and fifth straight if including preseason contests. The past two matchups have come on Monday Night Football and have been won by Seattle … The Vikings allowed 444 total yards and also had three turnovers on offense in the loss. Safety Anthony Harris had a 20-yard interception return for a score in the loss … Seahawks running back Chris Carson ranked fifth in the league with 1,230 rushing yards in 2019, his second-straight 1,000-yard season … Seattle ranked third with 32 takeaways in 2019 (16 interceptions and 16 fumble recoveries) … Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll is entering his 11th season in Seattle and went 100-59-1 in regular seasons during his first decade with the team.
Week 6
Vikings vs Falcons | by @pcraigers
Noon (CT) | Sunday, Oct. 18 | U.S. Bank Stadium
Series Results
Vikings W-L-T: 20-11-0 (includes 1-1 in playoffs)
Home: 12-4; Away: 8-7
Last time in regular season: Vikings defeated Falcons 28-12 in Minnesota on Sept. 8, 2019
Last time in regular season in Minnesota: Vikings defeated Falcons 28-12 on Sept. 8, 2019
2019 Stats
Atlanta offense
The Falcons aired it out more than any other team in 2019, attempting an NFL-high 684 passes. The Vikings only attempted 466 passes last season (30th in the NFL).
Atlanta ranked second in the NFL with 383 first downs earned and fifth in net yards gained (379.7 per game).
Atlanta defense
Falcons opponents scored on 42.8 percent of their possessions, which made Atlanta the second-stingiest team in the league.
After ranking in the top 10 in points against and yards allowed in 2017, the Falcons fell to the 20s in both categories the past two seasons. They ranked 23rd with 399 points against and 20th with 355.8 yards allowed in 2019.
Roster Refresher
Added: Edge Dante Fowler, Jr., RB Todd Gurley II, DE Charles Harris, TE Hayden Hurst, WR Laquon Treadwell, LB Edmond Robinson, P Ryan Allen
First two picks of 2020 NFL Draft: Clemson cornerback A.J. Terrell at No. 16 overall and Auburn defensive lineman Marlon Davidson at 47
Departed (new team if player has signed)/contract expired: RB Devonta Freeman, RB Kenjon Barner, WR Justin Hardy, TE Austin Hooper (Browns), TE Luke Stocker, T Ty Sambrailo (Titans), G Wes Schweitzer (Redskins), DE Adrian Clayborn (Browns), OLB De'Vondre Campbell (Cardinals), OLB Vic Beasley (Titans), CB Desmond Trufant (Lions), S Johnathan Cyprien
Icebreakers
After handling head coach and defensive coordinator roles in 2019, Dan Quinn shifted coordinator responsibilities to Raheem Morris, a former head coach of the Buccaneers who has been on the Falcons staff since 2015. … QB Matt Ryan led the NFL in completions (27.2) and attempts (41.1) per game in 2019. Ryan ranks seventh among active players with 321 career touchdown passes. … Julio Jones ranks third among active players with 12,125 career receiving yards. The 1,394 he totaled last season were 283 fewer than his league-leading 1,677 in 2018. … Calvin Ridley has 17 combined touchdown catches through his first two seasons. … The Falcons totaled 28 sacks in 2019, ranking 29th in the NFL with a sacks-per-pass-attempt rate of 5.22 percent. Grady Jarrett (7.5) is the only returning Falcon who had more than 4.0 sacks last season.
Week 7 — Bye Week
This is the earliest the Vikings have had their bye in a season since 2016 when it fell in Week 6. It's also the first Week 7 bye for Minnesota since 1994.
Week 8
Vikings at Packers | by @LindseyMNSports
Noon (CT) | Nov. 1 | Lambeau Field
Series Results
Vikings W-L-T: 54-62-3 (including 1-1 in the playoffs)
Home: 29-29; Away: 25-33-3
Last time in regular season: Packers defeated Vikings 23-10 at U.S. Bank Stadium on Dec. 23, 2019
Last time in regular season at Green Bay: Packers defeated Vikings 21-16 on Sept. 15, 2019
2019 Stats
Green Bay offense
Aaron Rodgers passed for 4,002 yards in 2019. He has passed for at least 4,000 in each of the eight seasons in which he has started all 16 games.
The Packers led the NFL with an interception rate of just 0.70 percent in 2019. It was the second season in a row in which Green Bay led the league.
Green Bay defense
LB Blake Martinez, who departed to the Giants in free agency, ranked second in the NFL in 2019 with 155 tackles (league stats).
The Packers ranked ninth in the NFL in points against, marking their first appearance in the top 10 since finishing second in 2010, which was Vikings Senior Defensive Assistant Dom Capers' second season as Green Bay's defensive coordinator.
Roster Refresher
Added: WR Devin Funchess, T Rick Wagner and LB Christian Kirksey
First two picks of 2020 NFL Draft: Utah State QB Jordan Love at No. 26 overall and Boston College RB A.J. Dillon at 62
Departed (new team if player has signed)/contract expired: T Bryan Bulaga (Chargers), T Jared Veldheer, LB Blake Martinez (Giants), LB Kyler Fackrell (Giants), TE Jimmy Graham (Bears), WR Geronimo Allison (Lions), Tramon Williams
Icebreakers
The Packers are entering their second season under Head Coach Matt LaFleur, who in 2019 helped lead the team to the NFC Championship Game. Green Bay finished 2019 with 13 wins, including five straight to end the regular season. … Rodgers was 353-of-569 passing for 4,002 yards, 26 touchdowns and four interceptions. … RB Aaron Jones led the team in rushing with 1,084 yards and 16 touchdowns and helped Green Bay sweep the Border Battle series for the first time since 2014.
Week 9
Vikings vs Lions | by @EricLSmith
Noon (CT) | Sunday, Nov. 8 | U.S. Bank Stadium
Series Results
Vikings W-L-T: 76-39-2
Home: 41-16-1; Away: 35-23-1
Last time in regular season: Vikings defeated Lions 20-7 at U.S. Banks Stadium on Dec. 8, 2019
Last time in regular season in Minnesota: Vikings defeated Lions 20-7 on Dec. 8, 2019
2019 Stats
Detroit offense
The Lions scored at least 24 points in six of eight games that quarterback Matthew Stafford started. Without him, they hit the 24-point mark just once.
Detroit ranked third-from-last in the league with just seven total rushing touchdowns.
Detroit defense
The Lions defense allowed 350-plus yards in 13 of 16 games, including both games against the Vikings and five of six division games.
Devon Kennard and Trey Flowers tied for the team-lead with 7.0 sacks in 2019. Kennard is no longer on Detroit's roster.
Roster Refresher
Added: WR Geronimo Allison, LB Jamie Collins, QB Chase Daniel, DB Duron Harmon, S Jayron Kearse, LB Reggie Ragland, CB Darryl Roberts, DT Danny Shelton, CB Desmond Trufant, T Halapoulivaati Vaitai and DT Nick Williams
First two picks of 2020 NFL Draft: Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah at No. 3 overall and Georgia RB D'Andre Swift at No. 35
Departed (new team if player has signed)/contract expired: QB Jeff Driskel (Broncos), RB J.D. McKissic (Redskins), WR Jermaine Kearse, T Rick Wagner (Packers), G Graham Glasgow (Broncos), DT Damon 'Snacks' Harrison, DT A'Shawn Robinson (Rams), LB Devon Kennard (Cardinals), CB Darius Slay (Eagles), CB Rashaan Melvin (Jaguars), S Tavon Wilson and P Sam Martin (Broncos)
Icebreakers
The Lions coughed up a league-high six leads in the fourth quarter last season. … Detroit allowed 149 points in fourth quarters, which trailed only Miami across the NFL. … Detroit tied with Dallas and Arizona for the fewest interceptions in the league with seven. … The Lions allowed 100-plus rushing yards in 10 games in 2019. … Detroit's defense ranked 28th in the league by allowing opponents to convert third downs 43.9 percent of the time.
