The 2021 NFL schedule has been set, and observations have been made.
ESPN's Courtney Cronin delved deep into the Vikings matchups and opined that a particular section of the schedule could "determine the season" for Minnesota. She wrote:
For a second consecutive year, the Vikings bye falls in Week 7 after facing two playoff teams (Seattle and Cleveland) in the first six weeks. Coming out of the break, Minnesota hosts Dak Prescott and the Cowboys in prime time. That's followed by road games against the Ravens and Chargers. We don't know yet who will be at quarterback when Green Bay comes to town in Week 11, but chances are third overall pick Trey Lance will be under center with his loaded 49ers when Minnesota rounds out a critical five-game stretch at San Francisco in Week 12.
Cronin also offered takeaways on the Vikings schedule, pointing out that they will play the Bengals on the road Week 1 after four consecutive season openers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Cincinnati matchup, she said, "is a game with storylines galore."
[Vikings Head Coach] Mike Zimmer coaching against his former team (he was the defensive coordinator from 2008-13); the LSU connections between Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson and former teammates and current Bengals Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase; and, dare we call them 'revenge games' for ex-Vikings Riley Reiff and Trae Waynes. For the first time in the Zimmer era, Minnesota will be on the road for the first two weeks of the season, going from Cincinnati to Arizona. It appears the Vikings also earned their way back into the good graces of the prime-time gods. Minnesota has two Sunday night games (Dallas in Week 8 and Green Bay in Week 17), a Thursday night matchup (Pittsburgh in Week 14) and a Monday night showdown in Chicago in Week 15 a year after pulling off just their third win at Soldier Field since 2010.
And as far as Cronin's bold prediction for Minnesota, coming off a 7-9 finish last season? She believes they'll be making a postseason appearance.
Just like in 2020, the Vikings will beat all three of their NFC North opponents on the road, but this time they will find their way back into the playoffs as a Wild Card team.
View photos of the Vikings 2021 schedule at U.S. Bank Stadium and on the road.
Week 1 | Sunday, Sept. 12 | NOON | Away @ Cincinnati Bengals | Paul Brown Stadium
Week 1 | Sunday, Sept. 12 | NOON | Away @ Cincinnati Bengals | Paul Brown Stadium
Week 1 | Sunday, Sept. 12 | NOON | Away @ Cincinnati Bengals | Paul Brown Stadium
Week 2 | Sunday, Sept. 19 | 3:05 p.m. | Away @ Arizona Cardinals | State Farm Stadium
Week 2 | Sunday, Sept. 19 | 3:05 p.m. | Away @ Arizona Cardinals | State Farm Stadium
Week 2 | Sunday, Sept. 19 | 3:05 p.m. | Away @ Arizona Cardinals | State Farm Stadium
Week 3 | Sunday, Sept. 26 | 3:25 p.m. | Home vs. Seattle Seahawks | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 3 | Sunday, Sept. 26 | 3:25 p.m. | Home vs. Seattle Seahawks | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 3 | Sunday, Sept. 26 | 3:25 p.m. | Home vs. Seattle Seahawks | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 4 | Sunday, Oct. 3 | NOON | Home vs. Cleveland Browns | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 4 | Sunday, Oct. 3 | NOON | Home vs. Cleveland Browns | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 4 | Sunday, Oct. 3 | NOON | Home vs. Cleveland Browns | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 5 | Sunday, Oct. 10 | NOON | Home vs. Detroit Lions | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 5 | Sunday, Oct. 10 | NOON | Home vs. Detroit Lions | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 5 | Sunday, Oct. 10 | NOON | Home vs. Detroit Lions | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 6 | Sunday, Oct. 17 | NOON | Away @ Carolina Panthers | Bank of America Stadium
Week 6 | Sunday, Oct. 17 | NOON | Away @ Carolina Panthers | Bank of America Stadium
Week 6 | Sunday, Oct. 17 | NOON | Away @ Carolina Panthers | Bank of America Stadium
Week 7 | BYE
Week 8 | Sunday, Oct. 31 | SNF | Home vs. Dallas Cowboys | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 8 | Sunday, Oct. 31 | SNF | Home vs. Dallas Cowboys | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 8 | Sunday, Oct. 31 | SNF | Home vs. Dallas Cowboys | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 9 | Sunday, Nov. 7 | NOON | Away @ Baltimore Ravens | M&T Bank Stadium
Week 9 | Sunday, Nov. 7 | NOON | Away @ Baltimore Ravens | M&T Bank Stadium
Week 9 | Sunday, Nov. 7 | NOON | Away @ Baltimore Ravens | M&T Bank Stadium
Week 10 | Sunday, Nov. 14 | 3:05 p.m. | Away @ Los Angeles Chargers | SoFi Stadium
Week 10 | Sunday, Nov. 14 | 3:05 p.m. | Away @ Los Angeles Chargers | SoFi Stadium
Week 10 | Sunday, Nov. 14 | 3:05 p.m. | Away @ Los Angeles Chargers | SoFi Stadium
Week 11 | Sunday, Nov. 21 | NOON | Home vs. Green Bay Packers | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 11 | Sunday, Nov. 21 | NOON | Home vs. Green Bay Packers | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 11 | Sunday, Nov. 21 | NOON | Home vs. Green Bay Packers | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 12 | Sunday, Nov. 28 | 3:25 p.m. | Away @ San Francisco 49ers | Levi's Stadium
Week 12 | Sunday, Nov. 28 | 3:25 p.m. | Away @ San Francisco 49ers | Levi's Stadium
Week 12 | Sunday, Nov. 28 | 3:25 p.m. | Away @ San Francisco 49ers | Levi's Stadium
Week 13 | Sunday, Dec. 5 | NOON | Away @ Detroit Lions | Ford Field
Week 13 | Sunday, Dec. 5 | NOON | Away @ Detroit Lions | Ford Field
Week 13 | Sunday, Dec. 5 | NOON | Away @ Detroit Lions | Ford Field
Week 14 | Thursday, Dec. 9 | TNF | Home vs. Pittsburgh Steelers | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 14 | Thursday, Dec. 9 | TNF | Home vs. Pittsburgh Steelers | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 14 | Thursday, Dec. 9 | TNF | Home vs. Pittsburgh Steelers | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 15 | Monday, Dec. 20 | MNF | Away @ Chicago Bears | Soldier Field
Week 15 | Monday, Dec. 20 | MNF | Away @ Chicago Bears | Soldier Field
Week 15 | Monday, Dec. 20 | MNF | Away @ Chicago Bears | Soldier Field
Week 16 | Sunday, Dec. 26 | NOON | Home vs. Los Angeles Rams | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 16 | Sunday, Dec. 26 | NOON | Home vs. Los Angeles Rams | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 16 | Sunday, Dec. 26 | NOON | Home vs. Los Angeles Rams | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 17 | Sunday, Jan. 2 | SNF | Away @ Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field
Week 17 | Sunday, Jan. 2 | SNF | Away @ Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field
Week 17 | Sunday, Jan. 2 | SNF | Away @ Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field
Week 18 | Sunday, Jan. 9 | Home vs. Chicago Bears | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 18 | Sunday, Jan. 9 | Home vs. Chicago Bears | U.S. Bank Stadium
Week 18 | Sunday, Jan. 9 | Home vs. Chicago Bears | U.S. Bank Stadium
Is Cook poised to break single-season record in 17-game slate?
In response to Wednesday night's release of the 2021 schedule, NFL.com's Brandon Mendoza made a handful of snap judgements – or “overreactions” – to what this particular schedule arrangement could spell out for certain teams and players across the league.
One prediction Mendoza made is that stretching the regular season to 18 weeks (17 games plus a bye), "at least five single-season records will be broken" in 2021. He highlighted each benchmark that seems within reach with an extra game in consideration, and he also pointed to the player most likely to reach it.
Among the potentially breakable records is yards from scrimmage.
The current mark is 2,509, which was achieved by Chris Johnson with the Titans in 2009. But Mendoza said Vikings running back Dalvin Cook could be a contender for this one. He wrote:
[Cook] averaged 137.0 scrimmage yards per game in 2020 but, like [Davante] Adams, missed two-plus games due to groin and ankle injuries.
Cook last season racked up 1,918 scrimmage yards over 14 games. If he stays healthy throughout the 2021 campaign, will he break Johnson's record?
Other records Mendoza pointed to included Michael Strahan's 22.5 sacks in 2001 (potential contender: Aaron Donald), 1,964 receiving yards by Calvin Johnson in 2012 (contender: Adams), 2,105 rushing yards by Eric Dickerson in 1984 (contender: Derrick Henry) and Peyton Manning's 5,477 passing yards for the 2013 Broncos (contender: Dak Prescott).
Click here to see Mendoza's full lineup of "overreactions" to the 2021 schedule.
Vikings Legends remember late, great Jerry Burns
The Vikings this week are mourning the loss of longtime coach Jerry Burns, who passed away Wednesday at the age of 94.
After the news of Burns' passing surfaced, some of his former players took to Twitter to share memories or express condolences.
View photos of former Vikings head coach and Ring of Honor member, Jerry Burns.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Jerry Burns watches warmups during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Oct. 30, 1988, in San Francisco.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Scot Studwell and head coach Jerry Burns celebrate during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Oct. 12, 1986, in San Francisco. The Vikings won the game, 27-24.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Jerry Burns during a game from his 1989 season with the Minnesota Vikings. Jerry Burns was an NFL head coach for 6 years all with the Minnesota Vikings and compiled a 55-46 career record.(David Durochik via AP)
Minnesota Vikings head coach Jerry Burns watches from the sidelines during the 1988 NFL American Bowl against the Chicago Bears in Goteborg, Aug. 14, 1988. The Vikings defeated the Bears 28-21.
Minnesota Vikings coach Jerry Burns, left, flashes a smile as former Dallas Cowboys running back Herschel Walker holds up his new Vikings jersey at a news conference in Bloomington, Minn., Oct. 13, 1989. Walker was traded for five players and seven draft choices.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Jerry Burns during a game from his 1986 season with the Minnesota Vikings. Jerry Burns was an NFL head coach for 6 years all with the Minnesota Vikings and compiled a 55-46 career record.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Jerry Burns walks off the field during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Jan. 9, 1988, in San Francisco. The Vikings won the game, 26-24.
Former Minnesota Vikings coach Jerry Burns walks the field before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015 in Minneapolis.
D.J. Dozier, first round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings, smiles as he answers reporters questions at a news conference in Eden Prairie, Minn., April 29, 1987. At left is a happy Vikings head coach Jerry Burns. Dozier was a running back for national champion Penn State.
Tommy Kramer, who was with the Vikings for five of Burns' six years as head coach, posted the locker room photo that has become iconic:
Vikings Ring of Honor member Chuck Foreman credited Burns for "changing the game."
Vikings Legend Greg Coleman also posted a photo and tribute to Burns:
