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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Fresh off an 11-5 record and an NFC North title, the Minnesota Vikings are scheduled to play at least four prime time games in 2016.
The Vikings won't waste much time before getting under the bright lights as they'll open U.S. Bank Stadium for the regular season in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football at 7:30 p.m. (CT) on Sept. 18.
Minnesota will host to the New York Giants two weeks later on *Monday Night Football *at 7:30 p.m. (CT) on Oct. 3.
The Vikings will return to Monday Night Football on Oct. 31 for a road division tilt against the Chicago Bears in Week 8 that is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. (CT) kickoff.
Minnesota wraps up its scheduled prime time slate on Thursday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys at 7:25 p.m. (CT) on Dec. 1.
While prime time games are usually doled out to teams who fared well the season before, Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer said his team will be out to prove themselves once again.
"I think you earn these kind of opportunities to play in prime time games and in front of big crowds," Zimmer said. "We haven't earned it this year yet, but from what we did a year ago it seems like we've earned these opportunities."
The Vikings could see additional prime time games in 2016 if they are flexed into the Sunday night slot.
Flex scheduling begins in Week 5 and goes until Week 17. Only Sunday afternoon games can be moved to Sunday Night Football.
The Vikings are 49-57 all-time in prime time games (26-31 on Monday Night Football, 6-9 on Thursday Night Football and 17-17 on Sunday Night Football).
The Vikings played in four prime time games in 2015, losing the season opener on Monday Night Football against the 49ers and a matchup on Thursday Night Football against Arizona in Week 14.
But Minnesota was victorious in prime time games over the final two weeks of the regular season as the Vikings were flexed into Sunday Night Football.
The Vikings beat the New York Giants at home in Week 16 to clinch a postseason berth before traveling to Lambeau Field to defeat the Green Bay Packers and secure the NFC North championship.
The Vikings will see their division-rival Packers early on in the first regular season game at U.S. Bank Stadium and then visit Green Bay on Christmas Eve in Week 16
"I think it's great for our fans," Zimmer said. "We get a division rival, a night game, prime time to really open the new stadium.
"Anytime you play Green Bay, it's a cranked up affair," Zimmer added. "It should be an awful fun evening."
View images of the Vikings opponents after the 2016 schedule was released on Thursday.
Marcus Mariota threw 19 touchdowns for the Titans in 12 games played as a rookie in 2015.
Tennessee's defensive unit ranked 12th in the NFL with 39.0 sacks last season.
The Titans hired former Vikings tight end Mike Mularkey as the team's head coach in January of the offseason.
Clay Matthews recorded 6.5 sacks and one interception in 2015.
Eddie Lacy ran for 100 yards on 22 carries against the Vikings in Minnesota last year.
Mike McCarthy is 49 games over .500 (104-55-1) in 10 seasons as an NFL head coach.
Josh Norman had four interceptions and three forced fumbles in 2015.
Cam Newton won his first NFL MVP award in 2015 and threw for 35 touchdowns and 3,837 yards.
Ron Rivera has led the Panthers to a 47-32-1 record in five seasons as Carolina's head coach.
Eli Manning threw for a career-high 35 touchdowns in 2015.
The Giants defense ranked last in the NFL, allowing a total of 6,725 yards to opponents.
Ben McAdoo was hired as the Giants 17th head coach in January after working as the team's offensive coordinator for the past two seasons.
J.J. Watt has won the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year honor three of the past four seasons.
DeAndre Hopkins was third in the NFL in receiving yards last season (1,521), trailing Antonio Brown and Julio Jones.
Bill O'Brien has led Houston to two 9-7 seasons since taking over as head coach in 2014.
Sam Bradford was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Malcolm Jenkins led Philadelphia with 109 tackles (90 solo), according to NFL.com.
Doug Pederson enters his first season as the head coach of the Eagles. Pederson spent two stints with Green Bay (1996-98 and 2001-04) as a backup to Brett Favre.
Pernell McPhee had 53 tackles, 6.0 sacks, one forced fumble and one interception last season.
Alshon Jeffery had four receiving touchdowns in 2015 after compiling 17 collectively in the previous two seasons.
The Vikings won at Soldier Field for the first time since 2007 last season.
Matt Stafford had a career-high 67.2 completion percentage in 2015.
Detroit's scoring defense ranked 23rd in the NFL last season, allowing 400 total points to opponents.
Jim Caldwell holds an 18-14 overall record as the Lions head coach.
Kirk Cousins compiled a 101.6 passer rating and threw for 4,166 yards in his first full season as a starter for the Redskins.
Jay Gruden led Washington to the playoffs with a 9-7 record in his second season as head coach.
DeAngelo Hall enters his 13 season in the NFL and his eighth year with the Redskins as the league's active leader with 43 career interceptions.
Tyrann Mathieu returns for his fourth season with the Cardinals after tearing his right ACL in December.
Carson Palmer is 16th on the all-time passing touchdown list (259).
Bruce Arians holds a 34-14 regular season record in three seasons as the head coach of Arizona.
Theo Riddick had five receptions for 41 yards against the Vikings in September.
Golden Tate led the Lions with 90 receptions last season. He totaled 813 yards and six receiving touchdowns.
The Vikings came back from a 14-3 deficit to win 28-19 at Ford Field last season.
The Cowboys defense finished last in the NFL in turnover margin last season (minus-22) with 11 takeaways against 33 giveaways by the offense.
Jason Garrett led Dallas to a 12-4 record in 2014, followed by a 4-12 record last season.
Dez Bryant had 16 touchdowns and 1,320 receiving yards in his last full season played in 2014.
Allen Hurns caught 10 touchdowns and had 1,031 receiving yards in his second season with the Jaguars.
The Jaguars defense placed 31st in the NFL, allowing 28.0 points per game by opponents in 2015.
Gus Bradley is 12-36 in three seasons as the Jaguars head coach.
Andrew Luck battled injuries in 2015 and started seven games for the Colts.
Chuck Pagano was 11-5 in his first three years as the head coach of Indianapolis. Last year he led the Colts to an 8-8 record.
The Indianapolis scoring defense was 25th in the NFL in 2015, allowing 25.5 points per game.
Aaron Rodgers had a career-high 572 attempts in 2015, throwing for 3,821 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Julius Peppers is the active leader with 136.0 sacks in the NFL.
The last time the Vikings played at Lambeau Field, Minnesota was crowned as the 2015 NFC North champion.
Jay Cutler compiled the best passer rating (92.3) of his career in 2015.
Tracy Porter had an interception and a forced fumble in the Bears secondary last season.
John Fox enters his second season as the Bears head coach.
