Date: Monday, September 14

Time: 10:20 p.m. ET

Network: ESPN

This is a late game for folks in the Eastern and Central time zones, and the Tuesday afterward might be rough for fans who are willing to stick it out as second-year head coach Mike Zimmer takes on first-year head coach Mike Tomsula and the land mine of a team he inherited after a bizarre drama with the last head coach, Jim Harbaugh.

Notable Vikings-49ers Connections: OC Norv Turner, 49ers offensive coordinator 2006; WR coach George Stewart, 49ers WR coach 1996-2002; OT Carter Bykowski, 49ers practice squad offensive tackle; QB Shaun Hill, 49ers quarterback 2006; LS Kevin McDermott, 49ers long snapper 2013.

Notable 49ers-Vikings Connections: CB Chris Cook, Vikings cornerback 2010-2013; WR Jerome Simpson Vikings wide receiver 2012-2013; New 49ers defensive line coach Scott Brown coached the defensive line at the University of Minnesota from 1992 to 1995.

The last matchup with the 49ers on September 23, 2012, will look nothing like this year’s matchup. Aside from having two different coaching staffs, the Vikings and 49ers will both be fielding different quarterbacks and receiving corps—the only player who threw or caught a pass in that game remains on one of the two rosters, and that’s tight end Vernon Davis.

In this game, it will be up to Teddy Bridgewater and possibly Adrian Peterson to take advantage of a 49ers linebacking corps that has been severely depleted by injuries and retirement, especially if San Francisco doesn’t pick a quality linebacker up in the draft.

However, the defense still has legs. Though Chris Cook may not scare Vikings fans, Tramaine Brock is underrated as a cornerback, and the safeties are well worth being cautious about too. Former first-round pick Eric Reid is poised to make good on his astounding rookie-year performance, and either Antoine Bethea or Jimmie Ward will be threatening in the box.

With a new head coach and a struggling Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco needs Torrey Smith to revitalize the receiving corps, but that’s not a given, even if he’s paired with a draft pick opposite Anquan Boldin. Changes on the offensive line and at running back are worth noting, though Carlos Hyde will likely continue running the ball well in Frank Gore’s absence.

Expect the Vikings offense to take a bigger step forward than San Francisco’s and for the Vikings defense to remain somewhat stout while San Francisco is still looking for its fit. Though Tomsula had a successful stint in his one game as interim head coach, it can’t help that he’s a new head coach, either.

Prediction: Vikings 30, 49ers 10

Date: Sunday, September 20

Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Network: Fox

The Vikings’ home opener will be against a resurgent Detroit Lions team that shouldn’t be underestimated, but at least the timing is nicer for post-game recovery. This game also opens the divisional games for the Vikings and could set the tone for their standing within the division.

Notable Vikings-Lions Connections: QB Shaun Hill, Lions QB 2010-2013.

Notable Lions-Vikings Connections: Secondary coach Alan Williams, Vikings defensive coordinator 2012-2013; ST coach Joe Marciano, Vikings interim special teams coach 2014.

With what will likely be an offense bouncing back from an uncharacteristically bad year and perhaps some picks invested at the running back position or on the offensive line, the Lions are threats to make the playoffs once more and threaten for the second (or, in a pipe dream, the first) spot in the division.

The biggest turnaround might be on defense, where defensive coordinator Teryl Austin turned the Lions into the third-best defense in points allowed last year, after they averaged 25th under head coach Jim Schwartz. The departure of Ndamukong Suh may seem significant, but recouping former Austin disciple Haloti Ngata will ensure it’s not much of a downgrade.

Jason Jones and Ezekiel Ansah on the outside will continue to make the Lions defense stout up front, and the addition of Tyrunn Walker may end up surprising a lot of people, as he had a shockingly good season in New Orleans. A good linebacker corps may help the defense repeat (or at least come close to) its performance from last season, and as second-season offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi gets his feet under him, the improving offense may be too much for the Vikings to handle.

Even if Matt Kalil improves up front, the offensive line may not be enough to handle the Lions front, and the receiver corps—even with Mike Wallace and a draft addition—might not bail out a collapsing pocket. If Adrian Peterson remains, they may be able to keep that front seven honest, but even then the Vikings are probably going to struggle on offense, even if the defense generally holds its own against Detroit’s offense.

If this home game were later in the season, weather may have been able to tip the balance in Minnesota’s favor, but as it is, the Vikings could lose a close one at TCF Bank Stadium.

Prediction: Lions 20, Vikings 14

Date: Sunday, September 27

Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Network: CBS

The dominant storyline of the game will be Norv Turner returning to San Diego for the first time since he was fired after a rocky, though largely successful career, there. There are, of course, other storylines, but for the most part it represents a strong opponent that is familiar with Turner. Hopefully, he lets the Chargers down one more time.

Notable Vikings-Chargers Connections: OC Norv Turner, HC Chargers 2007-2013; assistant strength coach Jeff Hurd, head strength Chargers 2009-2012; OL Michael Harris, OT Chargers 2012-2014; TE Ryan Otten, TE for the Chargers practice squad 2013; 

Notable Chargers-Vikings Connections: Assistant to the head coach Mark Ridgely worked for the team at the same time as Norv Turner in 2012; quality control coach Shane Steichen worked under Turner from 2011-2012; running backs coach Ollie Wilson worked under Turner (then OC) in 2001 and again from 2008-2012, both times as the running backs coach; assistant secondary coach Greg Williams worked under Turner from 2009-2012; DL coach Don Johnson worked under Turner 2009-2012; defensive coordinator John Pagano worked under Turner from 2007-2012 as an outside linebackers coach, linebackers coach and defensive coordinator. Assistant OL Coach Hank Fraley, was the OL coach for the San Diego Toreros in 2012. Mike Priefer’s father, Chuck, was the San Diego Chargers‘ special teams coach from 1992-1996.

After the Chargers revived Philip Rivers’ career, San Diego re-emerged as a threat in the suddenly powerful AFC West. The defense improved as well, moving up from averaging 19th in points allowed in the final two years of Turner’s tenure to 12th over the last two years without him.

Still, the revival of the Chargers’ passing game is not the revival of the offense, and they may not hit top-five status anytime soon, even with more investment in their offensive line. San Diego needs more impactful receivers (aside from Keenan Allen) as well as running backs, so the Vikings defense could challenge this offense or at least suppress it enough for Minnesota’s theoretically improved offense to take over.

If the Vikings trade Peterson to San Diego, the script could change (or if the Chargers trade Rivers to Tennessee), but for now Minnesota may have a lot of optimism going into this game.

San Diego has seen improvement from Corey Liuget, Melvin Ingram and Kendall Reyes and sports an underrated secondary that matches up well with the receivers the Vikings have despite San Diego’s stature, but Bridgewater (and Peterson) may do enough to overcome that. Though Brandon Flowers and Jason Verrett deserve respect, Jahleel Addae and Patrick Robinson could be the weak links the Vikings need to exploit.

Home-field advantage may give them the edge they need to eke one out in this situation.

Prediction: Vikings 31, Chargers 28

Date: Sunday, October 4

Time: 4:25 p.m. ET

Network: Fox

A familiar foe for Norv Turner in spirit, the Broncos have changed significantly since he was last in San Diego. Though the health of Peyton Manning will drive the train for the Broncos, Turner’s creativity in attacking the defense—one that has gained Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward, Bradley Roby and Sylvester Williams since he was a rival—may determine the outcome.

Notable Vikings-Broncos Connections: OL coach Jeff Davidson was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 1990 and played on their offensive line until 1993; ST coach Mike Priefer, Broncos ST coach 2009; DL coach Andre Patterson, DL coach Broncos 2005-2006; LS Kevin McDermott, Denver practice squad long snapper 2014.

Notable Broncos-Vikings Connections: OLB coach Jeff Pagac, Vikings LB coach 2006-2010 and 2012-2013, Vikings DC 2011; DB coach Joe Woods, Vikings DB coach 2006-2013.

The last time the Vikings played the Broncos, Tim Tebow was leading their offense instead of Peyton Manning. Things have changed.

When healthy last year, Manning had the fourth-best adjusted yards per attempt and passer rating and was as deadly a threat as anybody in the NFL, leading the league in touchdown passes. With the emergence of C.J. Anderson, Denver’s potential deficiencies at two spots on the offensive line may not matter.

Luckily, Manning only threw with a 87.5 passer rating and below-average 6.3 adjusted yards per attempt against Mike Zimmer defenses (over two meetings), which means that Zimmer may have some clue as to how to slow him down—or a stacked Cincinnati defense had two good days.

On the other side of the ball, dealing with DeMarcus Ware, Chris Harris, Aqib Talib and Von Miller will be the order of the day and no easy task. A healthy Peyton should make good work of an emerging but still porous defense, while the Broncos on the other side of the ball should be able to limit the Vikings enough to prevent them from catching up in a shootout.

Prediction: Broncos 35, Vikings 17

Date: Sunday, October 18

Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Network: CBS

Another former Norv Turner rival will look a bit more recognizable to him than the Denver Broncos will, given that the Chiefs will have different schemes but a lot of the same players who headlined the team when Turner last coached the Chiefs. With game-manager quarterbacks and star running backs manning both offenses, it could be defense that rules the day.

Notable Vikings-Chiefs Connections: LB coach Adam Zimmer, Chiefs LB coach 2010-2012; ST coach Mike Priefer, Chiefs ST coach 2006-2008; WR coach George Stewart, Chiefs guard 1981; assistant strength coach Mike Hurd, head strength coach Kansas City 1998-2006; CB DeMarcus VanDyke, CB Kansas City 2014 (offseason only).

Notable Chiefs-Vikings Connections: Spread games analyst Brad Childress, Vikings HC 2006-2010; DB coach Emmitt Thomas, Vikings DC 2000-2001; RB coach Eric Bieniemy, Vikings RB coach 2006-2010; S Husain Abdullah, Vikings S 2008-2012.

Alex Smith executes Andy Reid’s offense efficiently (though whether or not he does it effectively is up for debate), and Jamaal Charles gives it life. An offensive line sucked dry by free agency could be the Chiefs’ undoing, though they live and die with defense either way.

Over the last two years, the Justin Houston-led defense has kept Kansas City in the top five in points allowed (fifth, then second). That defense is as stacked with names as ever. Along with Houston, Tamba Hali, Dontari Poe, Mike DeVito and Derrick Johnson are premier players at their positions, and Phillip Gaines and Sean Smith aren’t bad.

Though the defense will not likely perform up to that standard this year because of aging and regression, it will still be a top-five defense and difficult to crack. On the other side of things, however, is an offense that is average when running as expected, though it did end up ranking sixth in points allowed in 2013—due in part to a shockingly easy schedule.

With a defense that can excel at minimizing short gains and yards after the catch, the Vikings match up well when the Chiefs have the ball and may be able to grind it out, but it is more likely than not that the Chiefs defense outperforms the Vikings offense more than vice versa. Home-field advantage and the bye week will help, but it may not be enough.

Prediction: Chiefs 14, Vikings 7

Date: Sunday, October 25

Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Network: Fox

With five games of the season out of the way, fans and opponents will really have a good sense of how this team is developing and how good it can be. Perhaps the Vikings will surprise both groups, at which point this second Lions matchup will have significantly different odds. For now, they’ll enter as underdogs.

Notable Vikings-Lions Connections: QB Shaun Hill, Lions QB 2010-2013.

Notable Lions-Vikings Connections: Secondary coach Alan Williams, Vikings defensive coordinator 2012-2013; ST coach Joe Marciano, Vikings interim ST coach 2014.

A second meeting, this time away from home, won’t help the Vikings’ cause. Though the Minnesota team will have improved by then, so will a Lions team that has young players at key positions, like Kyle Van Noy at linebacker. Perhaps if Matt Kalil looks stouter in pass protection and the issue at left guard is well and truly solved, both games might have a different script, but for now the Lions have a great case as the second-best team in the NFC North.

Prediction: Lions 21, Vikings 10 

Date: Sunday, November 1

Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Network: Fox

Back-to-back divisional games should put the Vikings at the halfway mark against the NFC North and nearly halfway for the season. Winning here could position Minnesota well when it comes to the wild card or even the divisional championship. The Bears have been on the downswing for some time, so a new coach might inject some life into the storied franchise. 

Notable Vikings-Bears Connections: S Ahmad Dixon, Bears practice squad safety 2014.

Notable Bears-Vikings Connections: LB Jared Allen, Vikings defensive end 2004-2013; OG Vladimir Ducasse, Vikings guard 2014; ST coordinator Jeff Rodgers was born in St. Paul. S Brock Vereen attended the University of Minnesota.

A Chicago Bears team that saw its window quickly collapse has finally stopped trying to hang on, but it doesn’t have a quarterback to rebuild yet. With Jay Cutler declining from a mediocre peak, the Vikings are well-positioned to sweep a series against Chicago despite the presence of Alshon Jeffery—who will be without his partner-in-crime, Brandon Marshall.

Though Martellus Bennett is a good tight end and Matt Forte is a good running back, there aren’t any real home run hitters who should take Minnesota’s breath away on this Chicago offense, which is now being coordinated by Adam Gase.

Former Broncos coordinator Gase will have the shadow of Peyton Manning to crawl out of, as the perception for a lot of people is that Gase didn’t play a big role in the offense (though there are reports to the contrary). Either way, expecting him to fix the Bears offense and a turnover-prone Cutler may be asking too much.

The defense should be in good hands with the combination of Vic Fangio and John Fox crafting the scheme, but free-agent addition Pernell McPhee can’t carry the team by himself. Jared Allen’s decline is only one piece of a puzzle for this defense, and though there is potential in Will Sutton and Kyle Fuller, as well as talent with Jay Ratliff, mostly there are roster holes to fill.

If Minnesota doesn’t take care of business in Chicago, it better have an answer later in the year when the Bears come to visit.

Prediction: Vikings 28, Bears 10

Date: Sunday, November 8

Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Network: Fox

If there was ever a litmus test for a team, it would be a game against Jeff Fisher, whose teams have averaged seven wins over the past five years. Still, that doesn’t make the game easy against this particular Rams squad, and the Vikings will have to watch their step against a team that has Gregg Williams as its defensive coordinator.

Notable Vikings-Rams Connections: Secondary coach Jerry Gray, drafted by (LA) Rams in 1985 as a DB, earned four Pro Bowls and played there from 1985 to 1991. Assistant OL coach Hank Fraley, center Rams 2010; assistant DB coach Jonathan Gannon, scout Rams 2009-2011; QB Shaun Hill, quarterback Rams 2014; CB Jalil Carter, cornerback Rams 2011 (offseason only).

Notable Rams-Vikings Connections: WR coach Ray Sherman, Vikings QB coach 1995-1997 and offensive coordinator 1999.

With Aaron Donald, Robert Quinn, Chris Long and Michael Brockers, the Rams are in the conversation for having the best defensive line in the country. After that, a lot of things have to go right. With James Laurinaitis aging and Alec Ogletree still unproven, the linebacker corps isn’t good enough to take advantage of that line, and the secondary is even further behind.

The Rams could fill one of those several holes in the draft, but that would leave their offense bereft of receivers, though they at least have a plan on the offensive line, if not depth. It remains to be seen if Barrett Jones can play guard or Brandon Washington is a starting-quality tackle, however, and they will likely be susceptible to an improving Vikings’ pass rush.

With Nick Foles throwing to Tavon Austin (or a drafted receiver), don’t expect much from the offense, though it should at least improve with the departure of former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. The Vikings should be able to bottle up that passing and running attack while winning the short passing game to get away from that defensive line.

Prediction: Vikings 28, Rams 6

Date: Sunday, November 15

Time: 4:05 p.m. ET

Network: Fox

The two best rookie quarterbacks of 2014 get to square off in a midseason battle, and both teams—as well as the NFL—will know a lot more about their young signal-callers. While a lot more will be going on than just a quarterback shootout, expect it, and former Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder, to dominate the headlines.

Notable Vikings-Raiders Connections: CB DeMarcus Van Dyke, Raiders cornerback 2011.

Notable Raiders-Vikings Connections: HC Jack Del Rio, linebacker Vikings 1992-1995; OC Bill Musgrave, Vikings offensive coordinator 2011-2013; OL coach Mike Tice, Vikings tight end 1992-1993, 1995, Vikings tight end coach 1996, Vikings offensive line coach 1997-2001, Vikings head coach 2001-2005; defensive assistant Sam Anno, Vikings long snapper 1987-1988; QB coach John Downing, Vikings intern 2001-2002, Vikings systems analyst, 2003-2004, quality Vikings control coach 2005; OT J’Marcus Webb, Vikings tackle 2013; QB Christian Ponder, Vikings quarterback 2011-2014.

The Vikings will get to see a number of familiar faces when they travel to Oakland to play the Raiders, including a former head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterback and more.

Vikings fans will hear a lot about those connections, though they ultimately shouldn’t impact the game itself—those connections won’t help or hurt teams as they game-plan the upcoming week.

The Oakland Raiders roster has been bereft of talent, and though they entered free agency with a load of salary-cap space, they haven’t been able to attract key free agents to boost the roster. Instead, they have lost more talent than they gained—a blow to a team that has the fourth overall pick.

That draft position will mean a lot, however, and the Raiders could begin to change their fortunes with early picks, grabbing an offensive lineman, receiver, linebacker, defensive lineman or defensive back.

Naturally, given the number of holes the Raiders have, they won’t enter the game comfortable at every position. Derek Carr has been doing well, but his performance so far doesn’t carry with it the certainty that Teddy Bridgewater’s does.

While those two can still have their careers go in unexpected directions, Bridgewater seems to be the surer player. With an offensive line missing key pieces (though it is talented in other spots), Carr may be reduced to more of the short throws that killed his average yards per attempt last year. The addition of Michael Crabtree—though useful—may not be enough to overcome talent deficiencies elsewhere.

If nothing else, having Bill Musgrave as a coordinator will ensure short passing.

Latavius Murray is a talented running back, but he probably cannot provide Oakland with a foundational running game that can ultimately protect the quarterback.

The Minnesota defense seems better-equipped to deal with shorter passing games, so this should match up well for them.

On offense, Minnesota will have to deal with some emerging players in some spots and a roster lacking impact at others. Khalil Mack, Justin Tuck, D.J. Hayden (if healthy) and the familiar Charles Woodson should bolster a defense that otherwise has severe blemishes on it—it needs more role players like Sio Moore and not liabilities like Stacy McGee.

The Vikings should take this game.

Prediction: Vikings 35, Raiders 10

Date: Sunday, November 15

Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Network: Fox

If the Vikings can steal one at home against their biggest rivals, current NFC heavyweight Green Bay Packers, they’ll really prove that they’ve arrived not just in the division but in the NFL. It’s been a while since Minnesota has been able to one-up Green Bay, and even that win was soured by a drubbing the following week in the playoffs.

Notable Vikings-Packers Connections: WR Charles Johnson, Packers practice squad receiver 2013; TE Brandon Bostick, Packers tight end 2012-2015; RB DuJuan Harris, Packers running back 2012-2014.

Notable Packers-Vikings Connections: DT Letroy Guion, Vikings DT 2012-2014.

For all the jokes about the Vikings taking on Packers castoffs, there are surprisingly few connections between Green Bay and Minnesota.

Regardless, it’s not much different than the matchup against a healthy Denver Broncos team. A top-tier offense with even better running back and quarterback play will be hard to stop, and that’s without accounting for the superiority the Packers have at receiver over the Broncos.

Though Carl Bradford may end up as a disappointment and Julius Peppers could age, the Packers still have a powerful pass rush anchored by Clay Matthews. A defensive front with inconsistent players like Letroy Guion and B.J. Raji may be an issue, but Mike Neal and Datone Jones could cover for them.

The biggest issue with that defense, however, will be the inside linebackers, where the Packers don’t really have a desirable option at either position. If the Vikings running game gets going, they can create big gains and keep Aaron Rodgers off the field.

Green Bay’s secondary is good but not great, so the Vikings offense has options, but it likely won’t match up against the Packers.

Of course, anything is possible, but not everything is likely.

Prediction: Packers 42, Vikings 24 

Date: Sunday, November 29

Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Network: Fox

Teddy Bridgewater gets to line up against the team that saw his first start, one that will likely have improved over the previous several years behind the leadership of a new coaching staff and talented quarterback Matt Ryan—whom Bridgewater has been compared to more than once.

Notable Vikings-Falcons Connections: HC Mike Zimmer, Falcons DC 2007; head strength coach Evan Marcus, Falcons strength coach 2007; assistant defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon, Falcons defensive quality control coach 2007.

Notable Falcons-Vikings Connections: TE coach Wade Harman, Vikings offensive coaching assistant 1997-1998; ST coach Keith Armstrong worked with Mike Zimmer in 2007.

When the Vikings last played the Falcons, Atlanta was coming off a dominant 56-14 win over a hapless Tampa Bay Buccaneers team and seemingly couldn’t recover for several games.

Though late-season momentum rarely, if ever, translates into the next season, going .500 in the back half of the season does demonstrate what the Falcons can do when healthy. This time, with better coaches, they could be deadly.

With former Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn taking the helm in Atlanta, it could be difficult to run on Atlanta nearly as well as last time. Cornerback Desmond Trufant had an even better year than Xavier Rhodes did in his breakout season last year, and athletic defensive back Dezmen Southward could play a crucial role in Quinn’s defense.

The additions of Paul Soliai and Justin Durant could help Quinn bring the defense up to a reasonable standard, while the offense—presumably with a running back addition from the draft—could excel with a healthy pair of star receivers in Roddy White and Julio Jones.

The offense can attack anywhere on the field, and that will cause problems for a Vikings defense that had significant issues with attacks in the seam or the intermediate middle of the field. Of course, a safety or linebacker from the draft could fix that, but it is difficult to project a complete defensive turnaround.

Atlanta’s biggest challenge will be continuing to improve the offensive line after the departure of Mike Tice. If it can’t do that, the Vikings have a big advantage.

Minnesota’s offense should be able to win more than it loses, but the defense will have a difficult time maintaining pace unless the Falcons screw up the draft. Still, it should be a close game (after all, Minnesota had a 7-9 record, while Atlanta had a 6-10 record), and home-field advantage will give the Falcons the win.

Prediction: Falcons 30, Vikings 28 

Date: Sunday, December 6

Time: 1:00 pm ET

Network: Fox

At least this game is at home.

Notable Vikings-Seahawks Connections: DB coach Jerry Gray, Seattle DB coach 2010

Notable Seahawks-Vikings Connections: HC Pete Carroll, Vikings DB coach 1985-1989; OC Darrell Bevell, Vikings offensive coordinator 2006-2010; K Steven Hauschka, Vikings kicker 2008, LB Mike Zimmer, Vikings linebacker 2014 (offseason only), FB Derrick Coleman, Vikings running back 2013 (offseason only), TE Rashaun Allen, Vikings practice squad tight end 2014; QB RJ Archer, Vikings practice squad quarterback 2010. Assistant receivers coach Nate Carroll was born in Edina.

This should be more exciting than the latest matchup, which means the Vikings have a much better, if still a little far-fetched, shot of beating the Seattle Seahawks.

But it’s hard to get past the idea of adding Jimmy Graham to an already efficient offense, even if the Seahawks had to make their weak offensive line weaker. Russell Wilson is one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, even if you take away the win-loss record and only look at performance. Presumably, the Seahawks will go after a receiver and hope that rail-thin Paul Richardson can hold up to the rigors of the NFL game.

That offense should do enough to create gains, especially with Marshawn Lynch, and even if the Vikings defense is evenly matched—which it can be with the right additions—the offense probably won’t make much headway.

A young quarterback against Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor is a scary thought, and though the defense lost Byron Maxwell, it may be able to replace him just as easily as it did Brandon Browner.

With K.J. Wright, Bobby Wagner and Bruce Irvin off the ball and a combination of Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett on it, it will be tough to run against the defense, much less pass. The Vikings offense is growing, but it needs to be much better in order to consistently pop good teams like Seattle.

Prediction: Seahawks 30, Vikings 10 

Date: Thursday, December 10

Time: 8:25 p.m. ET

Network: NFL Network

It’s always difficult to tell who benefits the most from a short week, though intuition generally demands that it’s the better coaching staff. With two-time coach of the year Bruce Arians calling the shots in Arizona, it may be difficult to give this one to Minnesota, but Mike Zimmer has so far proved to be excellent as well, which makes that a lousy tiebreaker.

But with Arizona having a poor quarterback situation and a defense with a few more questions than last year, the Vikings could take this one. After all, if we project the Falcons to improve, why not project the Cardinals to regress?

Notable Vikings-Cardinals Connections: RB Dominique Williams, Cardinals practice squad RB 2014; DE Leon Mackey played for local AFL team Arizona Rattlers.

Notable Cardinals-Vikings Connections: WR Larry Fitzgerald, Vikings ball boy 2000; TE John Carlson, Vikings tight end 2012-2013.

The Cardinals defense was good, and the team’s record last year was astounding given the circumstances, but Minnesota fans might be a little more optimistic about this matchup than against most playoff teams.

Carson Palmer coming back will be a big help to Arizona, but it probably doesn’t solve the woes at the position, and problems at that position can sink a franchise, even if it takes some time to do it. The smaller sample of a 16-game season, where the Cardinals went 11-5, may not provide a reasonable interpretation of their talent level—even after accounting for the 10-win 2013 season.

The engine of the Cardinals’ recent success has been the defense, but losing Darnell Dockett and Daryl Washington should hurt significantly, even if Dockett wasn’t at his peak form. Calais Campbell is still a problem, and the combination of Tyrann Mathieu and Patrick Peterson are threatening, but the rest of the defense needs more to sustain their play from last year.

Linebackers like Kevin Minter (who couldn’t beat Jasper Brinkley in an LB competition), Alex Okafor, Kenny Demens and Matt Shaughnessy are underwhelming. Adding Lamarr Woodley helps, but there’s a reason Oakland released him.

On offense, Michael Floyd continues to do great work, and Larry Fitzgerald remains dangerous, but the receiving corps (even after including standouts like John Brown) isn’t enough to overcome issues at quarterback. Plus, the ever-poor offensive line needs to see changes.

Mike Iupati helps, but not as a pass protector, and it may be too much to rely on Jonathan Cooper showing why he was drafted in the first round. Without an answer at tight end or running back, the offense could flounder.

The Vikings could surprise people with a win on national television.

Prediction: Vikings 24, Cardinals 14

Date: Sunday, December 20

Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Network: Fox

Closing the season with historic NFC opponents could be a lot of fun or a lot of pain. A tough schedule like the Vikings’ will find little room for respite, and this game may be the closest one the Vikings can find at this time of year. Still, they’ll have to be on their toes for what will surely be one of the coldest games in the country.

Notable Vikings-Bears Connections: S Ahmad Dixon, Bears practice squad safety 2014,

Notable Bears-Vikings Connections: LB Jared Allen, Vikings defensive end 2004-2013; OG Vladimir Ducasse, Vikings guard 2014; ST coordinator Jeff Rodgers was born in St. Paul. S Brock Vereen attended the University of Minnesota.

The second of two matchups against Chicago may be better for the Vikings not just because of home conditions, but faster development at quarterback than the Bears can match on their end. Though Chicago has made great strides at fixing its offensive line issues from years past, it still hasn’t completed the job, and that could be enough for a fearsome pass rush to force errors from the visiting team.

The Bears’ linebacker situation is questionable enough for the Vikings to run the ball in the cold weather effectively, but matching up with receivers over the middle may be equally deadly.

The point remains, the Vikings should bring this one in and secure their seventh win of the season.

Prediction: Vikings 35, Bears 6

Date: Sunday, December 20

Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Network: Fox

The Giants may have the next great receiver on their hands, an excellent coach and an offense on the rebound, but problems in the Big Apple may allow the Vikings to break even this year. For all the star power on the Giants last year, they still played and finished like a remarkably average team. That gives the Vikings a great chance to pounce.

Notable Vikings-Giants Connections: ST coach Mike Priefer, Giants assistant ST coach 2003-2005; DT Linval Joseph, Giants defensive tackle 2010-2014; DE Justin Trattou, Giants defensive end 2011-2013.

Notable Giants-Vikings Connections: RB coach Craig Johnson, Vikings QB coach 2011-2013; OG Troy Kropog, Vikings offensive tackle 2012-2013.

After washing the stink off what may have been the worst Monday Night Football performance in history, the Vikings and the Giants can battle it out, this time without bearing the burdens of prime-time cameras and Jon Gruden’s candid criticism.

The Giants offense may have improved, but they still ranked as a league-average team, even when excluding games without Odell Beckham Jr. Eli Manning has had excellent moments, but Beckham may not be enough to overcome what could be an age-driven decline for the mercurial 34-year-old quarterback.

Even if it is, one receiver doesn’t make an offense, as Vikings fans well know. Should Manning improve in his second year under offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, the Giants will still have to shore up a defense that didn’t make big moves.

Victor Cruz‘s recovery from knee injury may play a significant role as well, and Minnesota will know to watch for that, hopefully with an improved Captain Munnerlyn or newly drafted defensive back. That could cause problems and will stress the defense.

The draft may be able to address some of the questions at safety, cornerback and linebacker, but not all three—and that assumes that Jason Pierre-Paul not only continues his return to form but signs the franchise tender he has yet to agree to.

The defense was on the lower end of the spectrum last year, and the Vikings may have a better offense than the Giants do on defense, while the reverse doesn’t seem true, even though the Giants can improve even more with health on their side.

Prediction: Vikings 24, Giants 20

Date: Sunday, January 3

Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Network: Fox

Not everything is written in stone. The Packers were one of the most injury-ridden teams in the NFL last year, and if the injury bug strikes again, the Vikings could take advantage of it.

Notable Vikings-Packers Connections: WR Charles Johnson, Packers practice squad receiver 2013; TE Brandon Bostick, Packers tight end 2012-2015; RB DuJuan Harris, Packers running back 2012-2014.

Notable Packers-Vikings Connections: DT Letroy Guion, Vikings DT 2012-2014.

The Packers offensive line is shockingly good, but the depth behind it is not. The linebacker position continues to cause worries for the Packers, and Bridgewater will have a full second season under his belt.

So why not?

Prediction: Vikings 28, Packers 27