View the Vikings 2018 schedule in photos.
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo went 5-0 as a starter to close out 2017, completing 120 of 178 passes (67.4 percent) for 1,560 yards. He threw seven touchdowns and five interceptions.
49ers defensive end DeForest Buckner was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He has 9.0 career sacks.
The 49ers also made a splash on defense by signing three-time All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman, who started 99 of the 105 games he played in seven seasons with the Seahawks but suffered an Achilles injury in 2017.
In the Week 16 game, the Vikings defense held Green Bay scoreless for the first time since 1971 and first time ever at Lambeau Field.
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers did not play in the teams' past meeting; Rodgers was sidelined for the majority of the season after suffering a broken collarbone at Minnesota in Week 6.
Green Bay defensive tackle Mike Daniels earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2017.
Buffalo wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin was acquired via trade midway through the 2017 season. He had 475 yards and two touchdowns in eight games with the Bills.
Buffalo was active out of the gate when free agency opened, signing quarterback AJ McCarron (pictured), defensive end Trent Murphy and defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, among others.
Bills running back LeSean McCoy put together the sixth 1,000-yard season of his career in 2017 when he rushed for 1,138 yards and six touchdowns.
In 2017, the Rams defensively ranked 30th in rushing yards allowed per play (4.7), but defensive tackle Aaron Donald made was a First-Team All-Pro for the third straight year.
In the teams' most-recent meeting, the Vikings limited Rams quarterback Jared Goff to 225 yards and a passer rating of 79.6.
The Rams added a number of high-caliber free agents to their roster during the 2017 offseason, including DT Ndamukong Suh (pictured) and cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters.
This year's game will be a rematch of the 2017 NFC Championship game, in which the Vikings lost to the eventual Super Bowl LII champs.
Eagles QB Nick Foles stepped up in Week 14 when Carson Wentz suffered a season-ending knee injury; Foles went on to earn Super Bowl MVP honors.
Philadelphia wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey has nine career touchdown catches in 10 total games against the Vikings.
Arizona signed former Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford during free agency. Bradford will be able to target Minneapolis native Larry Fitzgerald, who is back for his 15th season.
Arizona running back David Johnson missed nearly all of the 2017 season after racking up 2,118 scrimmage yards and 20 total touchdowns in 2016.
Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson has 21 career interceptions over the first seven seasons of his career.
Jets defensive tackle Leonard Williams has 12 career sacks in three seasons since being the sixth overall pick in 2015.
The Jets signed former Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater in free agency this offseason and also re-signed Josh McCown.
This year's matchup will be the first time for Minnesota to play the Jets since 2014 and the first time on the road since 2010.
![Saints quarterback Drew Brees is likely a first-ballot Hall of Famer who ranks third all-time with 70,445 yards and is tied for third [with Tom Brady] with 488 career touchdown passes.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/f0ux3pazn3rpqyfqvj0e.jpg)
Saints quarterback Drew Brees is likely a first-ballot Hall of Famer who ranks third all-time with 70,445 yards and is tied for third [with Tom Brady] with 488 career touchdown passes.
New Orleans had the 2017 Offensive Rookie of the Year in running back Alvin Kamara (pictured) and the 2017 Defensive Rookie of the Year in cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
Running back Alvin Kamara rushed for 728 yards and had 826 receiving yards in his first NFL season.
Detroit wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr., has 28 career touchdown catches.
Lions kicker Matt Prater has made 20 of 24 career field goal attempts against the Vikings.
Lions cornerback Darius Slay tied for the league lead with eight interceptions in 2017 and garnered his first All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.
Quarterback Mitch Trubisky started 12 games in his rookie season, going 4-8 while completing 196 of 330 passes (59.4 percent) for 2,193 yards with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Minnesota's 2017 victory was the Vikings second win in Chicago in the past 10 seasons, but second in four seasons under Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer.
Chicago's Leonard Floyd has 11.5 sacks in 22 career games.
Packers wide receiver Davante Adams has double-digit receiving touchdowns in each of the past two seasons.
Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb has 39 career touchdown catches over his seven-year career.
Green Bay's Clay Matthews ranks ninth among active players with 80.0 career sacks.
Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick has 250 career regular-season wins, which is tied for fourth all-time with Tom Landry.
Since Gillette Stadium opened in 2002, the Patriots have a record of 108-21 at home.
![New England quarterback Tom Brady has won three NFL MVP awards and is a four-time Super Bowl MVP. Brady is tied for third [with Drew Brees] with 488 career touchdown passes and is fourth in NFL history with 66,159 passing yards.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/v34xdeypxfw1ptlhnraq.jpg)
New England quarterback Tom Brady has won three NFL MVP awards and is a four-time Super Bowl MVP. Brady is tied for third [with Drew Brees] with 488 career touchdown passes and is fourth in NFL history with 66,159 passing yards.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is 65-30-1 in six seasons as a starter. He has thrown for 12,226 yards and 89 touchdowns over the past three seasons.
Seattle wide receiver Doug Baldwin has 29 receiving touchdowns over the past three seasons.
Seattle safety Kam Chancellor has been named to the Pro Bowl four times in the last seven seasons.
Miami went 6-10 in 2017 to finish in third place in the AFC East. The Dolphins defense, led by defensive end Cameron Wake, ranked 29th by allowing 24.6 yards per game.
![The Dolphins signed running back Frank Gore this offseason. Gore is the NFL's active leader [and is fifth all-time] with 14,026 rushing yards.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/kzahaq8be2uyxenbvmen.jpg)
The Dolphins signed running back Frank Gore this offseason. Gore is the NFL's active leader [and is fifth all-time] with 14,026 rushing yards.
Besides Gore, Miami also signed wide receiver Danny Amendola, who has 19 career touchdown catches.
The Vikings won in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day in 2017 by the score of 30-23.
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has been more than a mainstay, not missing a start since 2010. He has thrown for at least 4,257 yards in each of the past seven seasons.
The Vikings were able to limit Golden Tate to 36 yards on seven catches in 2017 a season after he totaled 158 yards and a game-winning score on 16 receptions in 2016.
Bears running back Jordan Howard has rushed for more than 1,100 yards in each of his first two NFL seasons.
This will be the third straight meeting in Week 17 at U.S. Bank Stadium between the Vikings and Bears.
![Bears running back Tarik Cohen scored four total touchdowns [including on a punt return] during his rookie season in 2017.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/yc2nug1uodywxrz2sglx.jpg)
Bears running back Tarik Cohen scored four total touchdowns [including on a punt return] during his rookie season in 2017.
Every season, a team's lineup of games offers particularly intriguing matchups between players from opposing squads.
Now that the **2018 schedule has been set in stone**, let's take a look at nine of the top 1-on-1 showdowns that fans can expect to see between Vikings players and their opponents.
Week 1 vs. 49ers: DE Everson Griffen vs. QB Jimmy Garappolo
Everson Griffen is entering his ninth season in Purple and coming off three consecutive Pro Bowl campaigns.
Griffen racked up 13 sacks in 2017, a career high, including an eight-game streak with at least one sack per outing. In 15 starts last season, he led the team with 16 tackles for loss and totaled 47 tackles (coaches' tally), three forced fumbles and a pass defensed.
The defensive end has played against the 49ers twice in his career, the most recent being a Vikings loss in 2015 during which Griffen was credited with four tackles and one-half sack. The season opener will mark his first time facing QB Jimmy Garappolo, who served as Tom Brady's backup in New England from 2014-16 before joining the 49ers in 2017.
Garappolo played six games and started the final five, leading San Francisco to five consecutive wins. He was 120-of-178 passing for 1,560 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions with a quarterback rating of 96.2. Garappolo was sacked eight times in six games.
Week 4 at Rams: Vikings O-Line vs. Rams D-Line
It's tough to pick two individual players for the Vikings West Coast outing against the Rams.
All eyes will be on second-year Vikings center Pat Elflein when he goes against defensive tackle Aaron Donald, a four-time Pro Bowler. But the larger-picture matchup of the Rams defensive line against the Vikings offensive line likely will draw plenty of attention, as well.
The Vikings revamped their offensive line in 2017, improving from 32nd overall in rushing yards in 2016 to seventh. Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers, both of whom signed with Minnesota in free agency last season, played significant roles in the overhaul of the line. The Vikings must replace retired Joe Berger on the interior of the line. There has been some speculation that the Vikings could add to the offensive line through the NFL Draft, as well.
Alongside Donald, the Rams in free agency added veteran defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. The 31-year-old is a five-time Pro Bowler (2010, 2012-14, 2016) and three-time All-Pro (2010, 2013-14). The Vikings are well-acquainted with Suh, who spent the first five seasons of his career in Detroit. He played 2015-17 in Miami, and in 2017 totaled 48 tackles (29 solo), 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two passes defensed.
Week 5 at Eagles: CB Xavier Rhodes vs. WR Alshon Jeffery
Alshon Jeffery and Xavier Rhodes have seen a lot of each other in their careers.
Jeffery, entering his seventh NFL season (and second with the Eagles after five seasons in Chicago), has scored more against the Vikings than against any other team. In nine regular-season games against Minnesota, Jeffery has seven touchdowns. Rhodes wasn't matched up with Jeffery throughout the NFC Championship when the receiver caught five passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Jeffery also scored a touchdown to help the Eagles win Super Bowl LII, during which he totaled 73 yards on just three catches.
Jeffery finished the 2017 regular season with 57 receptions for 789 yards and nine touchdowns.
For Minnesota, Rhodes recorded 63 total tackles (coaches' tally), two interceptions, two passes defensed and a tackle for loss.
In his past three regular-season outings against Minnesota, dating back to December of 2015, Jeffery has totaled 83 receiving yards and two touchdowns. In two of those three games, he was limited to just 10 yards through the air.
Week 6 vs. Cardinals: CB Patrick Peterson vs. WRs Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen
The last time the Cardinals came to Minnesota, cornerback Patrick Peterson could set his sights primarily on Stefon Diggs.
This time around, Peterson could have his hands full against a talented receiving duo in Diggs and Adam Thielen, who led the Vikings in 2017 with 1,276 yards and four touchdowns en route to his first career Pro Bowl nod. Diggs had fewer yards (849) but found the end zone eight times.
Peterson has yet to miss the Pro Bowl since entering the league as the No. 5 overall pick in 2011. The cornerback, who will turn 28 in July, has also never missed a game. In 2017, he totaled 34 tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery and eight passes defensed.
Week 8 vs. Saints: LB Eric Kendricks vs. RB Alvin Kamara
After the Vikings pulled off the Minneapolis Miracle to defeat the Saints with a walk-off touchdown in the Divisional round playoff game, the Week 8 matchup against New Orleans should be an electric one.
The Vikings opened and closed their 2017 season at home with wins against the Saints. Minnesota's defense held rookie Alvin Kamara to seven carries for 18 yards in his pro debut, but the running back gained momentum as the season went on. Kamara rushed for 43 yards on 11 attempts in the playoff game at U.S. Bank Stadium; he also added four catches for 62 yards and caught a touchdown against linebacker Eric Kendricks.
Kendricks will get another chance at defending Kamara in 2018, when the Saints return to U.S. Bank Stadium for their third time in two seasons. Kendricks led the Vikings with 136 tackles (coaches' tally) in 2017 and also recorded one interception, 1.0 sack, 10 tackles for loss and nine passes defensed.
Week 12 vs. Packers: S Harrison Smith vs. QB Aaron Rodgers
After leaving the first game against Minnesota early with an injury in 2017, Aaron Rodgers was sidelined for the remainder of the season, with the exception of Week 14 against the Panthers.
The quarterback will return to the field in 2018 and is slated to face the Vikings for the 20th and 21st times in his career. The Packers will host the Vikings in Week 2 before meeting at U.S. Bank Stadium on Nov. 25 for Sunday Night Football.
Rodgers' last full game against the Vikings was on Christmas Eve 2016, when Green Bay defeated Minnesota 38-25. In that game, Rodgers was 28-of-38 passing for 347 yards and four touchdowns with a passer rating of 136.6. Smith recorded four tackles during the matchup.
The Week 12 matchup will mark the 11th time Smith and Rodgers have faced each other since the Vikings drafted Smith in 2012.
Week 13 at Patriots: Mike Zimmer vs. Bill Belichick
On Dec. 2, a couple of football guys will go head-to-head.
The Vikings haven't defeated the Patriots since 2000, and they've faced the New England team only once under Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer. The two teams squared off in Zimmer's second game at the helm on Sept. 14, 2014, and Tom Brady led the Patriots to a 34-6 victory.
Belichick is entering his 24th season as a head coach and 19th in New England. He has an overall record of 250-118, including four wins and three losses against the Vikings. All four wins were with the Patriots.
Zimmer has gone against Belichick as a defensive coordinator or head coach four times over his career since the Patriots head coach started on the East Coast in 2000.
Week 14 at Seahawks: RB Dalvin Cook vs. LB Bobby Wagner
The return of Dalvin Cook has been long awaited.
The rookie got off to a hot start in 2017, rushing for 354 yards and two touchdowns on 74 attempts before suffering a torn ACL in Week 4.
Cook is expected to be healthy for the start of the 2018 season, and it will be interesting to watch his comeback and see where his numbers are by the time Week 14 rolls around. If the running back plays during the preseason, he could see some action against the Seahawks at U.S. Bank Stadium on Friday, Aug. 24.
The Seahawks and Vikings will meet again on Dec. 10, this time at CenturyLink Field, and Cook will likely face off against Bobby Wagner, one of the top middle linebackers in the league. Wagner has started 32 consecutive regular-season games and has gone to the Pro Bowl after the past four seasons; in 2017, he 133 tackles (97 solo), 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, six passes defensed and returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Week 16 at Lions: QB Kirk Cousins vs. CB Darius Slay
Enter Kirk Cousins to the Black-and-Blue Division.
The Vikings signed Cousins shortly after the opening of free agency. The quarterback, who will turn 30 on Aug. 19, will suit up for his first season in the NFC North and have his second outing against the Lions in Week 16 when the Vikings travel to Detroit.
Cousins will need to be wary of cornerback Darius Slay, who had a career season in 2017. Slay racked up an impressive eight interceptions (none against Minnesota) in addition to recording 60 tackles (54 solo), 26 passes defensed and a fumble recovery.
