The Vikings have known who they'll play and where the action will occur in 2016 since January, and today they'll find out when the matchups will occur.
The NFL will announce the schedules for all 32 teams on its digital platforms, and we'll do the same at Vikings.com at 7 p.m. (CT).
NFL Network will begin airing a three-hour 2016 NFL Schedule Release Show at the same time.
In addition to the when question for all games, this year's Vikings schedule release is accompanied by additional questions. Here are four:
Home or away? Last season, the Vikings opened and closed the season with road games: an "end-of-the-world" loss at San Francisco on Monday Night Football and a "yep, Minnesota did win the NFC North" division clincher at Green Bay on Sunday Night Football.
Will the Vikings open on the road the way they have in seven of the past eight seasons, or will U.S. Bank Stadium make its regular season debut in Week 1? The Vikings have closed the regular season at home in six of the past eight seasons.
Debut by who? Regardless of when it happens, one opponent will be the first to challenge the Vikings in their new home. The Vikings already know they'll host the Chargers in Week 3 of the preseason for the first football game inside the state-of-the-art venue, but are looking forward to learning who they'll face when the games count in the standings. The home slate includes NFC North foes Chicago, Green Bay and Detroit, as well as defending NFC West champ Arizona, NFC East members Dallas and the New York Giants and AFC South teams Houston and Indianapolis.
Ready for prime time? At one point last season, Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer motivated his players by saying he didn't think they were ready for prime time. They turned out to be by the end of the season with a 49-17 trouncing of the Giants and a 20-13 toppling of the Packers in back-to-back weeks under the lights. Teams that played well the previous season are often spotlighted in one or more prime time games the following year. Minnesota's 11-5 record en route to the division title, its shimmering new home and the blend of young emerging talent, veterans and three-time NFL rushing champ Adrian Peterson present a strong campaign for prime time games.
Will pattern continue? The Vikings have closed the regular season against a division opponent every year since 2010, rotating through games against Detroit, Chicago, Green Bay, Detroit, Chicago and Green Bay. Will the Lions be at the end of the line this season?
