The Vikings 2019 schedule, which was announced Wednesday, will**open at home**against the Falcons, include**five prime-time games**and feature**captivating 1-on-1 matchups**.

The Vikings.com crew will break down the 16-game slate into four quarters during this Icebreakers series that is presented byTicketmaster.

First Quarter (Thursday)

Second Quarter (Friday)

Third Quarter (Saturday)

Fourth Quarter (Sunday)

The second quarter of games in the 2019 season includes three of Minnesota's four games against NFC East foes and features multiple reunions, as well as the Vikings final road division game. The grouping culminates with Minnesota hosting its first short-week Thursday Night Football game under Head Coach Mike Zimmer.

Vikings at Giants by **@pcraigers**

Noon* | Sunday, Oct. 6 | MetLife Stadium

Series results

Vikings W-L: 16-12 (includes 1-2 in postseason)

Home: 8-5; Away: 8-7

Last time in regular season: Vikings defeated Giants 24-10 at U.S. Bank Stadium on Oct. 3, 2016

Last time in regular season in New York: Vikings fell 23-7 to the Giants on Oct. 21, 2013

New York's 2018 offensive rankings:

Total yards/game: 356.1 (17th in NFL); Rushing yards/game: 103.1 (24th); Passing yards/game: 252.9 (11th); Points/game: 23.1 (16th); Sacks allowed/pass attempt: 8.06 percent (20th); Interception rate: 2.06 percent (T-12th); Average time of possession: 28:44 (28th)

New York's 2018 defensive rankings:

Total yards allowed/game: 371.4 (24th); Rushing yards allowed/game: 118.6 (20th); Passing yards allowed/game: 252.8 (23rd); Points allowed/game: 25.8 (23rd); Sacks/pass attempt: 5.36 percent (30th); Interception rate: 2.86 percent (8th)

Icebreakers: Former Vikings Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur, who is in his second season, will face Zimmer for the first time with both men in head coaching roles. … Zimmer's defenses have limited Eli Manning to 40-of-74 passing for 495 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions (57.0 passer rating) in two games that the Vikings have won by a combined 73-27. Harrison Smith returned one of the Vikings three interceptions of Manning in 2015 for a touchdown. It was the fourth pick six of Smith's career. … The Giants traded away Odell Beckham, Jr., and Olivier Vernon to the Browns in deals that brought safety Jabrill Peppers, guard Kevin Zeitler and two draft choices (No. 17 and No. 95 overall) to the Big Apple. New York signed Golden Tate and Markus Golden, along with receiver Cody Latimer and veteran safety Antoine Bethea. Big Blue is scheduled to select from the No. 6 spot in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Vikings vs. Eagles by **@EricLSmith**

Noon* | Sunday, Oct. 13 | U.S. Bank Stadium

Series results

Vikings W-L: 14-14 (includes 0-4 in postseason)

Home: 7-4 (includes 0-1 in postseason); Away: 6-10 (includes 0-3 in postseason)

Last time in regular season: Vikings defeated Eagles 23-21 in Philadelphia on Oct. 7, 2018

Last time in regular season in Minnesota: Vikings defeated Eagles 48-30 on Dec. 15, 2013

Philadelphia's 2018 offensive rankings:

Total yards/game: 365.3 (14th in NFL); Rushing yards/game: 98.1 (28th); Passing yards/game: 267.2 (7th); Points/game: 22.9 (18th); Sacks allowed/pass play: 6.68 percent (15th); Interception rate: 1.84 percent (10th); Average time of possession: 32:03 (2nd)

Philadelphia's 2018 defensive rankings:

Total yards allowed/game: 366.2 (23rd); Rushing yards allowed/game: 96.9 (7th); Passing yards allowed/game: 269.3 (30th); Points allowed/game: 21.8 (T-12th); Sacks/pass play: 7.03 percent (20th); Interception rate: 1.60 percent (27th)

Icebreakers: The Vikings and Eagles are no stranger to each other, as the upcoming tilt will mark the fourth consecutive season the teams will meet (including the playoffs). … Minnesota exorcised some demons from the 2017 NFC title game with a narrow win in Philadelphia in Week 5 of the 2018 season. Linval Joseph had a 64-yard fumble return for a touchdown, and Adam Thielen racked 116 receiving yards and a score. … The Eagles will go with Carson Wentz as the starting quarterback. Former backup (and Super Bowl LII MVP) Nick Foles is now in Jacksonville. … Wentz threw for 3,074 yards with 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions, going 5-6 in 11 starts in 2018, but couldn't finish the season due to a back injury. Foles went 4-1 in filling in last season. … Philadelphia brought back a familiar face by trading for wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who was with the Eagles from 2008 to 2013. … Philadelphia also signed defensive tackle Malik Jackson and former Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo in free agency. … The Eagles, who went 9-7 in 2018, currently have the 24th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Vikings at Lions by **@pcraigers**

Noon* | Sunday, Oct. 20 | Ford Field

Series results

Vikings W-L-T: 74-39-2

Home: 40-16-1; Away: 34-23-1

Last time in regular season: Vikings defeated Lions 27-9 in Detroit on Dec. 23, 2018

Last time in regular season in Detroit: Vikings defeated Lions 27-9 on Dec. 23, 2018

Detroit's 2018 offensive rankings:

Total yards/game: 327.3 (24th in NFL); Rushing yards/game: 103.8 (23rd); Passing yards/game: 223.5 (20th); Points/game: 20.3 (25th); Sacks allowed/pass attempt: 7.14 percent (19th); Interception rate: 2.09 percent (14th); Average time of possession: 31:24 (5th)

Detroit's 2018 defensive rankings:

Total yards allowed/game: 335.0 (10th); Rushing yards allowed/game: 110.1 (10th); Passing yards allowed/game: 224.9 (8th); Points allowed/game: 22.5 (T-16th); Sacks/pass attempt: 8.67 percent (4th); Interception rate: 1.41 percent (29th)

Icebreakers: Kyle Rudolph turned in a colossal day in Detroit last season, snagging a pair of touchdowns including a 44-yard Hail Mary pass that was placed on the money by Kirk Cousins as the first half expired. The score gave Minnesota its first lead of the day, and the Vikings scored the only 13 points of the second half in a 27-9 victory. Cousins finished with a passer rating of 137.9, his best so far in a Vikings uniform. … Detroit only allowed three sacks, compared to 10 by Minnesota earlier in the season, but netted just 223 yards of offense (137 passing). … The Lions were active in free agency, bringing in a trio of former Patriots — receiver Danny Amendola, cornerback Justin Coleman and defensive lineman Trey Flowers — for former New England Defensive Coordinator Matt Patricia's second season as head coach. Detroit also added running back C.J. Anderson and tight end Jesse James.

Vikings vs. Redskins by **@LindseyMNSports**

7:20 p.m. | Thursday, Oct. 24 | U.S. Bank Stadium

Series results

Vikings W-L: 13-13 (includes 2-3 in postseason)

Home: 6-7 (includes 2-0 in postseason); Away: 7-6 (includes 0-3 in postseason)

Last time in regular season: Vikings won 38-30 at Washington on Nov. 12, 2017

Last time in regular season in Minnesota: Vikings defeated Redskins 29-26 at the University of Minnesota on Nov. 2, 2014

Washington's 2018 offensive rankings:

Total yards/game: 299.7 (28th in NFL); Rushing yards/game: 110.9 (17th); Passing yards/game: 188.8 (28th); Points/game: 17.6 (29th); Sacks allowed/pass attempt: 8.64 percent (23rd); Interception rate: 2.95 percent (26th); Average time of possession: 29:38 (T-20th)

Washington's 2018 defensive rankings:

Total yards allowed/game: 353.4 (17th); Rushing yards allowed/game: 116.3 (17th); Passing yards allowed/game: 237.1 (15th); Points allowed/game: 22.4 (15th); Sacks/pass attempt: 8.57 percent (5th); Interception rate: 2.79 percent (9th)

Icebreakers: This year's game will be Cousins' first time playing against his former team since signing with Minnesota in free agency in March 2018. … The Vikings roster has largely maintained consistency while seeing a handful of players on both sides of the ball depart in free agency – most notably defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson and running back Latavius Murray. … In the teams' last meeting, Cousins scored two rushing touchdowns and threw a 36-yard pass to Maurice Harris, who recently signed with the Patriots in free agency. … Thielen and Stefon Diggs each scored a touchdown for Minnesota. … In 2018, Washington started out 6-4 behind quarterback Alex Smith, whom they acquired via trade from the Chiefs, but Smith suffered a season-ending injury against the Texans in Week 10. The Redskins went 1-5 to finish out the season, playing three different quarterbacks – Josh Johnson, Colt McCoy and Mark Sanchez – under center. … Washington traded with Denver to acquire former Vikings quarterback Case Keenum in March. … Former Vikings running back Adrian Peterson rushed 251 times for 1,042 yards and seven touchdowns, including a career-long 90-yard run, after joining Washington last August on a one-year deal. Peterson re-signed in March and will play the team that drafted him in 2007 for the second time.

* Subject to flex scheduling | All times Central

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