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 third quarter of the season includes road contests at Kansas City and Dallas and a rare home game against Denver. Minnesota's Nov. 24 bye is the second-latest in franchise history (since 1990) and precedes yet another trip to Seattle. The reason the Vikings must return to the Pacific Northwest is because of the teams' divisional order of finish in 2018 (second) and a rotational formula used by the NFL.

Vikings at Chiefs by **@EricLSmith**

Noon* | Sunday, Nov. 3 | Arrowhead Stadium

Series results

Vikings W-L: 5-7 (includes 0-1 in postseason)

Home: 4-2; Away: 1-4; Neutral: 0-1

Last time in regular season: Vikings defeated Chiefs 16-10 on Oct. 18, 2015, in Minneapolis

Last time in regular season in Kansas City: Chiefs defeated Vikings 22-17 on Oct. 2, 2011

Kansas City's 2018 offensive rankings:

Total yards/game: 425.6 (1st in NFL); Rushing yards/game: 115.9 (16th); Passing yards/game: 309.7 (3rd); Points/game: 35.3 (1st); Sacks allowed/pass play: 4.46 percent (5th); Interception rate: 2.06 percent (T-12th); Average time of possession: 28:56 (27th)

Kansas City's 2018 defensive rankings:

Total yards allowed/game: 405.5 (31st); Rushing yards allowed/game: 132.1 (27th); Passing yards allowed/game: 273.4 (31st); Points allowed/game: 26.3 (24th); Sacks/pass play: 8.23 percent (8th); Interception rate: 2.37 percent (16th)

Icebreakers: The Vikings defense will get perhaps its toughest test of the season against an explosive Chiefs offense that features quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who was the 2018 NFL MVP in his first season as a starter. … Mahomes led the league with 50 touchdown passes, which is tied for the second-most in a single season in league history. … Wide receiver Tyreek Hill (1,479 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns) and tight end Travis Kelce (1,336 receiving yards and 10 scores) form one of the most lethal pass-catching combinations in the NFL. … The Chiefs traded Dee Ford and released Justin Houston, two players that combined for 24 of Kansas City's 52 total sacks in 2018. … Kansas City added safety Tyrann Mathieu in free agency. … Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid ranks eighth all-time with 195 career regular-season wins. … The Chiefs are 36-12 at Arrowhead Stadium since Reid took over in 2013 and have double-digit wins in five of six seasons under Reid. … Kansas City, which has won three consecutive AFC West titles, currently holds the 30th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Vikings at Cowboys by **@pcraigers**

7:20 p.m. | Sunday, Nov. 10 | AT&T Stadium

Series results

Vikings W-L: 14-15 (includes 3-4 in postseason)

Home: 7-10 (includes 2-2 on road in postseason); Away: 7-6 (includes 1-2 on road in postseason)

Last time in regular season: Vikings fell 17-15 to the Cowboys at U.S. Bank Stadium on Dec. 1, 2016

Last time in regular season at Dallas: Vikings fell 27-23 to the Cowboys in Dallas on Nov. 3, 2013

Dallas' 2018 offensive rankings:

Total yards/game: 343.8 (22nd in NFL); Rushing yards/game: 122.7 (10th); Passing yards/game: 221.1 (23rd); Points/game: 21.2 (22nd); Sacks allowed/pass attempt: 10.63 percent (28th); Interception rate: 1.52 percent (4th); Average time of possession: 31:00 (8th)

Dallas' 2018 defensive rankings:

Total yards allowed/game: 329.3 (7th); Rushing yards allowed/game: 94.6 (5th); Passing yards allowed/game: 234.7 (13th); Points allowed/game: 20.3 (6th); Sacks/pass attempt: 7.20 percent (18th); Interception rate: 1.66 percent (26th)

Icebreakers: This game will renew one of the best rivalries of the 1970s, a decade in which Minnesota or Dallas represented the NFC in nine of 10 Super Bowls from Jan. 11, 1970 to Jan. 21, 1979. … It also will be the first opportunity for Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer to stand on the sidelines against the team that gave him his start in the NFL back in 1994. Zimmer was unable to coach when the teams met in 2016, a 17-15 win by Dallas, because of emergency eye surgery. … In addition to re-signing DeMarcus Lawrence to a substantial deal, the Cowboys boosted their pass rush by trading for veteran Robert Quinn. Dallas also brought in veterans Randall Cobb, Cameron Fleming and former Viking George Iloka. Aside from the Lawrence re-signing, the biggest buzz was created when tight end Jason Witten announced he was leaving the Monday Night Football booth after one year and returning for his 16th pro season. Witten has 24 receptions, 257 yards and one touchdown in five career regular-season games against the Vikings. He had 10 catches for 98 yards in Minnesota's playoff victory after the 2009 season.

Vikings vs. Broncos by **@pcraigers**

Noon* | Sunday, Nov. 17 | U.S. Bank Stadium

Series results

Vikings W-L: 7-7

Home: 4-3; Away: 3-4

Last time in regular season: Vikings fell 23-20 to Broncos in Denver on Oct. 4, 2015

Last time in regular season in Minnesota: Vikings fell 35-32 to the Broncos at Mall of America Field on Dec. 4, 2011

Denver's 2018 offensive rankings:

Total yards/game: 350.1 (19th in NFL); Rushing yards/game: 119.2 (12th); Passing yards/game: 230.9 (19th); Points/game: 20.6 (24th); Sacks allowed/pass attempt: 5.78 percent (8th); Interception rate: 2.55 percent (21st); Average time of possession: 28:58 (26th)

Denver's 2018 defensive rankings:

Total yards allowed/game: 365.1 (22nd); Rushing yards allowed/game: 119.6 (21st); Passing yards allowed/game: 245.6 (20th); Points allowed/game: 21.8 (13th); Sacks/pass attempt: 8.01 percent (10th); Interception rate: 3.10 percent (5th)

Icebreakers: Fresh off helping the Bears defense and Chicago to an NFC North title, Vic Fangio has landed in the Rockies for his first opportunity as a head coach. … The Broncos acquired quarterback Joe Flacco for a fourth-round pick in a trade with Baltimore. Denver also brought in Bryce Callahan and Kareem Jackson in its secondary, tackle Ja'Wuan James and backup QB Kevin Hogan in free agency. … The Vikings are seeking their first win against the Broncos since Oct. 19, 2003, the Culpepper-to-Moss-to-Williams game. The Broncos have taken each of the three games since by three points. … Stefon Diggs made his professional debut in Denver in 2015 and recorded six receptions for 87 yards. Adam Thielen added six receptions for 70 yards, foreshadowing the making of the dynamic duo that has combined for 523 catches, 6,389 yards and 38 touchdowns in the past three seasons.

Vikings at Seahawks by **@LindseyMNSports**

7:15 p.m. | Monday, Dec. 2 | CenturyLink Field

Series results

Vikings W-L: 5-11 (includes 0-1 in the postseason)

Home: 3-4 (includes 0-1 in the postseason); Away: 2-7

Last time in regular season: Vikings fell 21-7 to the Seahawks at Seattle on Dec. 10, 2018

Last time in regular season in Seattle: Vikings fell 21-7 on Dec. 10, 2018

Seattle's 2018 offensive rankings:

Total yards/game: 353.3 (18th in NFL); Rushing yards/game: 160.0 (1st); Passing yards/game: 193.3 (27th); Points/game: 26.8 (T-6th); Sacks allowed/pass attempt: 11.94 percent (31st); Interception rate: 1.64 percent (6th); Average time of possession: 31:15 (6th)

Seattle's 2018 defensive rankings:

Total yards allowed/game: 353.3 (16th); Rushing yards allowed/game: 113.2 (13th); Passing yards allowed/game: 240.1 (17th); Points allowed/game: 21.7 (11th); Sacks/pass attempt: 7.88 percent (11th); Interception rate: 2.20 percent (20th)

Icebreakers: This year's road matchup against Seattle will mark Minnesota's second consecutive year playing at CenturyLink Field in the regular reason and fourth straight if including preseason contests. … In the teams' previous matchup on Dec. 10, running back Dalvin Cook scored the Vikings lone touchdown. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw for just 72 yards and finished the night with a passer rating of 37.9. Seahawks running back Chris Carson led the team in rushing with 90 yards and one touchdown. Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph notched an impressive 10 total tackles, while Tre Flowers led the Seahawks with eight. … After spending last season with Seattle, defensive tackle Shamar Stephen re-signed with the Vikings for the 2019 campaign. … The Seahawks topped the league last season in rushing yards (2,560) after ranking 23rd in 2017. … Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll served as the Vikings defensive backs coach from 1985-89; he is entering his 10th season at the helm in Seattle.

* Subject to flex scheduling | All times Central

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