Upon first look, the 2022 schedule for the Minnesota Vikings looks like a a lot tamer slate than the one they acquired caught with in 2021. Between the AFC North and NFC West, they needed to play two of the more durable divisions in all of soccer final yr. This season, the Vikings get the NFC East, a division that has struggled to keep up mediocrity lately, and the AFC East, whose groups look quite a bit much less daunting now that Tom Brady now not resides there.

Nonetheless, inside each schedule are “lure” video games; matchups with seemingly lesser groups that find yourself being quite a bit more durable than initially believed. This may be for quite a lot of totally different causes: the opponent finally ends up being extra formidable than we thought, or there might be scheduling benefits and drawbacks that go in opposition to the Vikings.

Earlier within the month, I went via and predicted the outcomes of every Vikings recreation this season, however we didn’t actually get to go in depth on many of those matchups. At present, we shall be doing simply that. Listed below are all of the “lure” video games that I foresee in Minnesota’s 2022 schedule.

Week 2 @ Philadelphia

Provided that that is the Monday Evening Soccer recreation for Week 2, there’s already going to be hype round this recreation. There’s an extra agenda within the state of Minnesota, although. Ever because the schedule launch, this has been a matchup circled by many Vikings followers. They need some revenge for the shellacking that was obtained within the 2017 NFC Championship Recreation only a week after the Minneapolis Miracle.

The Eagles are all the time a sneaky-tough staff with dual-threat QB Jalen Hurts. He isn’t probably the most proficient thrower, however his capability together with his legs negates a lot of the issues. On prime of that, he all of the sudden has an especially proficient group of receivers in AJ Brown, Devonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert.

The Vikings shall be coming off their home-opener in opposition to the hated Inexperienced Bay Packers, so this shall be there second excessive emotion recreation in two weeks. On the opposite facet, Philadelphia will ease into their 2022 slate of video games with a house recreation in opposition to the Detroit Lions. Assuming there are just a few early season hiccups as the brand new teaching regime familiarizes its scheme with the gamers, this ought to be a troublesome check for the Vikings; one I predicted them to lose.

Week 6 @ Miami

Previous to heading right down to heat Miami for a Week 6 contest in opposition to the Dolphins, the Vikings have one in all their two tougher stretches of their schedule. In Week 4, they may head throughout the pond to tackle the New Orleans Saints in London; a recreation that technically serves as a highway recreation for Minnesota.

London video games are already exhausting sufficient on groups, however after that one is completed, the Vikings are welcomed again to the States by the Chicago Bears. These video games have all the time been bodily, low-scoring affairs, and it might take a large toll on Minnesota bodily. Legs might be fairly sluggish the week following this contest, and gamers could discover themselves waiting for the Week 7 bye.

Earlier than they get to that bye week although, the protection has to discover a strategy to cowl Tyreek Hill in sizzling and muggy Florida. This might show to be a tall job for the Vikings, and once more, it is a recreation I’ve Minnesota falling simply quick in.

Week 13 vs. NY Jets

The New York Jets haven’t been seen as a lot of a menace lately, however after a spectacular draft, that is one other staff that’s being seen as a “darkish horse” this offseason. It most likely received’t lead to a Cincinnati Bengals-esque leap to the Tremendous Bowl, however they might give just a few groups complications with gunslinger Zach Wilson underneath heart in his second yr.

Apart from all of the enhancements that New York might see this season, the Vikings will see them one week after a brutal three-game stretch. They go to Buffalo, host Dallas, and host New England on a short-rest Thursday night time recreation. In fact, although, the Thursday night time recreation means they may get 10 days of relaxation between that matchup with Invoice Belichick and Mac Jones and the competition with the Jets.

The quantity of relaxation that Minnesota will profit from finally makes me imagine they may win this recreation. Nonetheless, don’t be too stunned if this one finally ends up being shut as nicely. Fortunately for Vikings followers, we’re all used to that type of factor by now.