Opening Days of Years Past

1969

Opening Day 1969 - The Vikings visit the NY Giants at Yankee Stadium. MIN leads all day until late when Fran Tarkenton leads the Giants back for a 24-23 win. Joe Kapp was hurt and Gary Cuozzo was at QB for MIN and played well - Tark just played better. This is CBS live TV. pic.twitter.com/KFoCioGpFc

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) September 9, 2026

1973

Opening Day 1973 - Vikes host a good Raiders team and John Gilliam and rookie Chuck Foreman lead Minnesota to the 24-16 win. pic.twitter.com/KcSzdYHHLZ

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) September 9, 2026

1974 ~ Not opening day, but great pic.

Great action shot of Chuck Foreman catching a Fran Tarkenton pass in the 1974 games vs the Falcons - Viking won 23-10 pic.twitter.com/a9uz8hoP7l

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) September 9, 2026

1980

Opening day 1980 - The Falcons visit the Met. Tommy Kramer explodes for 395 yards passing and 3 scores, while Ahmad Rashad is the main target with 11 catches for 160. Vikes fall behind late in the 4th but come back to win 24-23 in the end. @NBATVAhmad @Kramer9Tommy pic.twitter.com/iVezJqLc48

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1982

Opening Day 1982 - The very first regular season game in the Metrodome - a new era of indoor Viking football. Vikes lead from wire to wire and win 17-10. MIN won the turnover battle 4-1. The Metrodome was NOT air conditioned in 1982, but fortunately, it was only 73 outside.… pic.twitter.com/telplRUtXg

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1983

Opening Day 1983 - The Vikings visit the Browns and a balanced Viking offense, coupled with winning the turnover battle 4-2 resulted in Minnesota leading the entire game and winning 27-21. pic.twitter.com/6ifbD1ViPf

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) September 10, 2026

1985

Opening Day 1985- Vikings host the World Champion 49ers and SF is elite in every phase of the game, and are the heavy favorite. However, this day marked the return of Bud Grant as Head Coach and his Minnesota team forced SEVEN turnovers in the massive upset! pic.twitter.com/NJ9o0T5MVD

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) September 10, 2026

1987

Opening Day 1987 - Wade Wilson, Anthony Carter and Leo Lewis lead the Vikings to a 34-19 opening day win vs Detroit. pic.twitter.com/T580Iq87rR

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) September 10, 2026

1989

Rounding out the 1980s - Opening Day 1989 and the Viking bomb the Houston Oilers and Warren Moon 38-7. Minnesota scores 38 unanswered points after the Oilers jump to a 7-0 lead. The Viking defense was so dominant that the explosive HOU run-and-shoot offense had just 104 yards… pic.twitter.com/QwmFLigvwC

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1996

Opening Day 1996 - Brad Johnson leads the Viking store the opening day win over Detroit. pic.twitter.com/iVHE8NUQzG

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1997

Opening Day 1997 - Brad Johnson is firmly entrenched as the starter, as he team with Cris Carter (2 TD receptions) and Robert Smith (no one ever had a smoother stride) to soundly beat the Bills in Buffalo. @Robert26Smith @criscarter80 pic.twitter.com/tQedJkLDip

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) September 10, 2026

1998

Opening Day 1998 - Randy Moss arrives in the NFL pic.twitter.com/Kb8Vr35Hs8

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) September 11, 2026

1999

Opening Day 1999 - A very small sliver of revenge as the Vikings defeat the Falcons after the gut-wrenching 1998 NFC Championship loss in OT pic.twitter.com/So5f7lk4U6

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2000

Opening Day 2000- A very odd game. Vikes only have 188 today yards and the Bears 270. One turnover for each team, yet MIN wins in a 30-27 shootout. Daunte is the difference with key throws and on his runs. pic.twitter.com/EOFY6PfYir

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) September 11, 2026

2003

Opening Day 2003 - The 30-25 score make the game look close, but MIN has Green Bay down 27-3 and a frantic Favre comeback falls short. Huge day for Randy Moss, but the big difference is Daunte Culpepper's 3 TD throws and Brett Favre's 4 INTs pic.twitter.com/mcJ4aMONPE

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) September 11, 2026

Opening Day 2003 - The 30-25 score make the game look close, but MIN has Green Bay down 27-3 and a frantic Favre comeback falls short. Huge day for Randy Moss, but the big difference is Daunte Culpepper's 3 TD throws and Brett Favre's 4 INTs pic.twitter.com/qY7X7rnxJK

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) September 11, 2026

2007

Opening Day 2007 - Sorry for the hazy video, but here are the highlights from the 24-3 Viking win vs Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/ID1iB2tjto

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) September 11, 2026

2009

Opening Day 2009 - Brett Favre debuts as Viking QB and while he does not have big stats, his presence is felt in the win. However, it is a legendary Adrian Peterson stiff arm that defines this game in the 34-13 Viking victory. pic.twitter.com/cbH1VGFJN3

— VikeFans (@VikeFans) September 11, 2026

No denying this will be a highly anticipated opener, extra spicy because its Green Bay and a new QB1.

Can we have nice things?

Cricket wrote:

1982
https://x.com/VikeFans/status/2098043657467093498?s=20

I was at the Metrodome opening game...

And yes, no AC when they built that place to begin with.

I think that crap stadium was build for $53mm bucks lol!!

purplefaithful wrote:

I was at the Metrodome opening game...
And yes, no AC when they built that place to begin with.
I think that crap stadium was build for $53mm bucks lol!!

I believe it is the only semi-modern NFL stadium to be built UNDER budget. And it showed.