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Schedule Preview: Packers, Bears, Buccaneers, Dolphins & Saints in Weeks 1-5

Some tidbits to know — plenty more to learn below — in this initial chain of plates includes the Vikings beginning their campaign with back-to-back divisional games for the first time since 2013; visiting Tampa Bay in kickoff month for the first time since 1986; hosting Miami for the eighth time ever and first since 2018; and Justin Jefferson returning to his Louisiana roots for the first time since he totaled six catches and 85 yards in a distasteful loss at New Orleans during his rookie season. Now, let's tuck in our bibs and chow on a five-course meal.

Vikings vs. Packers | Week 1

Series Results

Vikings W-L-T: 61-67-3 (includes 1-1 in the postseason)

Home record: 33-31-0

Last regular-season meeting: Minnesota defeated Green Bay 16-3 at U.S. Bank Stadium (Week 18 of 2025)

2025 Stats

Green Bay offense

Yards/game: 332.6 (15th) | Points/game: 23 (16th)

Green Bay defense

Yards/game: 311.8 (12th) | Points/game: 21.2 (11th)

The More You Know

Green Bay replaced former Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley, who captains the Dolphins dinghy now, with Jonathan Gannon. If that name rings a bell, it's likely because Gannon was the assistant defensive backs coach for the Vikings under Mike Zimmer in 2014-17, and he rose from Colts cornerbacks coach (2018-20) to Eagles defensive coordinator (2021-22) to Cardinals head coach (2023-25). After struggling to a 15-36 record (.294) in the desert, Gannon will work to reset and re-establish himself as a premier DC; his 2022 group in Philly ranked second in yards allowed and fifth in takeaways.

Vikings at Bears | Week 2

Series Results

Vikings W-L-T: 69-59-2 (includes 0-1 in postseason)

Away record: 29-33-2

Last regular-season meeting: Chicago defeated Minnesota 19-17 at U.S. Bank Stadium (Week 11 of 2025)

Last regular-season meeting on the road: Vikings defeated Bears 27-24 at Soldier Field (Week 1 of 2025)

2025 Stats

Chicago offense

Yards/game: 369.5 (6th) | Points/game: 25.9 (9th)

Chicago defense

Yards/game: 361.8 (29th) | Points/game: 24.4 (23rd)

The More You Know

Minnesota has won six straight games at Soldier Field dating to 2020, which marks its longest road win streak versus the Bears, trumping the five-game spree it savored from 1996-2000. The active streak, for what it's worth, features an average margin of victory of seven points; the latest two wins have been decided by three; and the streak-starter included a couple of then-Bears who we don't identify as Bears handling bear-y important roles: Eagles Super Bowl hero Nick Foles started at QB for Chicago and passed for 106 yards, and former Viking Cordarrelle Patterson rushed 12 times for 30 yards.

Vikings at Buccaneers | Week 3

Series Results

Vikings W-L-T: 33-24-0

Away record: 14-14

Last regular-season meeting: Tampa Bay defeated Minnesota 20-17 at U.S. Bank Stadium (Week 1 of 2023)

Last regular-season meeting on the road: Buccaneers defeated Vikings 26-14 at Raymond James Stadium (Week 14 of 2020)

2025 Stats

Tampa Bay offense

Yards/game: 320.4 (21st) | Points/game: 22.4 (T-17th)

Tampa Bay defense

Yards/game: 337.2 (19th) | Points/game: 24.2 (T-20th)

The More You Know

Tampa Bay saluted two franchise cornerstones in March, with David retiring after 14 seasons that may have lacked surefire Hall of Fame credentials — i.e. multiple All-Pros/Pro Bowls — but never impact, and Evans swapping red for scarlet and signing with San Francisco following 1,000-plus yards receiving in his first 11 seasons and then an injury-shortened 12th that robbed him of the opportunity to break a tie with Jerry Rice for the all-time record of most 1,000-yard efforts in a row, regardless of when they happened. David, by the way, is fourth and right behind fellow Bucs legend Derrick Brooks on the NFL's career tackles chart with 1,172 (official since 1994), and Evans is 10th with 108 TD catches.

Vikings vs. Dolphins | Week 4

Series Results

Vikings W-L-T: 6-8-0 (includes 0-1 in the postseason)

Home record: 4-3

Last regular-season meeting: Vikings defeated Dolphins 24-16 at Miami (Week 6 of 2022)

Last regular-season meeting at home: Minnesota defeated Miami 41-17 at U.S. Bank Stadium (Week 15 of 2018)

2025 Stats

Miami offense

Yards/game: 300.7 (26th) | Points/game: 20.4 (25th)

Miami defense

Yards/game: 348.8 (22nd) | Points/game: 24.9 (24th)

The More You Know

Willis was a third-round draft choice of the Titans in 2022 but quickly — not our place to say rightly or wrongly — lost steam in that building. He spent the past two seasons rehabilitating his quarterback journey as QB2 on the Packers and followed Hafley and Dolphins new General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan to the 305 from Titletown. Willis, by and large, remains a toolsy player with loads of potential to realize; his exciting, albeit small, sample since 2024 includes an NFL-best 134.6 passer rating (min. 50 attempts), while hitting 78.7 percent of his throws for 972 yards, six touchdowns and no picks, and rushing for 261 and three touchdowns at 6.2 yards a pop in 11 games and three starts (2-1 record).

Vikings at Saints | Week 5

Series Results

Vikings W-L-T: 25-13-0 (includes 4-1 in the postseason)

Away record: 10-9 (includes 1-0 in the postseason)

Last regular-season meeting: Minnesota defeated New Orleans 27-19 at U.S. Bank Stadium (Week 10 of 2023)

Last regular-season meeting on the road: Vikings defeated Saints 28-25 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England (Week 4 of 2022)

Last regular-season meeting at New Orleans: Vikings lost 52-33 (Week 16 of 2020)

2025 Stats

New Orleans offense

Yards/game: 313.6 (23rd) | Points/game: 18.0 (28th)

New Orleans defense

Yards/game: 299.8 (9th) | Points/game: 22.5 (17th)

The More You Know

Tyler Shough inserted as the Saints starting quarterback in Week 9 last season and never looked back, winning four of his final five starts and gaining enough respect to finish second in Offensive Rookie of the Year balloting. Overall, he clipped 67.6 percent of his passes for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions, in addition to rushing for 186 yards and three scores. Now, the soon-to-be 27-year-old Shough is afforded a weapons expansion in Tyson and 2026 fourth-rounder Bryce Lance; by the way, the former receiver's big brother is Cavaliers guard Jaylon Tyson, and the latter's is Chargers backup QB Trey Lance. Shough is older than both siblings, which is very left-field — but interesting.