EAGAN, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings open the 2021 NFL regular season at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 12 at Paul Brown Stadium. The Vikings finished last season 7-9, which had them third in the NFC North and out of the playoffs. Minnesota has made the postseason every other year since coach Mike Zimmer was hired in 2014. Its last appearance was as a wild card team in 2019.
The focus was on the defense for the Vikings this offseason after the team doled out north of $46.6 million in guaranteed money to the likes of Patrick Peterson, Dalvin Tomlinson, Xavier Woods, Sheldon Richardson and Bashaud Breeland, and more.