Here Are the Minnesota Vikings “Trap” Games for This Year

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Jan 9, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) throws a pass in the third quarter game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Upon first glance, the 2022 schedule for the Minnesota Vikings seems like a much tamer slate than the one they got stuck with in 2021. Between the AFC North and NFC West, they had to play two of the tougher divisions in all of football last year. This season, the Vikings get the NFC East, a division that has struggled to maintain mediocrity in recent years, and the AFC East, whose teams look a lot less daunting now that Tom Brady no longer resides there.

However, within every schedule are “trap” games; matchups with seemingly lesser teams that end up being a lot tougher than initially believed. This can be for a number of different reasons: the opponent ends up being more formidable than we thought, or there could be scheduling advantages and disadvantages that go against the Vikings.

Earlier in the month, I went through and predicted the outcomes of each Vikings game this season, but we didn’t really get to go in depth on many of these matchups. Today, we will be doing just that. Here are all the “trap” games that I foresee in Minnesota’s 2022 schedule.

Week 2 @ Philadelphia

Given that this is the Monday Night Football game for Week 2, there is already going to be hype around this game. There’s an additional agenda in the state of Minnesota, though. Ever since the schedule release, this has been a matchup circled by many Vikings fans. They want some revenge for the shellacking that was received in the 2017 NFC Championship Game just a week after the Minneapolis Miracle.

The Eagles are always a sneaky-tough team with dual-threat QB Jalen Hurts. He is not the most talented thrower, but his ability with his legs negates much of the problems. On top of that, he suddenly has an extremely talented group of receivers in AJ Brown, Devonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert.

The Vikings will be coming off their home-opener against the hated Green Bay Packers, so this will be there second high emotion game in two weeks. On the other side, Philadelphia will ease into their 2022 slate of games with a home game against the Detroit Lions. Assuming there are a few early season hiccups as the new coaching regime familiarizes its scheme with the players, this should be a difficult test for the Vikings; one I predicted them to lose.

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Week 6 @ Miami

Prior to heading down to warm Miami for a Week 6 contest against the Dolphins, the Vikings have one of their two more difficult stretches of their schedule. In Week 4, they will head across the pond to take on the New Orleans Saints in London; a game that technically serves as a road game for Minnesota.

London games are already hard enough on teams, but after that one is done, the Vikings are welcomed back to the States by the Chicago Bears. These games have always been physical, low-scoring affairs, and it could take a massive toll on Minnesota physically. Legs could be quite sluggish the week following this contest, and players may find themselves looking ahead to the Week 7 bye.

Before they get to that bye week though, the defense has to find a way to cover Tyreek Hill in hot and muggy Florida. This could prove to be a tall task for the Vikings, and again, this is a game I have Minnesota falling just short in.

Week 13 vs. NY Jets

The New York Jets have not been viewed as much of a threat in recent years, but after a spectacular draft, this is another team that is being viewed as a “dark horse” this offseason. It probably won’t result in a Cincinnati Bengals-esque jump to the Super Bowl, but they could give a few teams headaches with gunslinger Zach Wilson under center in his second year.

Aside from all the improvements that New York could 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 game. Of course, though, the Thursday night game means they will get 10 days of rest between that matchup with Bill Belichick and Mac Jones and the contest with the Jets.

The amount of rest that Minnesota will benefit from ultimately makes me believe they will win this game. However, don’t be too surprised if this one ends up being close as well. Luckily for Vikings fans, we’re all used to that sort of thing by now.

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