2019 ScheduleAll times ET

2019 Schedule
8-7-1, 2nd in NFC North

Courtney Cronin ESPN Staff Writer 

2019 Vikings regular season schedule - Sept. 8 vs. FALCONS; Sept. 15 at PACKERS; Sept. 22 vs. RAIDERS; Sept. 29 at BEARS (3:25); Oct. 6 at GIANTS; Oct. 13 vs. EAGLES; Oct. 20 at LIONS; Oct. 24 vs. REDSKINS (TNF); Nov. 3 at CHIEFS; Nov. 10 at COWBOYS (SNF); Nov. 17 vs. BRONCOS; Nov. 24: BYE; Dec. 2 at SEAHAWKS (MNF); Dec. 8 vs. LIONS; Dec. 15 at CHARGERS (SNF); Dec. 23 vs. PACKERS (MNF); Dec. 29 vs. BEARS

Courtney Cronin ESPN Staff Writer 

The Vikings salary cap situation remains sticky. According to the NFLPA public salary cap report, Minnesota has north of $2 million in space and still needs room to sign its 2019 draft class. Kyle Rudolph reiterated today that the Vikings have not reached out to his agent about restructuring his contract, which is something he's remained firm on wanting to do if it could help his team: "I would love to help our cap situation. If I could give us more room to bring in more players and better players then … you'd be foolish to turn down something like that. It just doesn't make sense from a player's standpoint but that's out of my control. That's between Rick, Rob and my agent and I just come here to work every day and like I said, I'm just trying to find out where I fit in."

Courtney Cronin ESPN Staff Writer 

Everson Griffen opens up about restructuring his contract in March after a rough 2018 where playing football after dealing w/ personal off-field issues felt like something he just had to 'get through': "When I'm me, when I'm myself, I can play well. And last year I wasn't myself. If I was myself, I wouldn't have to take a pay cut, if I was myself, if I was playing at the level I know I can play at each and every year. But I wasn't, and sometimes things happen in your life that you have to get better with and you have to move forward and you have to learn from it. And this was a big learning experience and I dealt with some stuff. But now I'm comfortable, I'm happy, my family's happy, my kids are happy and that's what matters the most to me right now. Sitting here and being free and understanding where I can go and what I can do."

Courtney Cronin ESPN Staff Writer 

Harrison Smith on Anthony Barr choosing to stay in Minnesota: "He's one of my best friends. Honestly, I wanted him to go get as much money as he could make. In pro sports, that's how things happen. I obviously wanted him here as well so I wasn't going to be upset one way or the other. It's an emotional game when you make friendships and you make plays together and you're pumped for the guy next to you. It's why I play."

8d

Barnwell & Cronin: Vikings’ cap gymnastics, draft targets and more

ESPN Vikings reporter Courtney Cronin joins Bill to dish on Minnesota’s offseason, including salary cap gymnastics, the retention of Anthony Barr and the loss of many others. Are they hampered by Kirk Cousins’ deal? Plus, how will they plan to fill holes in their roster through the draft? Will the offensive line continue to be an issue? What role will Gary Kubiak have? These questions and many more answered.

Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
11dCourtney Cronin

Vikings, Thielen agree to 4-year, $64M extension

Adam Thielen has agreed to a four-year, $64 million contract extension with the Vikings that could rise to $73 million with incentives, Thielen's agent said.

This Just In  

The Vikings and WR Adam Thielen have agreed to a four-year extension worth $64M.

Courtney Cronin ESPN Staff Writer 

Vikings preseason schedule: Week 1 - at New Orleans Week 2 - vs. Seattle Week 3 - vs. Arizona Week 4 - at Buffalo

Harry How/Getty Images
28dCourtney Cronin

Zimmer on CB Rhodes: 'He needs to play better'

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is challenging Pro Bowl cornerback Xavier Rhodes to play better in 2019. "We're paying him a lot of money, he needs to play up to that contract," Zimmer said on Tuesday.

Courtney Cronin ESPN Staff Writer 

Mike Zimmer reiterated his emphasis of wanting to run the ball more in 2019, but isn't committed to a strict 50-50 balance, rather to be determined on a game-by-game basis. The stress he sees put on a defense by teams that run the football successfully is what he relays in the offensive meetings he's sat in this offseason. "If you look at the teams that played really good on offense this year -- final four teams, whatever you want to call it – they ran the ball. Everybody said, ‘Oh this is a passing (league), this and that.' The good offenses run the football and it doesn't have to be, when I say run the football, it doesn't mean like we're never going to throw it, but it sets up your play action. I know what's hard on a defense and when I go in and sit with an offense every single day and I said, ‘Hey, look. This is what's hard to defend. This is what's difficult for defenses.' That's kind of my input on it."

Courtney Cronin ESPN Staff Writer 

Zimmer on how Anthony Barr remaining with the Vikings in free agency unfolded: "I kind of anticipated that we probably weren't going to have him back so that's kind of how I was thinking all along. Then he started wavering a little bit and we lost a couple guys right in that period so it was really good, it was kind of like – wow – we kept one of our good guys and kind of refreshing. It was exciting."

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Team Stats

Passing Yards252.313th
Rushing Yards93.330th
Points For22.519th
Points Against21.39th