Vikings 2019 schedule features 5 national TV games

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Minnesota Vikings know who their 2019 opponents are, and what games will be home or away.

We know now what weeks those games will be as the NFL released the regular season schedules for each team on Wednesday. The Vikings are coming off an 8-7-1 season and missing the NFC Playoffs for the third time in five seasons under Mike Zimmer.

Here is a look at the 2019 schedule. It includes a reunion with Kirk Cousins’ old team, and a reunion with their old kicker Daniel Carlson. It also features at least four games on national television. The Vikings open the season hosting the Atlanta Falcons. They travel to Green Bay for Week 2, just like last season.

Minnesota Vikings 2019 Schedule

Week 1 – Vs. FALCONS (12 p.m.)

Week 2 – at Packers (12 p.m.)

Week 3 – Vs. RAIDERS (12 p.m.)

Week 4 – at Bears (3:25 p.m.)

Week 5 – at Giants (12 p.m.)

Week 6 – Vs. EAGLES (12 p.m.)

Week 7 – at Lions (12 p.m.)

Week 8 – Vs. REDSKINS (Thursday Night Football, 7:20 p.m.)

Week 9 – at Chiefs (12 p.m.)

Week 10 – at Cowboys (Sunday Night Football, 7:20 p.m.)

Week 11 – Vs. BRONCOS (12 p.m.)

Week 12 – BYE

Week 13 – at Seahawks (Monday Night Football, 7:15 p.m.)

Week 14 – Vs. LIONS (12 p.m.)

Week 15 – at Chargers (Sunday Night Football, 7:20 p.m.)

Week 16 – Vs. PACKERS (Monday Night Football, 7:15 p.m.)

Week 17 -- Vs. BEARS (12 p.m.)

The Vikings open the regular season at home for the third straight season. They also have five out of seven games on the road, starting in Week 4. The toughest stretch appears to be after hosting Oakland in Week 3. They travel to the Bears and Giants before hosting the Eagles. They go right back on the road to face the Lions. The game at the Giants will be Mike Zimmer's first reunion with former offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.

Cousins faces his former team, and former Viking running back Adrian Peterson, Week 8 on Thursday Night Football as the Washington Redskins come to U.S. Bank Stadium. The other national TV games are Week 10 at the Cowboys, Week 13 at Seattle, Week 15 at the Los Angeles Chargers for Sunday Night Football and Week 16 hosting the Packers for Monday Night Football.

The key will be in the NFC North Division games, and in primetime games. The Vikings went 3-2-1 in the division last year. The Vikings also play three of their last four games at home, and have their bye on Week 12.

The Vikings have three of their five primetime games on the road. They also face divisional opponents in three out of the last four games for the first time since 1996.