Each NFL team’s most important game in 2019

Minnesota Vikings: Week 4 at Chicago Bears

A year ago, there were high expectations for a Minnesota Vikings’ team that won 13 games in 2017 and came within one victory of the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance since 1976. And who knows what would have happened that afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium with the faithful from the Twin Cities rooting on the home team?

So when the Purple Gang went out and made a major investment in free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins – to the tune of three years and $84 million guaranteed – Mike Zimmer’s club became a popular pick to represent the NFC in Atlanta this past February. But the Vikings struggled to find their rhythm throughout the season. And with an opportunity to grab a playoff berth with a home win over the Chicago Bears in Week 17, the club looked lifeless in a 24-10 setback.

So on the final Sunday of September, Zimmer’s club has the first of two meetings with the reigning NFC North champions. The teams will then clash again in the regular season finale at U.S. Bank Stadium. That wraps up a stretch in which the Vikings play three of their final four games against each of their divisional rivals (Lions, Packers and Bears, respectively) and all at home.

But it’s the first meeting of the season with Matt Nagy’s club at Soldier Field that may give the club a good idea if it did enough this offseason on the offensive line to match up with that Chicago defense.

Next: New England Patriots