Minnesota Vikings 2020 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games

This game edges out the home game vs. the Dallas Cowboys for really only one reason: Common games. Because the NFC North plays the NFC South in its entirety, all the Vikings’ divisional rivals will have dates with the Atlanta Falcons, the Carolina Panthers, the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Here is why the home date vs. Atlanta is so important for Minnesota.

First off, Vikings fans don’t like the Falcons, given what happened back in the 1998 NFC Championship. Secondly, Minnesota has the better roster over Atlanta. Thirdly, this game will be in Minnesota and not in Atlanta and that matters. Lastly, Atlanta is like Dallas in that the Falcons will be vying for a playoff spot, but probably a Wild Card berth more than anything.

By having the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Falcons, that could be enough to propel Minnesota to the postseason over Atlanta should they both finish around 9-7. Of the two home games the Vikings have vs. the NFC South, this is the tougher of the two, as Minnesota also gets the rebuilding Panthers at U.S. Bank Stadium this year.

If Minnesota goes 2-2 against the NFC South, that should help the Vikings get into the playoff mix. Should they go 3-1, that might amplify the Vikings’ chances of winning the NFC North. With Atlanta likely being a middle-of-the-pack team in the NFC like Dallas, it is all the more reason Minnesota needs to assert its dominance over the Dirty Birds in their matchup this season.