Minnesota Vikings 2022 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games

2. Dallas Cowboys

Come on, which NFL team doesn’t want to defeat the Dallas Cowboys? But for the Vikings, they have a grudge against them.

Minnesota has met Dallas the past three seasons. The Vikings won in 2019, but lost the next two meetings and Dak Prescott was not starting under center. Minnesota lost 31-28 in 2020 with Andy Dalton as Cowboys quarterback and 20-16 with Copper rush under center for Dallas.

This offseason, the Cowboys have had some huge losses on their roster, such as Amari Cooper, Randy Gregory and La’el Collins.

To make a statement in the NFC, the best way to do so is to defeat the Cowboys, who have the spotlight on them throughout the calendar year.

1. Green Bay Packers

The Vikings need to beat the Green Bay Packers in 2022, much like any year.

Last season, Minnesota did pick up a 34-31 win over Green Bay in Week 11. Yet, they lost their three of their next five games of the season before meeting the Packers in Week 17. It just so happens that Minnesota’s playoff lives were on the line in that game, but quarterback Kirk Cousins was unavailable. Green Bay coasted to a 37-10 win to eliminate the Vikings from playoff contention.

The Vikings have to feel somewhat good about their chances against the Packers, since wide receiver Davante Adams is no longer on the roster after he was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders. Yet, beating quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the regular-season the past two years has proven to be a difficult task for whoever matched up against them.

But, as last season has proven, the Vikings can beat Rodgers and the Packers. And to make the playoffs, they need to defeat them.