Football fans, rejoice – it’s the first football Sunday of the season.
It’s a new era for Vikings football under Mike Zimmer as they open their season at noon in St. Louis. FOX Sports says Minnesota has a chance to turn the page from the disappointment of last year’s 5-10-1 finish with a win in the new-look team’s first real test of the season.
Minnesota was 4-0 in the preseason, which could be a sign of things to come during the regular season – this has fans excited.
https://twitter.com/kennyyMN/status/508487515204894720https://twitter.com/Jnarverud/status/508623744831852544
This is the year.. Pieces are in place.. #Vikings #skol
— 🇺🇸 Joe Bigaouette 🇺🇸 (@BiggzDog) September 7, 2014
https://twitter.com/mysourcessay85/status/508613147121688576
Let's get this W today and start the season off right. #underdogs @HarriSmith22 #vikingsnation #SKOL pic.twitter.com/DY2taMWD2m
— Brock Bigler (@MrBigl3r) September 7, 2014
And God said, "Let there be purple!" #MNVikings pic.twitter.com/EsVNNHiItF
— Terry Daniel (@voiceoversbytd) September 7, 2014
Fun facts
The Viking Age compiled a list of fun facts for Sunday’s game. Here are a few:
- Jeff Fisher, head coach of the Rams, played defensive back under current Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner in 1980 when he coached at the University of Southern California.
- Turner was a coach with the Rams when they played in Los Angeles and was coaching when the Vikings played the LA Rams in the playoffs in 1988.
- The last time the Vikings played the Rams, Blair Walsh tied an NFL record for most 50-plus yard field goals in a game with three.
- Rams starting quarterback Shaun Hill entered the NFL in 2002 as an undrafted free agent with the Vikings. He played with Minnesota from 2002 to 2006.
Perfect beer for the Vikings
Nothing says autumn quite like football and beer. With the NFL’s regular season officially underway, the website Thrillist has come up with the perfect beer for every team.
This year, Thrillist picked Minnesota’s own Grain Belt Premium as the perfect beer for the Vikings. Here’s why:
“Sure, one of MSP’s best taprooms is found just around the corner from the stadium (or will be again once the new one opens), but the way to go when watching the Vikings is old school, with the most popular beer from one of Minnesota’s best breweries: Grain Belt Premium. This legendary local brew was the official beer of the team back when they won their only championship – the ’60s – and, unlike the team, this crisp, uniquely flavored lager is still a winner.
Adrian Peterson
Few know what role Adrian Peterson will play Sunday. Peterson sat out for the Vikings preseason, but he already jokingly predicted a touchdown on his first carry of the season – he called his shot before the Lions game to open the 2013 season after sitting out the preseason as well.
FOX Sports says Turner has talked about using Peterson as receiver, but it’s not known exactly how he’ll be involved.
All Day loves opening day –> http://t.co/uSoM5F3U72 pic.twitter.com/8J5vdVpkhK
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 6, 2014
Also to note: Peterson needs just 170 net yards to tie Chris Carter’s team record for most combined yards (12,410) and two touchdowns to tie Randy Moss (93) for second place on the team’s all-time list, Vikings Age says.
Vikings fan photos
We asked our Facebook fans and Twitter followers to show us their Purple Pride. Here’s a look at some of them:
Carter, from Plymouth, is a little tired from all the game day festivities:
These fans are representing the Vikings in California:
This young fan drools purple and gold:
This fan is decked out in purple and gold cheering for the Vikings in St. Paul:
These two ran in the Vikings 5K in Winter Park Sunday morning:
This pooch is cheering for the Vikings all the way from North Carolina:
