The Minnesota Vikings will start their 2021 NFL season with a road trip to Cincinnati.
Ahead of the full schedule release Wednesday evening, the NFL released the slate of Week 1 games early, confirming that the Vikings’ opener will come against the Bengals.
The teams will face off at noon on Sunday, Sept. 12, with the game broadcast on Fox.
Another game that has leaked out is a Halloween night matchup between the Vikings and the Cowboys.
On Sept. 12, Mike Zimmer’s team will come up against a Bengals side now led by former No. 1 draft pick Joe Burrow, who has a new weapon in the form of LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who the Bengals drafted fifth overall on Apr. 29.
That said, some Bengals fans were surprised they didn’t use the fifth pick to address the offensive line, with Burrow being offered very little protection in the 2020 season, with the quarterback tearing his ACL, MCL and PCL in Week 11.
The Vikings have their own ace receiver in the form of Justin Jefferson, who had a rookie of the year-worthy 2020, piling up 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns.
The last time the Vikings and Bengals met was December 2017, when a Case Keenum-led Vikings secured the NFC North title with a 34-7 home win on their way to the NFC Championship game.
