Extremely early Vikings game-by-game 2021 record prediction

Now that we’ve seen the schedule, how many victories might the Minnesota Vikings end up with at the end of the 2021 season?

With the release of the 2021 regular-season schedule on Wednesday, we are now that much closer to watching a rowdy sea of purple cheer on the Minnesota Vikings from inside U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Vikings are hoping to be able to fill their home stadium to capacity during the 2021 campaign, and if they can, playing in the venue will return to being a great advantage for the purple and gold over their opponent.

So after this year’s NFL Draft, the largest waves of free agency being over, and the schedule now being released, how many wins should Minnesota be able to finish with during the 2021 season? Despite it still being very early in the offseason, let’s see if we can predict what the Vikings record will be in 2021.

Week 1

Cincinnati Bengals (Away)

• Date: Sunday, September 12
• Time: 12 p.m. CT
• TV: FOX

For the first time since 2016, Minnesota will begin their season with a matchup on the road. The Vikings won that opening game in 2016 and they’ll be looking to do the same when they travel to face the Bengals this year.

Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow is expected to be recovered from his torn ACL in time to suit up for this Week 1 showdown with Minnesota. If Burrow does end up being in the lineup, the Bengals’ offense should be a good early test for the Vikings’ revamped defense.

Lots of eyes will be on Minnesota’s offensive line in this matchup as well. Cincinnati’s defense isn’t full of the scariest pass-rushers in the NFL, but it will still be interesting to see if the Vikings’ new group of blockers can keep Kirk Cousins off of his back.

Prediction: Vikings win (1-0)