Tough schedule

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Vikings get NFL's toughest schedule Star Tribune

Friday, April 13, 2001

The NFL exhibited an XFL-like sense of humor Thursday in announcing the Vikings' 2001 schedule, slotting them into two Monday night games that carry neatly packaged themes.

The Vikings will take on Brian Billick and the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 17, Billick's first game against the Vikings since stepping down as offensive coordinator in 1999. And the New York Giants, last seen slapping the Vikings with a 41-0 pasting in the NFC Championship Game, will travel to the Metrodome for a prime-time rematch Nov. 19.

The season will start at home Sept. 9 against Carolina, and overall the Vikings will play the NFL's toughest schedule based on their opponents' 2000 records (147-109, a .574 winning percentage).

"I think this team can be better than last year's team, but we've got our work cut out for us," Vikings coach Dennis Green said. "We've probably got the most difficult schedule that anybody's had in the game in a heck of a long time. That means we're going to have to really work hard. But that's what we're doing."

The Vikings' NFC Central title last season resulted in a first-place schedule for 2001. Consequently, they will take on seven teams that made the playoffs last season, including division winners New Orleans, Philadelphia and Tennessee.

The AFC and NFC Central divisions play each other in 2001, but the Vikings' first-place status left them playing the Titans, Ravens and Jacksonville but not perennial cellar-dwellers Cleveland or Cincinnati. Their bye week comes Nov. 4, the midpoint of the season.

After playing five nationally televised games last season, the Vikings have three in 2001: the two on Monday night and one Sunday night game against Chicago in the Metrodome six days after the Giants game.

Two of their final three games will be on the road against division opponents: Dec. 16 at Detroit and the season finale Dec. 30 at Green Bay.

"... Now that we see the schedule, we recognize the huge challenge we face," Green said. "Opening at home the first weekend, we hope will be an advantage for us."

-- Kevin Seifert is at kseifert@startribune.com .

Here is the Vikings' lineup:

Sept. 9 - Carolina

Sept. 17 - At Baltimore (Monday Night Football)

Sept. 23 - At Chicago

Sept. 30 - Tampa Bay

Oct. 7 - at New Orleans

Oct. 14 - Detroit

Oct. 21 - Green Bay

Oct. 28 - at Tampa Bay

Nov. 4 - Bye

Nov. 11 - At Philadelphia

Nov. 19 - New York Giants (Monday Night Football)

Nov. 25 - Chicago

Dec. 2 - At Pittsburgh

Dec. 9 - Tennessee

Dec. 16 - At Detroit

Dec. 23 - Jacksonville

Dec. 30 - at Green Bay

-- Clark (cdvike@mindspring.com), April 13, 2001

Answers

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!! GO VIKES!!!!!

-- Tom (BMatheus@aol.com), April 13, 2001.

Fear not lads 'THE SYSTEM' shall prevail!!!

...Man that's some good shit.

-- Mike Kennedy (Wurger@aol.com), April 14, 2001.


How is it that every year we get our butts kicked in the playoffs by someone, and then come out the next year with one of the, if not THE toughest schedule in the league?

-- Dan (hookti1@aol.com), April 15, 2001.

It's a conspiracy Dan! Pass it this way Mike!

-- Ralph (RFELIX7550@aol.com), April 18, 2001.

Gimme some too!

-- Deb Cross (debcross2000@earthlink.net), April 19, 2001.


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