The Minnesota Vikings' 20-13 win on Sunday placed the Vikings first in the NFC North and helped finalize their 2016 home and away opponents. The dates of each game will be determined in April when the full regular-season schedule is released.

Home opponents (*playoff team): Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers*, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Houston Texans*, Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals*.

Away opponents (*playoff team): Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers*, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins*, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers.*

My take: The Vikings' schedule appears noticeably easier than 2015 at this juncture, considering they face the only two divisions not to produce a 10-win team this season. Teddy Bridgewater will duel with fellow 2014 first-rounder Blake Bortles for the first time, and he'll also have his initial matchup with Marcus Mariota. The Vikings are hoping to secure a high-profile opponent when they open U.S. Bank Stadium in the fall; matchups with the Packers, Cowboys, Giants or Cardinals/Seahawks could be appetizing to a national TV audience.