2009 Minnesota Vikings Team Schedule

Two things come to mind when looking at the Vikings’ 2009 schedule: Will Brett Favre be under center and will the Vikes have defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams for the first four games?

It certainly appears that Favre will end yet another retirement and join the team, as the Vikings sent officials to watch Favre workout down in Mississippi over the weekend. Expect an official announcement by the end of June. That makes the Nov. 1 game at Green Bay must-see TV as Favre returns to Lambeau for the first time.

As for the Williamses, they are fighting the NFL over a four-game suspension levied last season. The players currently have an injunction blocking the NFL from enforcing that (thus they played through it at the end of last season), but a final resolution should come soon. Minnesota has led the NFL in rushing defense for three straight years thanks in large part to those two, so if they miss four games that could very much dictate how the team starts.

That Week 7 game against the Super Bowl champion Steelers will be the first time that Minnesota has faced its former defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin, who is the Steelers’ head coach. For the second year in a row, the Vikings finish the season by hosting the New York Giants. Minnesota’s schedule ranks as the second-easiest in the league based on 2008 opponents’ records.

The Vikings are currently +1600 on WagerWeb.com to win Super Bowl XLIV, although look for that number to change once Favre comes back.

VIKINGS’ 2009 SCHEDULE

Week 1: Sun, Sept. 13 at Cleveland Browns FOX 1 p.m.

Week 2: Sun, Sept. 20 at Detroit Lions FOX 1 p.m.

Week 3: Sun, Sept. 27 vs. San Francisco 49ers FOX 1 p.m.

Week 4: Mon, Oct. 5 vs. Green Bay Packers ESPN 8:20 p.m.

Week 5: Sun, Oct. 11 at St. Louis Rams FOX 1 p.m.

Week 6: Sun, Oct. 18 vs. Baltimore Ravens CBS 1 p.m.

Week 7: Sun, Oct. 25 at Pittsburgh Steelers FOX 1 p.m.

Week 8: Sun, Nov. 1 at Green Bay Packers FOX 1 p.m.

Week 9: Bye

Week 10: Sun, Nov. 15 vs. Detroit Lions FOX 1 p.m.

Week 11: Sun, Nov. 22 vs. Seattle Seahawks FOX 1 p.m.

Week 12: Sun, Nov. 29 vs. Chicago Bears FOX 1 p.m.

Week 13: Sun, Dec. 6 at Arizona Cardinals FOX 4:15 p.m.

Week 14: Sun, Dec. 13 vs. Cincinnati Bengals CBS 1 p.m.

Week 15: Sun, Dec. 20 at Carolina Panthers NBC 8:20 p.m.

Week 16: Mon, Dec. 28 at Chicago Bears ESPN 8:20 p.m.

Week 17: Sun, Jan. 3 vs. New York Giants FOX 1 p.m.

NFL Betting at WagerWeb.com