Vikings 2019 Schedule Icebreakers: Opening at Home; 2 Early Division Roadies

[Viktor]

Vikings vs. Raiders by @Eric_L_Smith


Noon | Sunday, Sept. 22 | U.S. Bank Stadium


Series results


Vikings W-L: 5-10 (includes 0-1 in postseason)


Home: 3-4; Away: 2-5; Neutral: 0-1


Last time in regular season: Vikings defeated Raiders 30-14 on Nov. 15, 2015, in Oakland


Last time in regular season in Minneapolis: Raiders defeated Vikings 27-21 on Nov. 20, 2011


Oakland’s 2018 offensive rankings:


Total yards/game: 336.2 (23rd in NFL); Rushing yards/game: 101.8 (25th); Passing yards/game: 234.4 (18th); Points/game: 18.1 (28th); Sacks allowed/pass play: 9.35 percent (25th); Interception rate: 1.80 percent (9th); Average time of possession: 30:43 (T-10th)


Oakland’s 2018 defensive rankings:


Total yards allowed/game: 381.4 (26th); Rushing yards allowed/game: 140.6 (30th); Passing yards allowed/game: 240.8 (19th); Points allowed/game: 29.2 (32nd); Sacks/pass play: 2.71 percent (32nd); Interception rate: 2.92 percent (7th)


Icebreakers: The Raiders are one of the league’s most intriguing teams of the 2019 offseason, as Oakland has three first-round picks (4th, 24th and 27th overall selections) under first-year General Manager Mike Mayock, the former NFL Network analyst. … Head Coach Jon Gruden is in his second stint with the Raiders and went 4-12 in his first season back. … The Raiders made perhaps the splashiest trade of the offseason when they acquired Antonio Brown from Pittsburgh. The wide receiver has 11,207 yards and 74 touchdowns in nine seasons. … Oakland will hope for improvements on defense, as the unit compiled a league-low 13 sacks. … The Raiders defense also finished last in points allowed per game and was 30th in third-down percentage (46.3). … Quarterback Derek Carr had 19 touchdowns in 2018, the lowest total of his five-year career. … Oakland was active in free agency with the additions for former patriots left tackle Trent Brown, former Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams, former Rams safety Lamarcus Joyner and former Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict. … The Raiders are slated to play their final season in Oakland before moving to Las Vegas for the 2020 season and beyond.