As the Washington Redskins get closer to the start of another season, Redskins.com will preview all 16 of the team's regular season games, continuing with today's look against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings suffered a heart-breaking loss to the Seahawks in the NFC Wild Card playoffs last year. This season they'll look to secure their first playoff victory since 2009 in their new home, U.S. Bank Stadium.
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A look back at some of the top images in games between the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings.
Result of Last Game vs. Minnesota:** Lost 29-26 on Nov. 2, 2014
Minnesota's Key additions: Signed G Alex Boone, T Andre Smith, LB Emmanuel Lamur, S Michael Griffin; Drafted WR Laquon Treadwell (Mississippi), CB Mackensie Alexander (Clemson), LB Kentrell Brothers (Missouri), Mortiz Boehringer (Germany), Jayron Kearse (Clemson)
Minnesota's Key Subtractions: WR Mike Wallace (free agent/Ravens), S Robert Blanton (free agent/Bills), CB Josh Robinson (free agent/Buccaneers)
Minnesota's Pro Bowlers: LB Anthony Barr, QB Teddy Bridgewater, RB Adrian Peterson, S Harrison Smith, DE Everson Griffen
The Washington Redskins will host the Minnesota Vikings for the first time since 2012, when they meet Week 10 at FedExField following Washington's Bye Week. The Redskins had visited the Vikings in their last two matchups in two different stadiums – the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (2013) and TCF Bank Stadium (2014).
Last year, Minnesota finished in first place (11-5) in the NFC North for the first time since 2009, after placing in fourth there for three of the last five years.
They nearly won their opening round playoff game against the Seahawks, but kicker Blair Walsh missed a go-ahead chip shot field goal as time was expiring in the fourth quarter, which allowed Seattle to advance and play the Panthers.
After beginning their year at 2-2, Minnesota went on a five-game winning streak following their Bye Week and finished the season with three straight victories.
Teddy Bridgewater will once again lead the Vikings at quarterback after a productive campaign in 2015 in which he threw for 3,231 yards, 14 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. With his mobility, he also rushed for 192 yards on 44 carries.
In just his two seasons, the Louisville product has thrown for more than 6,000 yards and is averaging a 64.9 completion percentage.
Helping him greatly in the backfield is Adrian Peterson, returning as the primary running back after carrying the ball 327 times and rushing 1,485 yards in 2015, the seventh time in his nine seasons that he eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in a year.
Besides their only two offensive Pro Bowlers, the Vikings are eager to see what a new offensive playmaker can do on the outside. After losing Mike Wallace to free agency, Minnesota drafted Laquon Treadwell with the 23rd pick in the NFL Draft, right after the Redskins' selection of TCU wide receiver Josh Doctson.
The first rounder finished his junior season at Ole Miss with 82 receptions, 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns. He'll combine with last year's rookie Stefon Diggs, who led the team in receiving yards with 720 and acquired four touchdowns from his 52 receptions.
Tight end Kye Rudolph, targeted the third most on the team by Bridgewater, had five touchdowns along with 49 receptions and 495 yards receiving.
The offensive line, which saw a productive year from center Joe Berger and right guard Mikel Harris in 2015, had a lot of continuity and should see an upgrade as center John Sullivan and tackle Phil Loadholt return after both were injured prior to the start of last year.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Vikings brought in veteran safety Michael Griffin to further guide some potentially dynamic rookies in cornerback Mackensie Alexander, one of the draft's top corners from Clemson, and linebacker Kentrell Brothers of Missouri.
Terence Newman, who led the team with three interceptions, will help mentor Alexander after a productive sophomore year. While he only tallied 23 tackles and never recorded an interception in his two seasons, the lack of stats is a product of his impeccable covering skills,
Brothers, meanwhile, should have no troubling learning from Minnesota's veteran group of linebackers. Eric Kendricks, who led the team in tackles last season with 92 while compiling four sacks, returns alongside Chad Greenway, who chipped in 68 tackles last year with an interception return for touchdown.
Up front, the Vikings are led by Everson Griffin, who made his first Pro Bowl last winter after finishing his sixth year in the league. He recorded 49 tackles, 10.5 sacks and 17 tackles for a loss along with four passes defensed and a forced fumble.
He was helped by teammates Brian Robison, who contributed five sacks on 24 tackles, and up the middle, with nose tackle Linval Joseph's 43 tackles.
Redskins 2016 Season Previews--Pittsburgh Steelers, Week 1
--Dallas Cowboys, Week 2
--New York Giants, Week 3
--Cleveland Browns, Week 4
--Baltimore Ravens, Week 5
--Philadelphia Eagles, Week 6
--Detroit Lions, Week 7
--Cincinnati Bengals, Week 8