As the Redskins look to march into the playoffs for the second straight season, they'll start the second half of their season with a tough Week 10 matchup against a strong Vikings team.

The Washington Redskins will return to action next Sunday to play the Minnesota Vikings at FedExField in a crucial game to kick off the second half of the season.

After Sunday's 22-16 overtime loss the Detroit Lions, the Vikings enter Week 10 action with a 5-3 record as they remain right in the middle of a competitive race in the NFC North.

After Teddy Bridgewater suffered a season-ending knee injury in August, the Vikings traded away a future first-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire Sam Bradford.

Shaun Hill started Minnesota's Week 1 victory over the Tennessee Titans, but Bradford has been the team's starting quarterback since Week 2.

The former first-overall pick has a better touchdown to interception ratio this season than has been traditionally seen out of him, as the Oklahoma product has 10 touchdowns to just one pick.

Minnesota's running game has struggled massively this season, though, with Adrian Peterson sidelined with a knee injury.

Entering Sunday's game, the Vikings were averaging just 2.7 yards per carry and had just three touchdowns.

Former University of Maryland star Stefon Diggs has been the Vikings top passing attack in just his second season, as he has more than 600 yards on the year and is coming off a 13-reception peformance.

Tight end Kyle Rudolph and wide receiver Adam Thielen – undrafted out of Minnesota State in 2013 – have also been big contributors for Bradford.

Minnesota's success this season, however, comes from an incredible productive defensive unit, as the Vikings entered Sunday's game against the Lions virtually tied with the Arizona Cardinals for the best total defense.

The Vikings have three different players with at least three sacks and Eric Kendricks and Danielle Hunter both have defensive touchdowns this year.

Punt returner Marcus Sherels, meanwhile, has taken two touchdowns back this year.

Sunday's game will mark the 25th time that the Redskins and Vikings have faced off dating back to the 1968 regular season. In their 24 previous meeting – five of which have come in playoff action – both teams have won 12 games.

Washington's most recent win the series was in 2012, when the Redskins defeated the Vikings by a final of 38-26.