The Minnesota Vikings just missed out on making the playoffs last season despite having a solid team. Bouncing back from an 8-7-1 record could be easier given the solid core the organization has built over the last few seasons.

The team brings back its solid offensive core led by Kirk Cousins and including Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph. As long as the main players stay healthy, Minnesota’s offense should be firing on all cylinders.

Defensively, the team still looks good on paper.

Minnesota still has Harrison Smith and Xavier Rhodes in its secondary with Anthony Barr as the team’s top linebacker and Everson Griffen and Linval Joseph starting on the defensive line.

The Vikings will be in for a challenge early in the season with four straight games against expected playoff contenders. The team kicks off its 2019 campaign at home against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 9.

Read below for more about the Vikings heading into the 2019 season.

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2019 SCHEDULE

Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer talks with reporters following the team's 27-23 loss to the Buffalo Bills in an NFL preseason football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Week	Date	Time (ET)	Channel	Opponent
1	Sept. 8	1:00 pm	FOX	Atlanta Falcons
2	Sept. 15	1:00 pm	FOX	@ Green Bay Packers
3	Sept. 22	1:00 pm	FOX	Oakland Raiders
4	Sept. 29	4:25 pm	CBS	@ Chicago Bears
5	Oct. 6	1:00 pm	FOX	@ New York Giants
6	Oct. 13	1:00 pm	FOX	Philadelphia Eagles
7	Oct. 20	1:00 pm	FOX	@ Detroit Lions
8	Oct. 24	8:20 pm	FOX/NFL	Washington Redskins
9	Nov. 3	1:00 pm	FOX	@ Kansas City Chiefs
10	Nov. 10	8:20 pm	NBC	@ Dallas Cowboys
11	Nov. 17	1:00 pm	CBS	Denver Broncos
12				Bye
13	Dec. 2	8:15 pm	ESPN	@ Seattle Seahawks
14	Dec. 8	1:00 pm	FOX	Detroit Lions
15	Dec. 15	8:20 pm	NBC	@ Los Angeles Chargers
16	Dec. 23	8:15 pm	ESPN	Green Bay Packers
17	Dec. 29	1:00 pm	FOX	Chicago Bears

PLAYERS TO WATCH

In this Dec. 10, 2018, file photo, Minnesota Vikings' Adam Thielen (19) runs with the ball after a reception against the Seattle Seahawks in the second half of an NFL football game, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear, File)

QB: Kirk Cousins
RB: Dalvin Cook
WR: Stefon Diggs
WR: Adam Thielen
DT: Linval Joseph
DE: Everson Griffen
LB: Anthony Barr
S: Harrison Smith

VIKINGS DRAFT PICKS

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Dillon Mitchell (17) runs from Arizona Cardinals safety Jonathan Owens after making a reception during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Round 1, Pick 18: Garrett Bradbury, C
Round 2, Pick 50: Irv Smith Jr., TE
Round 3, Pick 102: Alexander Mattison, RB
Round 4, Pick 114: Dru Samla, G
Round 5, Pick 162: Cameron Smith, LB
Round 6, Pick 190: Armon Watts, DT
Round 6, Pick 191: Marcus Epps, S
Round 6, Pick 193: Oli Udoh, T
Round 7, Pick 217: Kris Boyd, CB
Round 7, Pick 239: Dillon Mitchell, WR

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