Minnesota Vikings football is back. 

The Vikings will kick off the 2023 season on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team will be looking to start the season off on a positive note as a couple of tough games follow the opener. Check below to see how to watch, listen, and stream the opening matchup.

Date: Sunday, September 10
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN
Betting odds: Vikings -5, Over/Under 45.5 
How to watch on TV: CBS (WCCO in the Twin Cities)
Streaming: NFL+, Paramount+, NFL Sunday Ticket, Game Pass International
Radio: KFAN (100.3-FM), KTLK 1130-AM and the five-state Vikings Radio Network

How will the new look defense perform in Week 1?

The Vikings sported one of the worst pass defenses in the league in 2022. In response, the team replaced almost the entire secondary and brought in several young guys. 

Rookie Mekhi Blackmon, second-year player Akayleb Evans, and veteran Byron Murphy Jr. are slated to be the new starting corners. Reliable veteran Harrison Smith and 2022 starter Camryn Bynum both return to man the safety spots. It will be interesting to see how the young guys and new starters gel to begin the season. 

Granted, this Bucs team no longer has Tom Brady, but receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin still present a tough challenge for any secondary. 

3 players to watch:

WR Jordan Addison- Addison was not listed as a starter on the team's unofficial depth chart, but the rookie still figures to play a big role for the team. It will be interesting to see how Addison is added into the gameplan against Tampa Bay. With Josh Oliver and TJ Hockenson both on the team, it's likely that the team will run two-tight end sets often. Will Addison be brought along slowly, or will he and Osborn take part in a timeshare? 

CB Mekhi Blackmon- Similar to Addison, fellow rookie Blackmon was not listed as a starter on the initial depth chart. However, with the prevalence of nickel and dime packages these days, Blackmon will see the field quite a bit. I'm interested to see how the rookie handles going against elite receivers like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Will it take the rookie a while to get adjusted or will he fit right in? 

RB Alexander Mattison- Other than Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson, Mattison is probably the most important member of the Vikings' offense. Can Mattison fill in seamlessly for the Vikings or will Dalvin Cook be missed? The Bucs' defense presents a tough initial challenge for the running back. 

Other Vikings news:

The Vikings elevated two players from the practice squad.

A key piece could be missing from the defense.

Meet the Vikings’ initial 53-man roster following cuts

The Vikings have trimmed the roster and will now prepare for Week 1.

Featured image via © Jeffrey Becker | 2023 Aug 26