Sportsbooks believe the 2026 Minnesota Vikings will finish around 8-9 or 9-8 this season, a familiar win forecast that seems to follow (haunt?) Minnesota every spring. Now, we know who Minnesota will play and when, thanks to the league’s schedule release on Thursday night. This article illuminates the nasty portions.

A few trouble spots jumped off the page immediately.

Ranked in ascending order, these are those gruesome spots (No. 1 = worst schedule aspect).

The Nasty Stretch Arrives before December

What stands out to you on the Vikings’ schedule?

4. The Early Bye Week

Nobody enjoys an early bye week, but some NFL teams just have to stomach them. Most believe the best byes are down the stretch of the regular season, perhaps in late November or early December, when a team ramps up to the final push for the postseason.

Instead, the Vikings will get one of the earliest byes possible. They’ll play five games and then reset just as the first chapter of the season ended.

Thankfully, the club has a “mini-bye” after Thursday Night Football at the New England Patriots in December — 10 days of rest.

3. Two Evil — and Good — Rivals to Kick the Whole Thing Off

The Vikings have started a season against the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears in a row (or vice versa) just once in franchise history — 2003 when Minnesota won both contests.

It’s rare, but the NFL has outfitted Minnesota’s schedule with two games against its foremost foes right away. In seasons past — mainly when the Bears weren’t very good — this would be a nothingburger. Now, though, both the Packers and Bears could reasonably win the NFC North. They’re decent-to-good squads on paper.

Minnesota could’ve eased into the 2026 regular season with a Week 1 or 2 game against the Miami Dolphins or New York Jets. Nope — it’s the in-your-face main enemies for Kyler Murray to acclimate to the franchise immediately.

SI.com‘s Jonathan Harrison on Vikings-Packers in Week 1: “The game will be the first chance for the Vikings to likely see former Cardinals QB Kyler Murray man the Vikings’ offense. Murray was signed to a one-year, veteran minimum deal in March following his release from Arizona. The Vikings’ coaching staff and front office have been adamant they see Murray in a “true competition” with J.J. McCarthy for the team’s starting quarterback role.”

“As for the Packers, they will likely be without star pass rusher Micah Parsons for the first several weeks of the 2026 season. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday, Parsons is a “candidate to be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform List” to start the season. Parsons tore his ACL in December and is currently recovering from the injury.”

2. Always Thursday Night Football on the Road

Once again, the NFL has lined up Minnesota to play on the road for Thursday Night Football. It’ll be the fourth straight occurrence.

In the last three seasons, these have been the outcomes:

This needs course correction. Starting next year — and then likely spanning a few seasons — Minnesota is overdue for home primetime Thursday Night Football games. That’s all there is to it.

Daily Norseman‘s Christopher Gates noted on TNF and the weather from the schedule, “The Thursday night trip to New England in early December might be a bit tricky, as could the penultimate game of the year against the Jets. Other than that, however, Mother Nature seems like it could be on the Vikings’ side this year.”

1. Weeks 8 thru 11

Finally, the part of the schedule where you close your eyes and pray to Norse Gods:

Unless injuries have decimated four teams consecutively, this will be a brutal stretch for Minnesota — or any team. For example, if you asked a member of each of those teams’ fan bases if that squad can win a Super Bowl in 2026, they would reply, “Yes.”

On top of that, three of the four contests are on the road. Ruthless.

For the Vikings’ season to feel optimistic, Kevin O’Connell’s team probably has to have a 4-2 record entering Week 8 at Detroit, because a 2-2 split against DET, BUF, GB, and SF would be considered a favorable outcome.

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Cristiano Argento has been tearing up opponents in the ring for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) as he worked his way up the ladder to get a few shots at some gold.

But the path to get to one of the most prestigious pro wrestling companies in the U.S. was long and a path that not many wrestlers have taken.

Argento was born and raised in Osimo, Italy – a town of about 35,000 people located on the east side of the country closer to the Adriatic Sea. He told Fox News Digital he started training in a ring at a boxing gym before he got started on the independent scene in Italy. He wrestled in Germany, Sweden, France and Denmark before he came to the realization that, to become a professional wrestler, he needed to make his way to the United States.

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Cristiano Argento performs in the National Wrestling Alliance (Instagram)

He first worked his way to Canada to get trained by pro wrestling legend Lance Storm. He moved to Canada, leaving most of his friends and family behind and without a firm grasp on the English language.

“At the time, my English was horrible. I didn’t speak any English at all,” he said. “But I was with my friend, Stefano, he came with me and he translated everything for me. I probably missed 50% of the knowledge that Lance Storm was giving to us because I was unable to understand. I was only given a recap and everything I was able to see. I’m sure if I was doing it now with a proper knowledge of English, it would have been a different scenario.

“Eventually, I moved back to Italy after the training and I said, OK, now, I want to go to the U.S. So, I studied English more properly, and eventually I got my first work visa that was in Texas. I was in Houston for a short period of time. I trained with Booker T at Reality of Wrestling. I got on his show, which was my debut in the U.S. That was awesome. I eventually got a new work visa in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I currently live since 2017. Since then, my wrestling career, thankfully, kept growing, growing, growing and growing until now wrestling for the NWA. One of the bigger promotions in the U.S.”

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Argento said that his family thought he was “nuts” for chasing his pro wrestling dream.

He said they were more concerned about his well-being given that he was half-way around the world without anyone he knew by his side in case something went sideways.

“My family, friends, everybody was like why do you want to move to the opposite side of the world not knowing the language, not knowing anybody, by yourself, to try to become a professional wrestler? And I was like, well, we have one life, I love, and that’s what I’m gonna do,” he told Fox News Digital. “Eventually, my family was really supportive. But when I first said, ‘Hey, mom and dad, I want to do that.’ They looked at me like, ‘Are you nuts? Are you drunk or something? What are you talking about?’ And I said, no that’s what I want to do. And they knew I loved this sport because in Italy I was traveling around Europe, spending time in Canada training, so they started to understand slowly that’s what I want to do with my life. They were proud of me.

Cristiano Argento works out in the gym. (Instagram)

“They’re still proud of me. I think more like the fact that you’re gonna try that, that it’s hard than more like you’re gonna leave us. The fact like, oh, my son is gonna go on the opposite side of the world for a six-hour time difference and we’re gonna see him maybe, when, like, I don’t know. Not often. I think it was more that. And for me too, it was really hard. It was heartbreaking not being able to see my family every day or every month. Like once a year if I’m lucky. I think that was the biggest part for them because of concern or that I was here by myself and if I have any issue or any problem, I didn’t have nobody. So they were scared. Like, you get sick, if you have a problem, anything, and they’re not being able to be here next to me. But they were really supportive since day one.”

Argento is living out his dream in the U.S. He suggested that the moniker of the U.S. being the “land of opportunity” wasn’t far from what is preached in movies and literature – it was the real thing.

“I was inspired by people who came to the U.S. and made it big,” Argento told Fox News Digital. “The U.S. was always like the land of opportunity. That’s how they sell it to us and this is what it is. I feel like, in myself, that was true because anything I tried to do so far I was able to reach a lot more than if I wasn’t here. I’m not yet where I’d like to be but I see like there’s so many opportunities in this country. Not just in wrestling but like in any business to reach the goal. I’m really happy of the choices I did here.

National Wrestling Alliance star Cristiano Argento poses in Times Square in New York. (Instagram)

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“But my big inspirations were big-time actors who moved to the country, who didn’t know English, with no money, no support system. I had one dream, I have to go right there to make it happen and I’m gonna go and do it and I’m gonna make it happen. So those people were always the biggest inspiration even if it wasn’t in wrestling, just how they handled their passion, how they pursued their dream without being scared of anything, how far you are, how alone by yourself … You don’t know the language, you’re like, let’s go, let’s do it.”

Outside of the NWA, Argento has performed for the International Wrestling Cartel, Enjoy Wrestling and Exodus Pro Wrestling this year.

Sterling Alexiou and Gerald Ryan are sure that filly Sequista, despite past self-sabotage, holds the potential to claim black-type honours.

The three-year-old earned stakes placings during the 2024 Inglis Nursery (1000m) and shadowed the placings in the Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) won by Tempted; now she aims to build on that in the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) at Scone on Saturday.

“She has (been unlucky) but in saying that a lot of it has been self-inflicted,” Alexiou said.

“She can get a high head carriage, and she likes a nice, flowing gallop, so a position three-wide will be a good thing for her if she can get in a nice spot and the track is playing that way.”

Alexiou is not too troubled by her landing in barrier 18, potentially moving inside to 15 without the emergencies starting.

According to him, the draw will not stop their commitment to the Scone first-up assignment, pencilled in well ahead.

“At this stage she will take her place. We’ve had the intent all preparation to run here first-up,” Alexiou said.

“She had a very solid trial the other day to make sure she was up to the mark, and there is only the one turn at Scone so hopefully the bad barrier isn’t the be-all, end-all.

“If things go the right way, she can run really well in a race like this.”

With Tyler Schiller in the saddle, Sequista was at $12 odds on Friday.

Even if results vary this weekend, the trainer anticipates strong performances ahead, be it Sydney benchmarks or Queensland black-type pursuits.

“The prizemoney in Sydney is still very good and she is still way down in the benchmarks, she is only a 73 rater,” Alexiou said.

“But that’s our ambition, to get black-type with her, and we believe on her day she’s got that type of ability.

“It’s a good place to kick her off at Scone, and I’m sure she’s in for a good preparation whatever eventuates on Saturday.”

Betting sites offer great online bookmakers options for the Denise’s Joy Stakes.

Ambati Rayudu has ignited a major IPL debate after declaring Sunil Narine as the greatest player in the history of the tournament.

Narine, who retired from international cricket in 2023 after last representing West Indies in 2019, continues to dominate the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders. His impact on the franchise stretches back to his debut season in 2012, when KKR lifted their maiden IPL title with Narine playing a starring role. The mystery spinner picked up 24 wickets in 15 matches that year while maintaining a remarkable economy rate of 5.47.

He delivered another title-winning campaign in 2014, claiming 21 wickets in 16 matches at an economy of 6.35. Narine once again proved decisive during KKR’s third IPL triumph two years ago, contributing with both bat and ball. Alongside 17 wickets in 15 games at an economy of 6.69, he smashed 488 runs at a strike rate of 180.74, including one century and three half-centuries.

Speaking on ESPNcricinfo TimeOut, Rayudu praised Narine’s all-round influence on matches.

“Best IPL player, according to me, of all time. Proper match-winner with the ball and with the bat. There have been many great players in the IPL, but this guy always stands out. He’s at the top of the list for me,” Rayudu said.

Even in IPL 2026, Narine remains as effective as ever. The veteran spinner has taken 13 wickets in 11 matches at an economy rate of 6.70 despite batting conditions becoming increasingly favourable in modern T20 cricket.

His latest performance came during KKR’s win over Gujarat Titans at Eden Gardens, which also marked his 200th IPL appearance. Narine returned figures of 2/29 in four overs and played a crucial role in restricting Shubman Gill’s side during their chase of 248. On a night heavily tilted towards batters, Narine’s spell stood out enough to earn him the Player of the Match award once again.

Antoine Semenyo returns to former club Bournemouth with Manchester City on Tuesday, with the Blues chasing a vital victory in the Premier League title race

Antoine Semenyo has been getting a bit of grief from his former teammates in the build-up to Manchester City’s trip to his former club on Tuesday.

The Blues travel to Bournemouth still chasing a domestic treble after Semenyo proved the matchwinner in the FA Cup final against Chelsea. His improvised backheel flick settled the showpiece and now Semenyo and City will head to the south coast aiming to keep up the pressure on Arsenal.

The frontman only departed the Vitality Stadium in January, and has lifted two trophies since moving to the Etihad. City have not lost domestically since Semenyo’s Premier League debut at Old Trafford, while Bournemouth are unbeaten since his departure and chasing a European place. Something will have to give on Tuesday.

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“I was the problem,” joked Semnyo. “I am happy they are doing so well and hopefully they get into Europe too. It’s going to be tough. They’ve got something to fight for so they’re going to make it tough for us.

“It won’t be weird going back. It’ll be good to see everyone again. I still speak to them every day, to be honest, they’ve been giving me a lot of cr*p, just like they’re going to kick me and this and that but it’ll be good to see them all.

“And obviously, it’s going to be a tough game. So I’m looking forward to the challenge and hopefully we win.”

Semenyo has joined a City side used to winning. After a tough campaign last season, the Blues have returned two trophies this term and the new-look squad will hope to kick on and claim more silverware in the future, regardless of whether they can overhaul Arsenal over the final two matches of the campaign.

For Semenyo, it’s been a whirlwind few months.

“It’s been surreal, to be honest,” he added. “Everything’s just happened so quickly. But again, when you come to the team in January, you have to adapt as quick as you can and do the best for the team. So I’m happy I’m doing so.

“I think the last five months have been so intense, so many games and expectations are high.

“When you’re playing around top players, you naturally have to be on your toes and on it every single day. So that’s what they give you and they make it easy for you, especially us wingers.

“They are top players getting on the ball, dictating the play, and it makes it easier for us, creates a lot of one vs one situations and that’s essentially what wingers want. We bounce off each other every day on the pitch and off the pitch.

“When you have top pros who have won it all essentially, you just learn a lot and it rubs off on you a little bit. We just have to focus on what we’re doing and see what happens by the end of next week.

“We’ll just focus on us. We’re not focused on Arsenal and what they do. We just have to win our games and apply pressure the best way we can.”

Rajasthan Royals (RR) all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been rested for their IPL 2026 match against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, May 17. The 37-year-old has been given a break after 11 games to manage his workload. Debutant Ravi Singh has replaced the veteran in the playing XI.

At the toss, Parag said (via ESPNcricinfo):

“One change – Jaddu bhai (Ravindra Jadeja) misses out due to load management, Ravi Singh comes in.”

Jadeja’s absence could hurt RR as the senior all-rounder has amassed 190 runs in eight innings and bagged eight wickets in nine innings at an economy rate of 7.84 this season. The Royals had bought him after a successful trade deal with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for ₹14 crore last year.

In his absence, Ravi Singh would be keen to make the most of his chances. The wicketkeeper-batter has scored 295 runs in nine T20 innings at a promising strike rate of 174.55, including two half-centuries. The 24-year-old has one century and four fifties for the Railways in his List-A career.

DC opt to bowl against RR in IPL 2026 clash; both teams make one change in must-win game

DC captain Axar Patel won the toss and chose to bowl against RR in the IPL 2026 match. Like the Royals, the hosts made a solitary change as Auqib Nabi made way for debutant Tripurana Vijay, an off-spinner from Andhra.

The two teams are locking horns for the second time in 2026. The Capitals beat RR by seven wickets in their last meeting.

A win would help the Riyan Parag-led side jump to the top four in the points table. With six wins in 11 games, they are currently fifth in the chart. Having said that, they lost to the Gujarat Titans (GT) by 77 runs in their last game.

On the other hand, the Capitals have five wins in 12 games so far. A victory would keep them mathematically alive in the race to the playoffs. They beat the Punjab Kings (PBKS) by three wickets in their previous outing.

Follow the DC vs RR IPL 2026 match live score and updates here.