The Vikings will get a second shot at toppling the Saints, only this time the NFC title won't be at stake.
The NFC title rematch game, set for Thursday night on Sept. 9, kicks off the 17-week, 256-game season, which features more divisional games in the final weeks in order to increase their importance for playoff berths.
The biggest change in this season’s schedule was the NFL’s attempt to make late-season games more meaningful. In the final three weeks of the season, the NFL will have a total of 28 division matchups, up from just 15 in 2009, in order to boost interest in playoff ramifications.
Full story: NFL releases schedule, Super Bowl champions New Orleans Saints to open it against Minnesota Vikings