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          NFL Nation

          Vikings expected to open U.S. Bank Stadium vs. Packers

          • Ben Goessling, ESPN Staff WriterApr 14, 2016, 05:50 PM ET
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            • Previously covered Vikings for St. Paul Pioneer Press
            • Also covered Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Wild and Washington Nationals
            • Twin Cities native and University of Minnesota graduate
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          MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Vikings wanted a headlining opponent for their first game at U.S. Bank Stadium, and all along, they’ve had one team in particular at the top of their list: the Green Bay Packers.

          It sounds as though the Vikings will get their wish.

          Two league sources told ESPN's Rob Demovsky and me the Packers will be in Minneapolis in Week 2, in what's expected to be the first regular-season game at the Vikings’ $1.1 billion new home. The Vikings beat the Packers 30-25 in a 2003 Week 1 matchup, as the Packers opened the renovated Lambeau Field. Now, 13 years later, the 111th meeting between the division rivals will give the Packers an attempt to return the favor on Sunday night.

          The two teams last played for the NFC North title in Week 17, when the Vikings beat the Packers 20-13 in a Sunday night matchup at Lambeau Field. It was Minnesota’s first division title since 2009, and it ended a run of four straight division titles for the Packers, who had won their previous two NFC North crowns in Week 17 matchups against the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions.

          U.S. Bank Stadium, which will host Super Bowl 52 in 2018, will play host to its first Vikings game on Aug. 28, when the San Diego Chargers travel to Minnesota for a Week 3 preseason game. The Vikings will finish the preseason against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 1.