NFL owners voted Tuesday to approve the scheduling change, the first of its kind in more than four decades. It's been widely expected and follows a finalized round of lucrative media agreements.
The Vikings allowed 397 total yards, including a career-high 146 yards rushing to David Montgomery, in a 33-27 loss to the Bears on Sunday that dropped them to 6-8 and badly damaged their faint playoff hopes.
Tampa Bay sacked Kirk Cousins six times, the last producing a fumble that ended any chance of a rally in the closing minutes. Minnesota's chances were undermined by another poor performance by kicker Dan Bailey, who missed an extra point and three field goals.
The Vikings kept the playoffs well within reach with their fifth win in six games after their bye, in a game with a steady stream of gaffes by both teams.
Shortly after Minnesota receiver Chad Beebe muffed a punt that allowed Carolina to pad its lead, he caught a 10-yard touchdown pass that lifted the Vikings to a 28-27 victory on Sunday.
Andy Dalton returned from a two-game absence to throw three touchdown passes, hitting Dalton Schultz for a 2-yard score with 1:37 left to lift the Cowboys over the Vikings 31-28 on Sunday to stop their four-game losing streak.
Dalvin Cook gained 226 yards from scrimmage and became the first Viking in over four decades to score four touchdowns in a single game as Minnesota defeated the Green Bay Packers 28-22 on Sunday.
The Minnesota Vikings say Matt Blair, one of the great linebackers in team history, has died. Drafted in the second round out of Iowa State in 1974, Blair played all 12 of his NFL seasons for the Vikings, from 1974 to 1985.
Dalvin Cook ran for 130 yards and two touchdowns and the Minnesota Vikings withstood a late rally from the winless Houston Texans to get their first victory on Sunday.
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