Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) was stopped by Vikings defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis (72) on a four yard run in the third quarter when the Vikings and Packers played in January. (Tom Wallace — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

In case you were trapped in a well overnight, the NFL released its 2016 regular season schedule last night. The Vikings open on the road against the Titans, host the Packers at their shiny, new stadium the following weekend and close the regular season with a home game against the Bears.

As I mentioned in my story on #SCHEDULEMANIA, they have the league's 18th-toughest schedule based on 2015 records, though it is the toughest among NFC North teams because they are the defending champs.

Of course there are challenging games on that first-place schedule. So which appear to be the most daunting here in April, five months before the games will actually be played? Here is one man's ranking of the five most difficult, but please don't remind me about this list in November.

5. vs Green Bay in Week 2: I was tempted to put the season opener against the Titans on this list because of that Bay Area beatdown the 49ers gave them last year. One big issue in that loss, besides the long flight out west, was that some players were too hyped up for it, which will more likely be the case in Week 2 when the Vikings play their first real game at U.S. Bank Stadium against their biggest challengers in the North.

4. at Detroit in Week 12: I know the Lions have often been bad at football, but you would think Thanksgiving Day games would be a bigger home field advantage for them. They are just 36-38-2 on the holiday. Still, playing on the road on a short week is never easy, especially when you have to worry about large men sneaking tryptophan in their systems.

3. vs Arizona in Week 11: On paper, before the draft and training camp and the preseason, the Cardinals look to again be one of the top contenders in the NFC. Quarterback Carson Palmer still has a ton of weapons and their defense is tough, too. The shorthanded Vikings put up a pretty good fight against the Cardinals on the road last season but came up short. This year, the matchup will be played in Minneapolis, which helps.

2. at Carolina in Week 3: Reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Cam Newton and the 2015 conference champions on the road? Enough said.

1. at Green Bay in Week 16: For the second straight season, the NFC North title could come down to a late-season showdown between these two rivals. The Vikings stormed into Lambeau Field to steal the division last season. It was their first win there since 2009. Can they go in there and take out Aaron Rodgers and the Packers again? It will be a pretty tough task, but the Lambeau mystique is now shattered for this young group.