Vikings' preseason opponents announced

The Vikings will be playing their preseason opener on the road against the San Francisco 49ers before facing three straight AFC teams.

The Vikings’ preseason opponents are out; the dates and times of those games have yet to be announced.

The NFL announced its entire preseason schedule on Wednesday, and the Vikings face three AFC teams, with the preseason opener at the San Francisco 49ers being their only NFC opponent in the preseason.

After facing the 49ers in Week 1 of the preseason, the Vikings stay at home at Mall of America Field for two of the more meaningful preseason games in Week 2 and 3 – against the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers, respectively. After that, Minnesota closes out the preseason by traveling to the Houston Texans. That schedule will feature two division winners (49ers and Texans) from 2011, one 8-8 team (the Chargers) and the 6-10 Buffalo Bills.

The Vikings and 49ers will meet twice this year, as the Vikings host the 2011 NFC runners-up in Minnesota for a regular-season game (that schedule hasn’t been announced yet). Former 49ers head coach Mike Singletary is now a defensive assistant in with the Vikings after coaching linebackers in Minnesota last year. That matchup will also feature the return of former Vikings receiver Randy Moss to the football field after he took the 2011 season off. Moss signed a one-year contract with the 49ers for the 2012 season.

The exact dates and times of the Vikings’ preseason games will be announced at a later date, but their first weekend of action will be from Aug. 9-13. None of their preseason games are scheduled to be on national television but will be broadcast live on KFAN FM 100.3.