Minnesota Vikings vast receiver Justin Jefferson (18) celebrates after scoring a landing in opposition to the Detroit Lions throughout second-quarter motion at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis on Dec. 24, 2023. Jefferson energized the house crowd following the scoring play as Minnesota battled Detroit in a pivotal NFC North matchup throughout the closing weeks of the common season. Necessary Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports activities.
The NFL launched the total schedule on Thursday evening, permitting every staff to disclose its personal docket with fancy social media movies. The Minnesota Vikings featured kicker Will Reichard and wrestler Chris Jericho. The league could by no means, ever, be the identical eh-gain.
Minnesota’s hardest assessments are straightforward to identify.
That was a Chris Jericho reference for the non-wrestling followers, however we digress. The next is an inventory of the very best video games on the Vikings’ schedule, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = high recreation).
5 Matchups That Will Spotlight the Vikings’ Season
What video games have you ever circled?
San Francisco 49ers working again Christian McCaffrey catches a go in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings throughout fourth-quarter motion on Oct. 23, 2023, at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. McCaffrey remained a focus of San Francisco’s offense all through the primetime matchup, utilizing his versatility as each a runner and receiver in opposition to Minnesota’s protection. Necessary Credit score: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports activities
5. Week 11 | at San Francisco 49ers (SNF, Mexico)
This recreation feels just like the season’s midpoint, although it’s mathematically nearer to the end line.
On November twenty second — 4 days earlier than Thanksgiving — this contest needs to be a unbelievable indicator of whether or not the Vikings are “for real” or merely sputtering round .500 whereas hoping to maintain issues attention-grabbing. The Vikings have performed the 49ers effectively with Kevin O’Connell in cost and appear to have Brock Purdy’s quantity.
We all know for certain that San Francisco received’t be a joke, so at a impartial website, it is a great barometer in late November to find out whether or not the Vikings is usually a actual contender.
4. Week 14 at New England Patriots (TNF)
Minnesota hasn’t performed at New England in eight years, and the final time they visited, Tom Brady nonetheless ran the present, and Kirk Cousins performed poorly that contest. This time is completely different. The Patriots don’t have Brady however are nonetheless the Tremendous Bowl runner-up. Vikings followers can even get to see Drake Maye, whom a lot of the fan base needed for Minnesota’s roster from the 2024 NFL Draft.
Of all video games on the schedule, this one has the largest underdog level unfold for Minnesota from a Could perspective — 4.5 factors in favor of the Patriots.
Sportsbooks don’t suppose the Vikings will win this one.
“The big question for Minnesota will be who is starting at quarterback by Week 11: 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy or free agent addition Kyler Murray? With either operating on a short week and on the road, the Patriots take care of business. | Prediction: Win (8-5).”
3. Week 1 | vs. Inexperienced Bay Packers
It’s Kyler Murray’s — in all probability — first recreation as a Minnesota Viking, and he’ll see his previous head coach, Jonathan Gannon, who’s the brand new defensive coordinator for the Packers. In the meantime, the Vikings have opened the season at dwelling in opposition to Inexperienced Bay simply twice in franchise historical past: a loss in 2020 and a win in 2022 to start out the O’Connell period.
This one is must-see tv for these causes:
Week 1 is at all times must-see tv.
Murray’s first recreation in purple.
Murray vs. Gannon.
The pure MIN-GB rivalry
A quasi-primetime really feel at 3:25 pm CST
It’s at dwelling.
2. Week 15 | vs. Detroit Lions (SNF)
At this level on the schedule, if the Vikings are good, they may have a 10-3, 9-4, 8-5, or 7-6 file. Taking up the Lions, who may need an analogous file and a roster that continues to be spectacular, can have heavy implications for the NFC North and the playoff image.
Detroit Lions security Kerby Joseph high-fives teammates throughout pregame warmups earlier than a matchup in opposition to the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 8, 2023, at Ford Area in Detroit, Michigan. Joseph ready for an additional NFC contest after rising as one of many Lions’ ascending defensive playmakers throughout Detroit’s rise below head coach Dan Campbell. Necessary Credit score: Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK
Till final 12 months, Dan Campbell totally dominated O’Connell; it was embarrassing. However O’Connell took down Campbell twice in 2025. Possibly a brand new day is on the horizon.
Circle this one as a result of it’s late within the season, it’s at dwelling, and it’ll in all probability drip with playoff implications.
1. Week 9 | vs. Buffalo Payments (MNF)
A rematch of among the finest Vikings’ common season video games of all time from 2022 — maybe the only finest Vikings common season recreation ever.
That dub occurred in Buffalo; this contest will shake out in Minneapolis. The Vikings drew the Payments on Monday Evening Soccer on November ninth, proper after the World Collection and the 2026 midterm elections, and some weeks earlier than Thanksgiving.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks recovers a fumble in the long run zone for a landing in opposition to the Buffalo Payments on Nov. 13, 2022, at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. Kendricks helped spark one of many Vikings’ most dramatic victories in franchise historical past throughout an extra time thriller in opposition to Buffalo on the street. Necessary Credit score: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports activities
Buffalo is principally assured to be a contender if Josh Allen is wholesome. Allen returns to the spot of his profession win at U.S. Financial institution Stadium when he and the Payments surprised Kirk Cousins‘ Vikings in 2018.
Suppose Minnesota has a profitable file heading into Vikings-Payments. This recreation will educate you numerous in regards to the staff’s upside.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
