The Minnesota Vikings and the rest of the NFL released their official schedules Thursday evening to some muted fanfare as fans compared schedule-release presentations. But let’s cut to the chase and take a more in-depth look at the Vikings’ regular season schedule.
Preseason
In the past the second preseason game has been the occasion for joint practices during the week prior to the game, so perhaps that means the Ravens will visit TCO Performance Center for a couple days during training camp? We’ll see. I haven’t
heard any news in that regard but perhaps that will be coming soon.
Regular Season Schedule
My first reaction when the Vikings’ schedule was first leaked was that this is a very favorable schedule for the Vikings. And upon further consideration, I still think that is the case. Here are some key points.
Limited Cold Weather Games- Especially in Division
The Vikings have two likely cold-weather games in December against the Patriots and Jets. And depending on the weather in Green Bay on November 15th, possibly then too. Sometimes mid-November isn’t that cold yet in Green Bay so we’ll have to wait and see. But no December/January games in Chicago or Green Bay is a positive as Kyler Murray hasn’t fared well in the past with cold-weather games. Of course he’ll be more prepared practicing in Minnesota compared to Arizona, but limited cold weather games is a plus.
Longest Away-Game Stretch is Two Games
Road trips longer than two games can wear on a team and sometimes lead to less than optimal performance. The Vikings have two, two-road game stretches on their schedule and none longer than that which is a positive. That includes the (somewhat) neutral site international game in Mexico City against the 49ers. I expect more 9ers fans than Vikings fans at that venue, but not as many as if the game were in Santa Clara.
International Game is an Away Game
But the Mexico City game is a road game for the Vikings, so they don’t lose home game and home field advantage as a result. Mexico City does present a challenge because it is high-altitude with thinner air like Denver. In the past the 49ers have practiced in Colorado to get used to the altitude, and perhaps the Vikings can do something similar to prepare.
Nine Home Games
The 17-game schedule created an unbalanced home-away schedule and this is the year for the Vikings to have nine home games instead of eight last season. That’s a bit of an advantage.
Packers Week One
Playing the Packers early in the season means they will be without their best player- Micah Parsons- who will still be recovering from his knee injury and may start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. That’s a big loss for the Packers and an advantage for the Vikings.
No Opponent Rest Advantage
The Vikings face only one game where there opponent has a significant rest advantage coming off a bye-week or Thursday night game the week before, and that is against Atlanta week 12. The Vikings have their Mexico City game on the Sunday night prior, so definitely a rest advantage for the Falcons that week. Fortunately for the Vikings it at least is a home game against the Falcons.
On the other hand, the Vikings will have a rest advantage against the Colts week 7 after their bye week, and again week 15 at home against the Lions after a Thursday night game the previous week.
Strength of Schedule
The Vikings are projected to have the 16th easiest schedule in the league this year based on current Vegas win/loss projections for each team for the 2026 regular season. That’s a significant improvement from the 27th easiest schedule they had last season.
Relative to division opponents, the Lions are projected to have the easiest schedule in the league this season, which is a clear advantage for narrowly finishing last in the division last season and therefore drawing the Cardinals, rather than the Rams, Seahawks, or 49ers as an NFC West opponent and the Giants for an NFC East opponent instead of the Eagles, Cowboys, or Commanders, and the Titans in the AFC South rather than the Jaguars, Texans, or Colts.
The Packers have the 17th easiest schedule, so not much different than the Vikings overall, while the first-place Bears last season get a first place schedule that is the 27th easiest after having the 9th easiest last season. That probably puts more emphasis on needing to beat the Lions to win the division this season.
Below is the complete league schedule in one graphic.
Weeks 1-6
The first few games of the season are some testers against decent teams including division opponents- two of which are on the road- which could provide an early assessment of how good this Vikings team is. Those are followed by two easier matchups against the Dolphins and Saints that should help give the Vikings a winning record going into their bye week.
It’s an early bye week for the Vikings, which normally isn’t as good as one closer to mid season, but depending on how things go with new players and the Vikings injury situation, could be better or worse. It does come in advance of the toughest part of their schedule, which is better than it coming after it.
Weeks 7-11
This is the truest stretch of the Vikings schedule and could reveal if they are real contenders or not. The week 8-11 stretch in particular is a beast with two road games against division opponents in the Lions and Packers, along with a Monday night game against the Bills and the Mexico City game against the 49ers. That’s about as tough as it gets.
Weeks 12-18
The Vikings schedule eases up a bit after that with five of the final seven games at home and a more mixed slate of opponents with perhaps easier games against Atlanta, Carolina, Washington, and the Jets, but more difficult matchups against the Patriots, Lions, and Bears.
Bottom Line
The Vikings have a medium-difficulty, third place slate of opponents this season with an additional home game which is forecast to be easier than the schedule they had last season. In terms of opponent rest advantages and other more hidden factors, there isn’t any big pitfalls and overall more hidden advantages than pitfalls.
It’s also reasonable well spaced with no big road stretches but it does have one of the toughest four-game stretches the Vikings have faced in recent years. If the Vikings emerge strong after the first third of their schedule and bye week, that stretch should give an indication of how far the Vikings could advance in the playoffs as these look to be four playoff-caliber opponents. But if the Vikings falter early, this stretch could find them looking ahead to the 2027 season.
So, a lot may hinge on how the Vikings are out of the gate in September.
Stay tuned.
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