2023 Minnesota Vikings Schedule Preview

The 2023 NFL Schedule was released a couple weeks back now, so lets chat about the 2023 Vikings shall we?

All times Central
Week 1: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sept 10 - 12 PM (CBS)
This is a different game then it would have been a year ago. Tampa is not the same team from last year, Tom Brady has retired (at least for now) and the Bucs are moving on. The team is now led by starter-turned-journeyman QB Baker Mayfield and will attempt to rebuild post Brady. Given the talent that Minnesota owns, even though its attempting to rebuild the defense, I would expect the team to beat the Bucs in the home opener.
Result: Minnesota wins 35-21 (1-0)

Week 2: @ Philadelphia Eagles, Sept 14 - 7:15 PM (TNF on Prime)
Well, I guess this is round two? I don't know what beef the NFL has with trying to make something of these two teams in week two on primetime. Hopefully those that are able to view games on Amazon Prime are treated to a good game. But I am not about to sit here and say the Vikings will go out to Philly and take down the Super Bowl runner-ups. This Eagles team is really good, even if I didn't want to admit last season. Minnesota will have a hard time beating this team, especially in their building.
Result: Philadelphia wins 38-24 (1-1)

Week 3: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Sept 24 - 12 PM (FOX)
The Chargers social media team thinks they are so funny making fun of the Vikings stadium and its bird problem from 2017, as well as their jokes in the fake banners in their schedule release video. Just wait until they enter US Bank Stadium, also known to some lesser teams as hell. In terms of games, these two teams have played very infrequently. This year's matchup will be the 15th edition of the series, which Minnesota leads 8-6. The Vikings have won 4 out of the last 5 games in the series, two of which took place in the last 5 seasons. 2 out of the last 5 games were in Minnesota, the rest took place at the Chargers home venues. The first of 4 wins took place in 2007 when the Vikings convincingly sent the bolts back to San Diego from the comfort of the Metrodome. The 2011 edition was a close loss that involved a powerful Adrian Peterson. The 2015 edition was another convincing win with Peterson at the helm again, taking place at TCF Bank Stadium. The last two games were in Los Angeles, the first was while the Chargers were waiting for SoFi Stadium to be completed. It was a huge win for the purple as the Vikings fans took over tiny Dignity Health Sports Park. The latest game was another Vikings win, but a close one in SoFi Stadium in 2021. So I think its safe to say nothing will change from the last two matchups, the Chargers haven't really gotten any better or worse over the offseason so far.
Result: Minnesota wins 31-20 (2-1)

Week 4: @ Carolina Panthers, 10/1 - 12 PM (FOX)
Adam Thielen will get a crack at his former team early on in his stay with the Panthers. Carolina is in rebuilding mode currently, especially after the disasterous Matt Rhule experiment that didn't even last 3 full seasons. The Panthers will most likely display this year's number 1 overall pick, QB Bryce Young in this game. I am going to lean towards that the Vikings will have the upper hand in this matchup.
Result: Minnesota wins 38-21 (3-1)

Week 5: vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 10/8 - 3:25 PM (CBS)
Minnesota will get the chance to knock off the reigning champs at home this year, not often you get that chance. The Chiefs return most, if not all, of their impactful players from last year's Super Bowl winning team. They will be stout again on offense, led by star-studded QB Patrick Mahomes. I am going to go out on a limb and say this one will be close. The Vikings have not had exactly had many bad games against the Chiefs as of late. The last time these two teams met was in 2019 when Minnesota lost in Kansas City on a last second field goal by the Chiefs. While the Vikings defense is not nearly as good as it was that year, if they are able to slow Mahomes down at all, the offense could just have enough room to catchup and sneak past the Chiefs.
Result: Kansas City wins 38-35 (3-2)

Week 6: @ Chicago Bears, 10/15 - 12 PM (FOX)
The Vikings will get their first division game in Week 6 when they take on the ever-rebuilding Bears. QB Justin Fields may very well be the real deal in Chicago, and the Bears have added some help to the offense in the offseason with the addition of WR DJ Moore. While I do feel the Bears will need more then that to beat the Vikings, it will be close as always when these teams play in the Windy City. 
Result: Minnesota wins 17-10 (4-2)

Week 7: vs. San Francisco 49ers, 10/23 - 7:15 PM (MNF)
Minnesota will play the Niners in Week 7, who will hopefully have decided on their quarterback by then. San Fran had a wacky year last year, that winded up getting them to the NFC Championship game. They started the year with former number 3 overall pick QB Trey Lance, until he injured his ankle in Week 2. Then they rode with veteran Jimmy Garappolo until the middle of the season when he got injured as well. They had to go with the 2022 draft's Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy, for the rest of the year. Purdy managed to keep the team winning, as well as recently acquired RB Christian McCaffery, all the way to the game before Super Bowl. As far as how this game will fare, I feel decently confident the Vikings can beat Purdy if he is called upon. Now, with the combo of a healthy Trey Lance and Christian McCaffery, I am quite nervous. Its also on Monday Night Football, so who knows how the team will respond on national television. 
Result: Minnesota wins 28-27 (5-2)

Week 8: @ Green Bay Packers, 10/29 - 12 PM (FOX)
The first matchup with that team across the border won't come until week 8. The Packers have changed a fair amount over the offseason. Longtime QB Aaron Rodgers is headed off to the New York Jets, which means former 1st round pick Jordan Love will now helm the young Green Bay offense. Honestly, this will be a hard one to predict this far out, and without any prior game knowledge. Last year's games when somewhat according to prediction, so this year's have to be opposite right?
Result: Minnesota wins 24-17 (6-2)

Week 9: @ Atlanta Falcons, 11/5 - 12 PM (FOX)
Finally, a sigh of relief for the Vikings. Right? Well, lets hope so, as this first place schedule doesn't let up. The Falcons come into this year still trying out the Desmond Ritter experience. It hasn't born much fruit yet, but maybe this year is the year for Atlanta? Not this week, while Minnesota lets off the gas considerably I think they scrape out the win.
Result: Minnesota wins 31-30 (7-2)

Week 10: vs. New Orleans Saints, 11/12 - 12 PM (FOX)
The Saints come to town looking a little different then last year. First of all, they have veteran QB Derek Carr at the helm with a considerable chip on his shoulder. They have also made substantial additions in this year's draft, so expect this to be closer then maybe we would like.
Result: Minnesota wins 28-24 (8-2)

Week 11: @ Denver Broncos, 11/19 - 7:20 PM (SNF)
Why this game is on primetime, I have not a clue. While the Vikings have had some close calls with Russell Wilson, both parties are much different then previous meetings. Minnesota has since moved on from former head coach Mike Zimmer, and is beginning a rebuild of their defense. Wilson has also moved on from Seattle to Denver, this season under seasoned head coach Sean Payton. Last year was a disaster for Wilson and the Broncos, and they hope this year is different. However, Denver always seems to have a stingy defense.
Result: Denver wins 17-16 (8-3)

Week 12: vs. Chicago Bears, 11/27 - 7:15 PM (MNF)
Two primetime games in a row for the Vikings? Gotta be a bad idea. Although its nice not to have to sweat about this team on Thanksgiving though. This is the rare primetime game I think the Vikings should have the upper hand in. When the games matter against the Bears, Minnesota tends to have the upper hand.
Result: Minnesota wins 28-13 (9-3)

Week 13: Bye
This will be a much needed bye for this team. That was quite the gauntlet in there for a little while. I really don't like how late this bye is this year, but the team will have to deal with it.

Week 14: @ Las Vegas Raiders, 12/10 - 3:05 PM (FOX)
This will be the Vikings first visit to Allegiant Stadium since it was opened a couple seasons ago. The Raiders are trying to rebuild for some reason under second-year head coach Josh McDaniels. I am not quite sure where they think they are going, but I like how it looks for the purple.
Result: Minnesota wins 38-13 (10-3)

Week 15: @ Cincinnati Bengals, 12/17 - TBD
Another tough game for the Vikings. The Bengals have been hard to beat in Cinci these past couple seasons. Definitely one I think Minnesota will be undermanned from the start, since this is a much different team then the Vikings faced the last time they played the Bengals.
Result:  Cincinnati wins 37-28 (10-4)

Week 16: vs. Detroit Lions, 12/24 - 12 PM (FOX)
The Vikings still couldn't escape playing on a holiday this year. This is supposedly a game between the top two NFC North teams this year. While I will have to see it to believe it, Detroit is on the rise. At this point in the year, the Vikings could be vying for a bye or the division lead so every win will help. I think they get an early Christmas gift.
Result: Minnesota wins 28-25 (11-4)

Week 17: vs. Green Bay Packers, 12/31 - 7:20 PM (SNF)
A late season primetime game against the Packers never seem to go well for Minnesota. I said earlier that the games would be flipped this year, and I am sticking to that. The Vikings sputter and can't seem to get anything done on offense, and Green Bay's offense has found their gear.
Result: Green Bay wins 35-17 (11-5)

Week 18: @ Detroit Lions, 1/7 - TBD
This is potentially every Lions fan's fever dream, that the Vikings and Lions are vying for the division crown in January. I am not so sure it will be these two teams playing for the title, but it very well could be. While I hesitate looking at the schedule whether the Vikings can pull this one out, I think they come up big with the division crown for the second year in a row. 
Result: Minnesota wins 29-27 (12-5)

Final Result: 12-5, 3 seed in NFC playoffs.

I think the Vikings will be at best 13-4 and at worst 7-10. Based on my predictions, they will win the division crown again. Of course everyone wants to know who else is at the top, and I am going to say it will be a tie between Detroit and Green Bay at 11-6 or a split between that and 10-7 with Green Bay taking the upper hand. The NFC North will have 3 teams in the playoffs, which does indeed mean they will take on the Lions again the Wild Card game. That would be a first for both teams, so I have to jump at it. 

Bring on the season!! I can't wait to do some training camp stuff later this offseason.

​#SKOL