By: Toby Martin Kohls
Week 1: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay is projected to be one of the worst teams in the league this year, after the retirement of GOAT QB Tom Brady. The storyline for the Bucs will be which QB wins their starting job between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask, and what draft pick the Bucs will get. The home opener should be an easy win for the Vikings here.
Week 2: @ Philadelphia Eagles
Seriously, do the Eagles ever play in Minneapolis? This will be a tough one, another away game in Philly taking on Jalen Hurts and the Super Bowl runner-ups in a hostile prime-time environment.
Week 3: vs Los Angeles Chargers
We’re playing the AFC West this year! Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams come to town in what should be a good battle of great offenses.
Week 4: @ Carolina Panthers
The Vikings travel to Carolina to face the new-look Panthers with QB Bryce Young at the helm. The Panthers are actually supposed to be a middle-of-the-road team this year with Vegas setting their win total at O/U 7.5 wins. If the Vikings want to make the playoffs, they should win this game.
Week 5: vs Kansas City Chiefs
Fun fact: Patrick Mahomes has never beaten the Minnesota Vikings in his career, which is the only team he hasn’t triumphed over. Seems not true? It should. The Chiefs and backup QB Matt Moore beat the Vikings in November of 2019. I expect to get blown out here, but who knows?
Week 6: @ Chicago Bears
I’m sure Justin Fields will run all over our defense but I somewhat trust that new DC Brian Flores will have all our issues figured out by now and this is a must-win division game. At least it’s not in prime time.
Week 7: vs San Francisco 49ers
Monday Night Football primetime Kirk Cousins against a ferocious 49ers defense. Need I say more? Ouch.
Week 8: @ Green Bay Packers
I’m going with JJ and Flores traumatizing the Packers’ defense and QB Jordan Love. Packers fans will wish Rodgers stuck around.
Week 9: @ Atlanta Falcons
Sure, they drafted Bijan Robinson in the first round to pair with fellow first-round picks Drake London and Kyle Pitts, but they still don’t have a QB (Desmond Ridder you are significantly below league average). I’m sure Cordarelle Patterson will make us regret not keeping him as a returner. Expect a win here.
Week 10: vs New Orleans Saints
I think this Saints team is actually underrated if their players play up to their potential. Carr, Kamara, Thomas, and Olave on offense, and Jordan, Davis, Mathieu, Maye, and Lattimore highlighting the defense. In a toss-up, I still like the Vikings to get the job done at home.
Week 11: @ Denver Broncos
I’ll be attending this Sunday Night Primetime game at Mile High! Of course, that means they will lose. I’m sorry in advance.
Week 12: vs Chicago Bears
An important game against a division rival at home in prime time. We should have more clarity by this week of the playoff picture. This game should be won.
Week 13: Bye Week
I think this is the latest bye week in the team’s history. It might be sorely needed due to inevitable injuries.
Week 14: @ Las Vegas Raiders
Revenge game for former Vikings CB Duke Shelley and K Daniel Carlson. However, I don’t believe in this Raiders squad with Jimmy G, Jacobs, and Adams. That being said, I wouldn’t be surprised if Carlson kicks a 55+ yarder to win the game or something in true Minnesota sports fashion.
For those who don’t know, Carlson was drafted in the 5th round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He won the Vikings K job against incumbent Kai Forbath and then against the Packers he missed one FG in regulation and two in OT resulting in a 29-29 tie. The next day the Vikings signed Dan Bailey (at the time Bailey was the second most accurate kicker in NFL history) and cut Carlson.
Carlson then went on to be the 2x NFL Scoring Leader (2020, 2021), Second Team All-Pro in 2021, and First Team All-Pro in 2022. He also set the NFL record for most 50+ yard field goals in a season in 2022 with 11 made. God, I hate Minnesota sports.
Week 15: @ Cincinnati Bengals
The Vikings travel to Cincinnati to take on Super Bowl hopefuls Joe Burrow and company. This matchup pits the electric JaMarr Chase and Justin Jefferson together in what should be a good game. However, I still give the edge to Cincy here.
Week 16: vs Detroit Lions
Wow, the first game against Detroit in week 16? NFL scheduling madness. This could very well be a crucial deciding game for the division title. The Lions are favored to win the division with their young core but have not won it since 1993.
Week 17: vs Green Bay Packers
Easy W. Enough said. Jordan Love ends up a bust and the Vikings beat up Sean Clifford or Danny Etling.
Week 18: @ Detroit Lions
The NFL made changes in recent years to schedule more inter-division games late in the year to make them more important for the playoffs. This could be the game for the division title or it could be one where both teams rest their starters.
