There are still four months before the Vikings kick off the regular season, but at least we now know what their schedule will look like. The NFL released its 2023 schedule on Thursday and there are several things that stood out when it comes to the Vikings.
One of the biggest differences from a year ago is that Minnesota will face only one NFC North opponent in the first six weeks. That will come on Oct. 15 at Chicago. Last season, the Vikings opened against Green Bay and also played Detroit and Chicago in the first five weeks.
The Vikings also will see a couple of familiar faces early on as linebacker Eric Kendricks will visit with the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3 and Minnesota will travel to face wide receiver Adam Thielen and the Carolina Panthers in Week 4.
Here are four other things we found interesting about the Vikings’ schedule.
Big tests from big-name quarterbacks early in season
The Vikings new-look defense under coordinator Brian Flores will find out quickly just how much progress it has made when it faces three of the NFL’s top quarterbacks in the first five games.
The list includes the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts in a Thursday night matchup in Week 2 in Philadelphia; the Chargers’ Justin Herbert in Week 3 at U.S. Bank Stadium; and the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes in Week 5 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The three quarterbacks will test a passing defense that finished second-to-last in the NFL in 2022. Byron Murphy Jr., a free-agent addition from the Cardinals, will be one of the starters and figures to move inside in the nickel. That could leave 2022 draft picks Andrew Booth Jr., and Akayleb Evans, or 2023 third-round pick Mekhi Blackmon playing on the outside.
If the Vikings are going to slow that trio of passers, applying pressure will be imperative. Success in that area should start with Danielle Hunter. But Hunter, who led the Vikings with 10.5 sacks last season in his first year playing outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, almost certainly will want a contract extension before he takes the field.
Those three quarterback figure to be the Vikings’ toughest test until Week 15 when they face Joe Burrow in Cincinnati.
Plenty of prime-time exposure
The Vikings were scheduled for only two prime-time appearances last season after going 8-9 in Mike Zimmer’s final year. But the number of games under the lights has jumped significantly after the Vikings won 13 games and their first NFC North title since 2017 in Kevin O’Connell’s first year in charge.
Minnesota has five prime-time matchups set for 2023, only one off the maximum number allowed by the NFL. The Vikings will play on Thursday, Sept. 14, at Philadelphia; Monday, Oct. 23, vs. San Francisco; Sunday, Nov. 19, at Denver; Monday, Nov. 27, vs. Chicago; and Sunday, Dec. 31, vs. Green Bay.
The Broncos and Bears’ prime-time games will come in back-to-back weeks before the Vikings have a Week 13 bye. While the bye week is late, it will give Minnesota a week of rest before closing the season with a five-game stretch that will begin with road games at Las Vegas and Cincinnati.
If that Week 2 game at Philadelphia looks familiar, it’s because the Vikings also faced the Eagles in prime time last season at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles won 24-7 but Minnesota then went on a seven-game winning streak.
Vikings to spend much of December battling NFC North foes
The last time the Vikings didn’t finish the regular season against an NFC North opponent was in 2009 as the NFL wisely decided to put division foes against each other at the end of the season to create more drama. The last two years, the Vikings have completed their schedule with back-to-back division games.
But that will be increased in 2023 as the Vikings will play host to Detroit and Green Bay in Weeks 16 and 17 before closing on Jan. 7 at Ford Field.
That would indicate the NFL schedule makers are banking on the Lions and Vikings battling for the division title. The Lions, yes, the Lions, also will face Super Bowl champion Kansas City in the opening Thursday night game, so there’s no mistaking the league’s expectation for Detroit to be a contender.
The Packers will have five prime-time games, but that’s more because of a curiosity about how Jordan Love will fare in replacing Aaron Rodgers. The Bears should be improved but are considered at least year away from contending after a 3-14 finish in 2022.
Staying out of the cold
After completing coach Kevin O’Connell’s first season with consecutive cold weather games in Green Bay and Chicago, the Vikings will avoid the elements this season.
At least for the most part.
Their only outdoor game will come in Week 15 at Cincinnati as four of their five games in December will be played indoors. This includes two at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The only other outdoor game the Vikings will play from November on will be on Nov. 19 against the Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
O’Connell has to love this, considering he’s an offensive-minded coach who wants to put quarterback Kirk Cousins in ideal conditions as much as possible.
