Vikings Play Five Primetime Games In New 2023 Schedule
Minnesota Vikings fans can begin planning their road trips for the 2023 season following Thursday night’s schedule release.
Some of the league’s key games include the Detroit Lions going head-to-head against the Kansas City Chiefs in the season opener. The Lions also play against the Packers on Thanksgiving, followed by Washington at Dallas and San Francisco at Seattle. Miami and the New York Jets will face off in the NFL’s first Black Friday game. There will also be three Christmas games (Raiders at Chiefs, Giants at Eagles and Ravens at 49ers).
The Vikings’ schedule is full of exciting matchups. They have five primetime games this year and two others kickoff in the late afternoon window. The team’s bye week is in Week 13, six weeks later than last year. Here’s how the rest of the season is set up for Minnesota.
Opening Weekend
The new-look Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play in Minnesota Week One. The last time the Vikings opened their season against the Buccaneers was in 2005. Tampa Bay won the game 24-13. Quarterback Daunte Culpepper completed 22-of-33 passes in the game, finishing with 233 yards, three interceptions and no touchdowns.
The Vikings will also battle the rest of the NFC South this season, including the Carolina Panthers (Week Four), Atlanta Falcons (Week Nine) and the New Orleans Saints (Week Ten).
Division Rivals
Minnesota’s first division action is in Week Six when they face the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The team plays in Green Bay two weeks later. Both of these games are 12:00 PM CT starts.
Detroit will visit the Vikings in Week 16 at noon local time, and the two meet again in the final week of the regular season at Ford Field. Kickoff for the season-finale is to be determined.
Primetime Slate
Minnesota will visit the Philadelphia Eagles in Week Two on Thursday Night Football. The two teams also met in the second week of last year’s regular season. Philadelphia won that matchup 24-7.
San Francisco heads to U.S. Bank Stadium for a Monday Night Football game in Week Seven. The last time the 49ers played in Minnesota, the Vikings won 24-16.
In Week 11, Minnesota travels to Denver for Sunday Night Football action. The Vikings have an overall record of 8-7 against the Broncos, including a 27-24 victory in 2019.
The following week, Minnesota hosts the Chicago Bears in their second Monday Night Football game of the season. This will be the first Monday night game eligible to be flexed.
Finally, a New Year’s Eve throwdown against the Green Bay Packers in Week 17. Minnesota has won three of the last five games against the Packers.
AFC Opponents
The Vikings will face the entire AFC West throughout the year, beginning with the Los Angeles Chargers in Week Three. They host the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs in Week Five. That game could also be Patrick Mahomes’ first against Minnesota. As mentioned above, the team travels to Denver in Week 11 and heads to Las Vegas in Week 14 to face the Raiders.
Minnesota will go on the road to play the 2021 AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Week 15. The exact date and time of the game will be determined later in the year.
Final Thoughts
Following a thrilling 13-3 season last year, Minnesota has the league’s 19th most-difficult strength of schedule in 2023. The Vikings’ win total is set at 8.5. They have +325 odds to win the NFC North and +4000 to win the Super Bowl. With the team’s additions of Dean Lowry, Byron Murphy and Marcus Davenport in free agency alongside a draft class with potential, the Vikings have an opportunity to be one of the league’s more entertaining teams.
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