Vikings 2024 Schedule + Opponents Take Shape

  |  
Dec 1, 2023
Justin Jefferson Can Wrap
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

The Minnesota Vikings have five games remaining in 2023, and if they finish 3-2 or better, will likely participate in the postseason tournament.

Minnesota is 6-6 through Week 12 but has lost its last two games and desperately needs a win after the bye week at the Las Vegas Raiders.

Vikings 2024 Schedule + Opponents Take Shape

And while this season isn’t over, the 2024 Vikings schedule has taken shape. Unless the Green Bay Packers catch the Vikings from behind — that’s a real and dreadful possibility after the Packers defeated the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving — Minnesota will play a second-place schedule next season.

A New Wrinkle
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

For starters, the Vikings will have nine home games in 2024, as the NFL switches from a nine-game versus eight-game home format every year. In 2023, AFC teams received nine home games. Next year, the Vikings and 15 other NFC clubs will be afforded the nine.

So, for sure, these are the Vikings’ home opponents in 2024:

  • Arizona Cardinals
  • Chicago Bears
  • Detroit Lions
  • Green Bay Packers
  • Houston Texans
  • Indianapolis Colts
  • San Francisco 49ers
2024 Schedule
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Then, if Minnesota finished in second place inside the NFC North, it would probably play these teams at home next season:

  • Buffalo Bills
  • New Orleans Saints or Atlanta Falcons

Caveat: if Green Bay ends up in second place, the Vikings will likely host Aaron Rodgers’ New York Jets and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Regarding road opponents, these are the guarantees:

  • Chicago Bears
  • Detroit Lions
  • Green Bay Packers
  • Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Los Angeles Rams
  • Seattle Seahawks
  • Tennessee Titans

For the maybe-road opponent:

  • Dallas Cowboys

Should the Vikings hit third place in the NFC North, they’d likely travel to Washington for a date with the Commanders in 2024. Or — if the Cowboys win the NFC East while the Vikings stay in second place in the North, Minnesota would travel to Philadelphia.

In 9 Months
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports.

Overall, this is the most likely outcome (not in order) —

  • vs. Arizona Cardinals
  • vs. Buffalo Bills*
  • vs. Chicago Bears
  • vs. Detroit Lions
  • vs. Green Bay Packers
  • vs. Houston Texans
  • vs. Indianapolis Colts
  • vs. San Francisco 49ers
  • vs. Atlanta or New Orleans*
  • at Chicago Bears
  • at Detroit Lions
  • at Dallas Cowboys*
  • at Green Bay Packers
  • at Jacksonville Jaguars
  • at Los Angeles Rams
  • at Seattle Seahawks
  • at Tennessee Titans
    *Not totally solidified but probable

Pertaining to the remainder of this season, the Vikings must finish 3-2 or better in the final five games to seemingly guarantee a trip to the playoffs. A 2-3 record (or worse) the rest of the way will have the team and its fans watching scoreboards in Weeks 17 and 18 to determine fate.

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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.

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