Our Win-Loss Prediction for the 2023 Vikings
The NFL returns in two days when the Detroit Lions travel to Kansas City for a date with Super Bowl champion Chiefs. Set your fantasy lineups.
Thereafter, all other teams take the field on Sunday, September 10th, and Monday, September 11th. The Minnesota Vikings host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to kick off the party.
Our Win-Loss Prediction for the 2023 Vikings
And to get your wheels turning about the 2023 season, here are the VikingsTerritory writers’ predictions about the purple team’s win-loss record in 2023. At the very end, one prediction is offered based on combined wins and losses per writer.
Kyle Joudry: 9-8
Prediction Maker: Kyle Joudry
9-8. Division Title. Lose in Divisional Round.
My true opinion is that the Vikings will finish with a 10-7 record, but that’s dull and likely ultra-predictable. Instead, let me say 9-8. The catch is that the record wins Minnesota the NFC North (I won’t believe the Lions can do it until they do it). Even with the underwhelming record, the Vikings pull off a postseason win before getting beat by a superior team.
Janik Eckdart: 10-7
Prediction Maker: Janik Eckardt
10-7, 4th seed — Bounced in Divisional round
The Vikings will be an improved team in 2023 because of the continuity on offense and a revamped defense, but the record won’t indicate that. Still, the Vikings will win a postseason contest before losing to an NFC powerhouse.
Josh Frey: 10-7
Prediction Maker: Josh Frey
Vikings go 10-7, land the No. 6 seed in the playoffs, win in the Wild Card, and fall in the Divisional.
Ultimately, the defense will be a touch better this year, but it is hard to bank on this group jumping from the basement of the league all the way to being elite, particularly early on in the season. The offense will remain strong, but with a more arduous regular season schedule, the Vikings will lose a few extra games. However, if that defensive group can find a bit of a rhythm later in the year, they can make some noise in the playoffs.
Adam New: 10-7
Prediction Maker: Adam New
My final win-loss prediction for the 2023 Vikings is 10-7.
Will that be enough to win the division? It could be close. I don’t think Detroit, Green Bay, or Chicago are teams that will win more than 10 games, but it will be a closely fought division — 10 wins might just be enough.
Ted Schwerzler: 10-7
Prediction Maker: Ted Schwerzler
Ten wins this season. It’ll be good enough to win the NFC North and grab the three seed in the playoffs.
Minnesota wins a playoff game, but that’s where the run ends.
Ali Siddiqui: 10-7
Prediction Maker: Ali Siddiqui
The Vikings finish 10-7 as a Wild Card team, with the Lions winning the division. They win one playoff game.
The Lions have not won the division since 1993, and while the Vikings should have a good team again, the Lions have a very young roster that should keep improving. They finished the season strong in 2022.
The Vikings won’t finish 13-4 again. While they were a good team, they also had some luck. It’s hard to imagine the same luck happening again, especially the Vikings, who do not have a good history in that department. Brian Flores will make the defense better. How much better? We shall see.
The offense will be good again, but it could perhaps take a step back. Jordan Addison could have a promising rookie season, but asking him to be an upgrade over Adam Thielen last year may be unrealistic. The offensive line outside of Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill is a huge question mark. How many more big hits can Kirk Cousins take, especially since he’s now 35?
Maybe the Vikings will exceed expectations again, though. The NFL is unpredictable.
Cole Smith: 10-7
Prediction Maker: Cole Smith
My record prediction for the 2023 Vikings is that they go 10-7 and host a home playoff game.
They will win the NFC North and again wrap up the 3rd seed. Despite their three-win drop-off, the 2023 version of the team will be much better equipped for the playoffs. They will win their first game, get an upset on the road in the Divisional Round, and then sadly break our hearts with an overtime loss in Philadelphia. For some reason, fans will come back for more in 2024.
Dustin Baker: 11-6
Prediction Maker: Dustin Baker
11-6. 1st Place NFC North. One Playoff Win. Divisional Round Exit.
The Vikings need a modest improvement defensively to maintain the 2022 standard of living. Under new defensive coordinator Brian Flores, the unit doesn’t require majesty; it just cannot endorse that bend-don’t-break rubbish.
That will occur, and the Vikings don’t mightily regress in 2023. although most pundits believe that’s on the way.
Wes Johnson: 11-6
Prediction Maker: Wes Johnson
11-6. 2nd seed. NFC Championship Game.
The Vikings get out to an early conference lead, exercising demons of the past with an early season victory in Philly. Back-to-back home losses against the Chargers and Chiefs follow this. The streak starts with their next home game against SF as Kirktober/vember takes full effect and Minnesota runs off a 6-1 stretch. They’re a little rocky down the stretch but do enough to secure the division again.
Mitch Massman: 11-6
Prediction Maker: Mitch Massman
The Vikings will end the season with three divisional games, two of them at home, and only need to win two of them to secure the NFC North Division Title. They will beat the Lions and Packers before losing to the Lions in Detroit in a meaningless game.
The Vikings end the season at 11-6 with an NFC North Division Title and a second straight year of playoff appearances under Coach KOC.
Nathan Porter: 12-5
Prediction Maker: Nathan Porter
12-5. 3rd seed, and I want to say Super Bowl champs, so I’ll go with them beating Philly to face Kansas City with a win. My reasoning is the NFC is open for anyone to take at this point. Let’s hope it’s Minnesota.
VikingsTerritory Prediction: 10-7
Minnesota reaches the postseason in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 14 years, and there, it will win one playoff game. A team like the Eagles or 49ers will lurk in the Divisional Round and end the Vikings season in Playoff Round No. 2.
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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