Vikings Must Radically Change One Thing on Sunday
The Minnesota Vikings kick off the home slate of their 2024 schedule this Sunday, a meeting with the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Vikings Must Radically Change One Thing on Sunday
The 49ers took care of business on Monday Night Football, shredding the New York Jets in Aaron Rodgers’ re-debut, while the Vikings beat down the New York Giants on the road, 28-6.
And with Minnesota returning home this weekend, it must radically change one thing: its home woes from 2023.
Put plainly, the Vikings were one of the NFL’s worst home teams last year, a mind-boggling and unacceptable situation for a decent football team, especially one that usually uses U.S. Bank Stadium as a fortress for homefield advantage. Minnesota finished 2-6 at home in 2023, a horrid mark.
The franchise’s home and road record, in theory, should’ve been flipped last year. If at all, Minnesota should’ve fired up a 2-6 record on the road while protecting homefield to the tune of 5-4. But no cigar.
These are the Vikings’ yearly records at U.S. Bank Stadium since its opening in 2016:
- 2016: 5-3
- 2017: 7-1
- 2018: 5-3
- 2019: 6-2
- 2020: 3-5 (no fans)
- 2021: 5-3
- 2022: 8-1
- 2023: 2-6
The Vikings 2-6 mark at home — or winning 25% of the time — ranked 29th in the NFL last year. Only the Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, and Washington Commanders played worse at home. For context, the Arizona Cardinals, a subpar club in general, had a 2-6 win-loss record at home one year ago.
Ergo, this needs repair — like instantly. U.S. Bank Stadium used to be a total garrison for Vikings’ dominance. From 2016 to 2022, Minnesota’s .684 win rate ranked fourth-best in the NFL, topped by the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, in 2023, the Vikings have the NFL’s fourth-worst homefield advantage.
It’s fourth-best per stadium history to fourth-worst in 2023.
Minnesota must reclaim homefield advantage, and the fix could be as straightforward as getting off to a hot start against the 49ers this weekend or the Houston Texans thereafter.
Overall, 2023 was the third-worst home season in franchise history:
Vikings Worst Seasons,
at Home,
Franchise History:
1. 2011 (1-7)
2. 1962 (1-5-1)
t3. 2023 (2-6)
t3. 1984 (2-6)
5. 1967 (1-4-2)
It’s just a bummer that the 49ers are the opponent when Minnesota must cleanse the homefield sin. Next to the Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco might be the team in the sport.
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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. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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