Brutal Schedule for Vikings Isn’t without Caveats
When the NFL released the schedule in May, Weeks 7 through 10 immediately looked extraordinarily difficult for the Minnesota Vikings. Fast forward to mid-October, and the docket certainly isn’t easy, but the upcoming foursome has some caveats.
The Minnesota Vikings’ schedule now turns the page to a trickier menu, but the upcoming four games need a little context compared to a month ago.
The murderer’s row that once was has devolved a bit, so much so that Minnesota has a puncher’s chance to split the four-game slate or better.
Vikings Schedule of PHI, LAC, DET, BAL Has Asterisks
Peek under the hood for a moment at Minnesota’s Schedule
The Eagles Are Reeling
The Eagles have lost two straight games to the Denver Broncos and New York Giants — not necessarily NFL powerhouses in 2025. They rank third-worst in yards gained, and the defense is 11th-worst per the same statistic on defense, while ranking seventh-worst in defensive 3rd Down conversion percentage.
The team’s best wide receiver, A.J. Brown, is disgruntled after nearly every game — even the wins — regularly spouting off about something on social media. The Eagles are allegedly holding players-only meetings, with attendance questioned after the fact.
Generally speaking, the Eagles from early September aren’t quite the same in mid-October. Of course, the club could totally return to form this weekend and thwack Minnesota, but as of late, the franchise is in a state of disarray, at least by Philadelphia’s recent lofty standards.
Chargers Have Been Hurt like the Vikings
The Chargers began the season as a sleeper-style Super Bowl squad and could still morph into that. However, like the Vikings, injuries have pestered Los Angeles.
Players like Joe Alt (OT), Trey Pipkins (OT), Quentin Johnston (WR), and Derius Davis (WR) are day-to-day and week-to-week with injuries. And that’s on top of IR trips for Rashawn Slater (OT), Denzel Perryman (LB), Khalil Mack (OLB), Najee Harris (RB, and Omarion Hampton (IR).
Los Angeles still has about a week to heal before hosting Minnesota, but no matter what, Jim Harbaugh’s team will have some rendition of a skeleton crew, especially at running back.
Detroit Is Mortal
This is probably the toughest matchup of the next four from an October 17th vantage point.
Detroit began the season poorly with a loss to the Green Bay Packers, righted the ship for four weeks with four wins, and then played clumsily against the Kansas City Chiefs, who appear to be back. The NFL is a week-to-week league, particularly this season, so the Lions cannot be dismissed as mid or anything of the sort.
Still, the Lions have shown twice that they are not utterly dominant. Couple that with the fact Minnesota hasn’t beaten Detroit since 2022, and Kevin O’Connell’s team will have a shot at Ford Field.
For Now, the Ravens Stink
Lamar Jackson is nursing a hamstring injury back to health and will probably return in time for a Week 10 game against the other purple team.
On the other hand, regardless of Jackson’s impending return, Baltimore is bad. Like bad-bad. The Ravens’ defense ranks 30th leaguewide per EPA/Play, also known as third-worst in the world. Despite possessing oodles of talent, the defensive secondary is just an embarrassment.
Of course, Jackson’s return won’t do anything to fix the defense. Unless Baltimore gets its poop in a group in the next few weeks, Vikings fans will see a Ravens team that is not as high-flying as it has been in recent years.
More on the Eagles
Roundtable Sports‘ Matthew Schmidt recently opined on Philadelphia, “Whatever the case may be, the Eagles have plenty of time to fix their problems. And in spite of how poorly they have been playing recently, they are still 4-2 and sit atop the NFC East and own wins over the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.”
“The Eagles are the defending Super Bowl champions, so they definitely deserve some grace. That being said, the concern is understandable, especially considering what happened in Philadelphia two years ago where the team lost five of its last six regular-season games before getting routed by the Buccaneers in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.”
Tickets are unusually affordable compared to other games at U.S. Bank Stadium if you’re looking for an outing to attend this Sunday.
“Philly will face the Minnesota Vikings on the road this Sunday and has a great opportunity to get itself back on track this season. If the Eagles win, then most of the problems they have been experiencing will be pushed aside,” Schmidt added.
“But if they lose? All you know what could break loose in the City of Brotherly Love.”
Minnesota is an underdog in the next four games per sportsbooks, at least as of mid-October.
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