Vikings Head Overseas with Winning Streak on the Line
I have written about the Minnesota Vikings’ impressive overseas record several times on this website. Each time they’ve crossed the Atlantic, they have come home victorious. This year, however, they have to do it twice.
VikingsTerritory looks at the Vikings’ impeccable overseas record as the team travels to Ireland and the UK for back-to-back international games.
The Vikings have an impeccable record in overseas games, including winning all four regular-season games played abroad — all four games in London. They also won another exhibition game in London, as well as exhibition games played in Gothenburg, Berlin, and Tokyo. That makes it a record of 8-0 when playing internationally. To go so long without a single blemish on their record is impressive.
For the record to stay unblemished and move to 10-0, the Vikings will have to win in back-to-back weeks against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns — two tough football teams from the AFC North. The advantage for Minnesota is not having to go into the home stadiums of those two teams — two tough places to play — while also potentially having the extra week to acclimate to foreign soil, unlike the Browns. If that week comes on the back of a win over the Steelers, it would be the Vikings in a good position.
First, It’s the Steelers
First up, it’s the Steelers in Dublin, as Croke Park will welcome over 80,000 fans for the first-ever NFL regular-season game to be played in Ireland — a historic occasion. Minnesota will face an old foe overseas for the second consecutive year. Aaron Rodgers was quarterbacking the New York Jets as they were beaten by the Vikings last year in London.
Now he is the man under center in Pittsburgh and has enjoyed a decent start to life as the Steelers QB. A win over the Jets and the New England Patriots was sandwiched by a defeat at the hands of the Sam Darnold-led Seattle Seahawks, giving the Steelers a 2-1 record coming into this game.
Historically, the Vikings and Steelers are closely matched. Minnesota leads the overall series 10-9, with the two teams trading victories when they have home advantage over the last four meetings. The Vikings will hope the neutral venue will help end that run. The most famous meeting between the two teams came in Super Bowl IX, where, of course, the Steelers were victorious in the second of their six Super Bowl victories. The Vikings still await reaching the summit of the game.
More Overseas Trips?
Vikings ownership is clearly committed to expanding its presence and fan base in the UK and Ireland. When the franchise was named one of the UK’s teams for the international home marketing initiative back in 2021, I expected fairly regular trips overseas. However, in the last four seasons, three times, and four games have exceeded my expectations greatly. Vikings ownership isn’t doing any half measures with this initiative; the commitment is clear for all to see.
This might not be news that US Bank Stadium regulars want to hear, but with the last three games all being “road games”, it might not be too long before the Vikings return to one of London or Dublin for another home game. The last one was the win over the New Orleans Saints in London back in 2022. It might not be next year, but a date in 2027/2028 wouldn’t surprise me.
For now, the Vikings must concentrate on a double date across the Atlantic, where a Kevin O’Connell- and Carson Wentz-led offense, along with Brian Flores’ ferocious defense, will hope to return to Minnesota with their winning record still intact, at the very least.
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