Vikings Shouldn’t Be Fazed by Tough Schedule in 2025

Adam New |

May 9, 2025

Dec 22, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman (51) reacts to a snap against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images.

With the NFL draft in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to look forward to the new season. Media outlets have been putting out their strength-of-schedule rankings for the 2025 season, and the verdict is that the Vikings once again have it tough.

Vikings Shouldn’t Be Fazed by Tough Schedule in 2025

Whether you are doing the simplistic version of judging a team’s strength of schedule by the last season’s win/loss records of a team’s opponents in 2025, or the more complicated method Warren Sharp uses, the verdict is unanimous: Minnesota has a top-five most difficult docket across the league in 2025. We can expect that Minnesota will have to work hard for any success they have this season – nothing will come easy.

Dec 1, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) reacts during the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

This shouldn’t be a huge surprise with a competitive NFC North division and a second-place schedule for Minnesota this season. Add in the fact that the two divisions that the NFC North plays against this season are the ultra-competitive AFC North and NFC East, and it’s going to be a testing year for the whole division. Last year’s division winners, the Detroit Lions, have a brutal slate of opponents, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whom Minnesota doesn’t have to play.

The Vikings shouldn’t be fazed by their tough schedule, but they should be safe knowing that the rest of the division has it just as tough, knowing the same was being said last year.

Of course, Minnesota had a 13-4 winning season and made the playoffs. There is no guarantee which teams are going to be good in 2025. If Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell are serious about building a championship team, they shouldn’t fear anyone — I don’t expect them to.

The Schedule

Minnesota knows who their opponents will be this season, although they don’t find out the when and wheres until the full schedule release, which will be announced on May 14th. Here are the 17 matchups the Vikings will face in 2025;

vs. Baltimore Ravens
vs. Chicago Bears
vs. Cincinnati Bengals
vs. Detroit Lions
vs. Green Bay Packers
vs. Philadelphia Eagles
vs. Atlanta Falcons
vs. Washington Commanders
at Chicago Bears
at Cleveland Browns
at Dallas Cowboys
at Detroit Lions
at Green Bay Packers
at Los Angeles Chargers
at New York Giants
at Pittsburgh Steelers
at Seattle Seahawks

A quick glance down that list shows very little in the way of games that would be expected to be “easy wins”. Arguably, every team on that list will hope to compete to make the playoffs in January. A strong showing within the division will be vital to the Vikings’ progress this season, and matching last year’s 4-2 record could be the minimum requirement for a successful season.

Sep 22, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota place kicker Will Reichard (16) celebrates his field goal against the Houston Texans in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

Minnesota invested heavily in the areas where it believed it needed to improve to make a genuine championship run. That theory will be put to the test by this schedule. We will find out whether the 2025 Vikings are up to the test.

Also Read:
The Vikings’ Cabinet Is Restocked