Revenge Will Be Sweet: The Vikings’ Top Payback Games
The Minnesota Vikings revealed their 2025 schedule two months ago, and with time to simmer, a handful of revenge games are evident.
The best revenge games on the Vikings’ 2025 schedule include meetings with major emotional and payback stakes. These are the showdowns for the upcoming season.
Oddsmakers predict the Vikings will win about eight or nine games, as their schedule is evidently the fifth-toughest in the NFL. Few “easy” games exist for the 2025 club.
There are, however, some “revenge” games — contests featuring payback storylines.
Ranked in ascending order, these are those games (No. 1 = top revenge game).
4. vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Week 7)
The Vikings have lost two consecutive games to the Eagles — both primetime showdowns — and they felt particularly back-breaking for no good reason. They occurred early in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, and Philadelphia was the better team in each campaign.
Still, the losses stung.
Both contests took place in Philadelphia, but in Week 7, the Eagles will try U.S. Bank Stadium for size. Minnesota, and head coach Kevin O’Connell especially, are due to take a chunk out of Philadelphia.
The Eagles are also the champs, so there’s that, too.
3. at Detroit Lions (Week 9)
Kevin O’Connell defeated the Detroit Lions in his try — way back in the fall of 2022. And then that was it.
Lions skipper Dan Campbell has had O’Connell’s numbers since, downing the Vikings five consecutive times, which is unfathomable in the annals of Vikings-Lions history.
What’s more, Detroit prevented Minnesota from snatching homefield advantage throughout the postseason last January, and in fact, that Week 18 game is when everything went to pot for the 2025 team.
So, with the naughty losing streak intact, plus the memory of the Week 18 spanking, Minnesota can right some wrongs at Ford Field in Week 9. Set your calendars. November 2nd.
The Vikings’ Main Revenge Games
It’s the Steelers and Seahawks for featured payback events.
2. at Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 4)
This can be interpreted as a revenge game from the other side.
Through back channels, Aaron Rodgers allegedly campaigned to become the Vikings’ QB1 in 2025, but Minnesota just wasn’t overly interested. It picked J.J. McCarthy for a reason in the draft 14 months ago, committing to him for the long haul and resisting the temptation to roll with Rodgers for one year.
The Vikings also toppled Rodgers’ New York Jets last year in London. Now he’ll play Minnesota in Dublin.
Rodgers will have the ammunition to stick it to Minnesota, as he has frequently done over the past 17 years.
Pro Football Network‘s Sebastian Mondaca wrote about Rodgers this week, “This supporting cast may extend Rodgers’ effectiveness in his twilight season. He doesn’t need to chase MVP numbers or recreate his 2021 magic. After suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in 2023, the primary goal is providing Pittsburgh with the seasoned leadership and poise the franchise has lacked at quarterback in recent years.”
“The situation presents a unique opportunity for a legendary quarterback with the remaining talent to join a tradition-rich organization built on toughness, all with one clear objective: reaching the Super Bowl one final time. Rodgers likely understands his legacy hasn’t matched his expectations.”
Rodgers will turn 42 in December.
“The ideal conclusion to a remarkable career would involve a deep playoff run or one last championship game appearance. Pittsburgh believes he can still perform when the stakes are highest, whether he delivers vintage performances or is simply a reliable version of his former self. This partnership represents more than just a roster move,” Mondaca added.
“The Steelers are betting their championship hopes on a quarterback who has already announced his retirement timeline. At the same time, Rodgers gets perhaps his final chance to add the ultimate prize to his Hall of Fame resume. The pressure is immense, but so is the potential reward for both parties.”
1. at Seattle Seahawks (Week 13)
The Sam Darnold game.
Darnold chose the Seahawks this offseason, lured by more money and the right to start in Seattle — instead of a bridge quarterback contract in Minnesota, where he’d play second fiddle to McCarthy.
Led by Darnold, Minnesota defeated Seattle last year in perhaps the Vikings’ game of the year, and now Darnold will be on the other side.
McCarthy and Darnold worked together all last season. Teammates turned enemies for a date in November.
There’s also the Klint Kubiak angle. Kubiak offensively coordinated the Vikings in 2021. He’s the offensive boss in Seattle.
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