These Are the “Revenge” Games for the Vikings in 2026
Every season, based on player + coach movement and NFL teams’ schedules, there are some “revenge” games, contests that are more personal than others. The 2026 Minnesota Vikings are no different.
Some matchups carry more heat than just team names.
Ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = top revenge game), these are those matchups this go-round.
Five Matchups Bring Extra Juice to Minnesota’s Schedule
Which revenge games have you circled?
5. Buffalo Bills (Home)
Revenge Factor: The 2022 Pandemonium
Four years ago, the Vikings arguably won their most exciting game in franchise history at the Buffalo Bills, relying on an otherworldly acrobatic catch from Justin Jefferson to keep the game alive on 4th Down and later recovering a Josh Allen kneeldown fumble for a touchdown.
The game utterly veered off the rails, and Minnesota prevailed against all odds. The quarterback remains the same in Buffalo — Allen — and it’s Minnesota’s first look at him since that contest.
As a side note, new Vikings offensive lineman Ryan Van Demark will see his old employer on that November day. Van Demark signed with the Vikings in March, while Buffalo decided not to match the offer sheet.
4. Miami Dolphins (Home)
Revenge Factor: Brian Flores & Frank Smith against Old Team
From 2019 to 2021, Flores led the Dolphins as head coach before one of the nastiest splits imaginable in the 2022 offseason, where accusations flew regarding Flores’s refusal to tank. Miami kicked him out in favor of Mike McDaniel, who lasted four seasons.
Flores then worked as a linebackers coach for the Steelers in 2022, and Pittsburgh lost to Miami that season. But since, Flores has not faced Miami as the true leader of a defense. He’ll do that in October.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins cleaned house in January, firing McDaniel and his coaching staff, a move that later led to offensive coordinator Frank Smith joining Minnesota. He’s Kevin O’Connell’s assistant head coach. Eight months removed from the Dolphins, Smith will get a look at his former employer. A quick turnaround.
3. Indianapolis Colts (Home)
Revenge Factor: Daniel Jones
The Vikings signed Jones in November 2024 when he and the New York Giants agreed to part ways. Jones never took a regular season snap in Minnesota, but the Vikings allegedly wanted him back in 2025 as insurance for J.J. McCarthy. The 2025 Vikings needed it.
Instead, Jones chose the Colts because he knew he could easily defeat Anthony Richardson in a quarterback battle. He was right.
He’ll face Minnesota in 2026, the organization that committed to McCarthy hell or high water — even over seriously entertaining Jones in a bridge quarterback role.
Thankfully, this one probably won’t brew too many hard feelings.
2. Green Bay Packers (Home & Away)
Revenge Factor: Javon Hargrave | Kyler Murray v. Jonathan Gannon
Minnesota released Hargrave in March. A few days later, he signed with the Packers. In a normal offseason, former Packers personnel typically cross Interstate 94 to play for the Vikings. It’s the other way around in 2026.
Moreover, Murray left the Arizona Cardinals around the time Hargrave joined the Packers. His head coach in Arizona, Gannon, was fired a few months ago. Murray and Gannon are friends, but in Week 1, Murray will lead the Vikings’ offense against Gannon’s defense in Green Bay. He’s the shiny new defensive boss in CheeseVille.
Hargrave versus a team that didn’t want him, and a former coach-QB head-to-head tryst right off the bat.
1. Atlanta Falcons (Home)
Revenge Factor: Tua Tagovailoa (possibly) v. Brian Flores
In August 2024, Tagovailoa spoke on a podcast, detailing his time with Flores in Miami (2020-2021). During the interview, he called Flores a ‘terrible person,” claiming the coach was too hard on him in Miami. Flores was basically too rude and not a friendly character, according to Tagovailoa.
Reporters asked Flores about the comments soon after, to which he took the high road. “I just want to say, look, I’m genuinely happy, genuinely happy for the success that Tua’s had, and I really wish him nothing but the best,” Flores replied to the harsh words at the time.
“I think player relationships are very important to me. I think that’s kind of the foundation of coaching. I got into coaching because I was impacted as a young guy by my high school coaches, my college coaches, going all the way to Pop Warner,” Flores added.
But you better believe Flores remembers Tagovailoa airing his grievances in public, if only for motivation.
“I got into coaching because I wanted to make that same kind of impact — positive impact — pour into young people, help them become the best versions of themselves. That’s really my goal always in coaching. So, I wish nothing but the best to Tua.”
There’s a chance that Michael Penix Jr. is the quarterback in this game for Atlanta, but if he is not, and Tagovailoa gets the nod, it’s the best revenge angle on the 2026 schedule.
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