Minnesota Vikings schedule 2026: Takeaways, predictions
ESPN • • sports
Key Points:
- The Minnesota Vikings' 2026 NFL schedule features an early start against NFC North rivals, opening with games against the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, followed by an international game in Mexico City in Week 11.
- The team has four primetime games scheduled, including a challenging six-week stretch from Week 9 to Week 15 with multiple short-week road games against tough opponents like the Packers and Patriots.
- The Vikings have the 11th-hardest schedule in the league, with opponents holding a .519 winning percentage from the previous season, and their win total projections range from 7.5 to 8.5.
- Key games include the early September matchups against division rivals Packers and Bears, which will set the tone for the season, and a potential playoff-deciding Week 18 game against the Bears.
- While the international game in Mexico City avoids a trip to the Vikings' historically difficult Levi's Stadium, it represents a neutral site that may have minimal impact on home-field advantage.