Vikings Have Another “Middle of the Road” Win Projection for 2023
Josh Frey
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In recent years, sportsbooks have projected the Minnesota Vikings as a very average team on an annual basis, and this trend seems to be continuing into 2023. Despite going 13-4 in 2022, the Vikings are once again sitting at 8.5 wins for this upcoming season in multiple places.
If these projections come true, we could be looking at the Vikings fighting for a playoff spot down the stretch of the season. They are one of eight NFC teams with their wins set at 8.5 or higher, and one of three teams in the conference with exactly 8.5 wins, joining the New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks.
This projection also puts the Vikings back into second-place in the NFC North, which is where they finished in three of the four seasons from 2018-21. However, there is also a new division champ according to the oddsmakers. That is the Detroit Lions, who are projected to win 9.5 games this season. Meanwhile, both the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers hold win totals of 7.5. If the Lions do win the NFC North, it would be their first division title since 1993.
The Vikings did go 13-4 in 2022, which may cause some confusion as to why Minnesota doesn’t garner much faith from the oddsmakers. This record was recorded despite some of the league’s worst defense, and with Brian Flores at defensive coordinator along with a couple key additions, that group should perform better.
So, why keep the Vikings at 8.5 wins? Well, the biggest factor here may be the schedule. Minnesota has a daunting first-place schedule in front of them that includes the AFC West, a potentially sneaky-tough NFC South, as well as games against the Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, and San Francisco 49ers.
In addition, we have to keep in mind that Minnesota got nine home games, a neutral site game in London against the Saints, and seven true road games in 2022. In 2023, so far, they are slated to have eight home games and nine road games, adding another element of toughness to this schedule.
Overall, Minnesota certainly has a path towards making the playoffs for a second consecutive season, but it is no coincidence that their win projection is the same as it was in 2022. The Vikings have a tough path ahead of them this season, and it will be interesting to see how Kevin O’Connell navigates these waters in his second year as head coach.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.