4 Takeaways from the Vikings Schedule
The NFL released their 2024 regular season schedule on Wednesday evening.
As a result, we finally got a full look at the entire Minnesota Vikings schedule for the upcoming season. Here is a quick look back at the full schedule for the season:
- Week 1 — at New York Giants
- Week 2 — vs. San Francisco 49ers
- Week 3 — vs. Houston Texans
- Week 4 — at Green Bay Packers
- Week 5 — vs. New York Jets (London)
- Week 6 — Bye
- Week 7 — vs. Detroit Lions
- Week 8 — at Los Angeles Rams (TNF)
- Week 9 — vs. Indianapolis Colts
- Week 10 — at Jacksonville Jaguars
- Week 11 — at Tennessee Titans
- Week 12 — at Chicago Bears
- Week 13 — vs. Arizona Cardinals
- Week 14 — vs. Atlanta Falcons
- Week 15 — vs. Chicago Bears (MNF)
- Week 16 — at Seattle Seahawks
- Week 17 — vs. Green Bay Packers
- Week 18 — at Detroit Lions
Now that we know how the season will play out, here are four main takeaways from this year’s 18-week slate for the Vikings.
An Early Season Gauntlet
The Vikings start the season with a road game against the New York Giants in Week 1, and then, they have a very difficult stretch from Weeks 2-8. During those seven weeks, they will play against five playoff teams from a season ago. The only non-playoff qualifier in that time is their Week 5 game against the New York Jets in London, but the Jets presumably will have a healthy Aaron Rodgers for that matchup.
Of course, one of those games includes a home game against the Houston Texans and one of Minnesota’s old friends, Danielle Hunter. The pass rusher signed with the Texans in free agency this offseason and is hoping to compete for a deep playoff run with his new team.
Early Bye Week
Seeing as the Vikings have a trip to London on their schedule for Week 5 against the New York Jets, Minnesota will have their bye come early on in the fall this year, landing at Week 6.
This placement of the bye week not only breaks up the difficult early season stretch for Minnesota, but it could provide a natural point in the year for J.J. McCarthy to step into a starting role, particularly if Sam Darnold struggles against the difficult competition early on.
A Long Road Stretch
Things don’t necessarily get easier for the Vikings when they wrap up that stretch from Weeks 2-8. After they take on the Indianapolis Colts at home in Week 9, they will head out on the road for three consecutive games from Weeks 10-12.
Luckily, this balances out with a three-week homestand from Weeks 13-15, including the much anticipated return of Kirk Cousins to Minnesota.
Only Two Primetime Games
The Vikings have been in the mix for plenty of primetime and holiday games over the past few years. However, this year, Minnesota will not play on any holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.), and they only have two primetime games on the schedule.
Interestingly, the Falcons matchup isn’t included in this primetime slate, and instead, the Vikings will play a Thursday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8 and then a Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears in Week 15.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. 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.