Minnesota Vikings Regular Season Record Predictions

Jan 9, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette (15) celebrates his touchdown against the Chicago Bears in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Last night, the NFL released the Minnesota Vikings’ schedule for the 2022 season.

The season starts off with a division game against the Packers and ends with another division game in Chicago. There are plenty of interesting matchups in between, including a game in London against the Saints and a Thanksgiving day game against the Patriots.

Now that we have the full official schedule, it only makes sense to dubiously speculate about how the Vikings will fare next season by predicting their record.

2022 Record Prediction

Week 1: Packers

The Vikings open at home against a division rival, and there will be plenty of storylines to follow for this one. Za’Darius Smith and Chandon Sullivan will face their former team to start the season, and the Packers will field a first-round pick that they traded up with the Vikings to select.

While I believe that the Vikings will field a good football team, I don’t think it will be a complete product in Week 1. New coach Kevin O’Connell will need time to implement his scheme and philosophy before the team forms a cohesive unit. The Packers steal a home game from the Vikings in the season opener.

30-20, L

Week 2: @ Eagles

The Vikings play a Monday Night Football game in Philadelphia in Week 2. The Vikings new 3-4 defense gives young quarterback Jalen Hurts a lot of problems in this game, and this will be our first chance to glimpse the potential of Ed Donatell’s scheme.

24-17, W

Week 3: Lions

Returning home for a Week 3 game against the Lions shouldn’t present any extreme challenges. The Lions are building up their roster, but they are still lead by Jared Goff. I think the Vikings take care of business at home for their first division win of the season.

31-13, W

Week 4: @ Saints

The Vikings will travel across the pond to take on the Saints in their fourth game. Because of the effects of international travel, this is a tough game to predict. However, I think the Saints take this one as they find a way to keep the Vikings new defense off balance.

27-21, L

Week 5: Bears

The Bears general manager, Ryan Poles, is taking the opposite approach of the Vikings new general manager: instead of trying to win with what they have, Poles is tearing down the whole thing, as evidenced by the Khalil Mack trade. The Vikings should have no problem taking this game at home against a rebuilding Bears roster.

24-10, W

Week 6: @ Dolphins

Tua Tagovailoa is another young quarterback for Donatell to befuddle. I think the Vikings offense begins to hit their stride by Week 6 and we see a complete team performance as they shutdown the Dolphins in Miami.

31-14, W

Week 7: BYE

The Vikings Bye Week comes a little early, but the early portion of the schedule is favorable. The Vikings have a good chance at 4-2 or better by this point in the season.

Week 8: Cardinals

O’Connell and the Vikings could unfortunately get outdueled by Kliff Kingsbury and the Cardinals in what should be an exciting shootout match up.

28-27, L

Week 9: @ Commanders

Kirk Cousins will put on a good performance against an underrated Commanders roster in Washington, with at least one on-camera “you like that” screech.

24-14, W

Week 10: @ Bills

This game, like the first, will be filled with storylines. Dalvin Cook will play against his younger brother, James, for the first time. Justin Jefferson will play against the player he was brought in to replace, Stefon Diggs. However, this is also the Vikings most challenging game on the schedule. I think that the Josh Allen to Diggs combination is too much for the Vikings secondary this year.

37-31, L

Week 11: Cowboys

The Vikings will bounce back from a tough loss at Buffalo by beating Dak Prescott and the Cowboys at home in a close game.

23-21, W

Week 12: Patriots

Showing up one of the best coaches in NFL history on Thanksgiving is a tough ask. I think that Belichick and Mac Jones outperform O’Connell and Cousins in this one.

21-13, L

Week 13: Jets

The Jets shouldn’t present too much of a challenge for this Vikings roster. They have a young quarterback who I expect to get rattled by the Vikings shape-shifting 3-4 defense.

28-17, W

Week 14: @ Lions

I think O’Connell sweeps the Lions in his first season as head coach of the Vikings. The Lions will need to upgrade the quarterback position in order to compete.

27-17, W

Week 15: Colts

Matt Ryan and the Colts should not be an issue for this Minnesota Vikings team. I think they will bottle up Ryan on defense and break the game open on offense.

34-14, W

Week 16: Giants

Every season the Vikings blow one game they have no business losing. In 2022, this is that game for the Vikings. They lose a heartbreaking trap game to Danny Dimes and the Giants.

21-20, L

Week 17: @ Packers

Playing at Lambeau this late in the season is never easy. Mike Zimmer often did a great job getting his teams ready to play against Rodgers in Green Bay. Unfortunately, I’m not sure O’Connell will be up to the task in his first season at the helm. The Packers win this one, completing their sweep of the Vikings, despite having a slightly inferior roster.

23-16, L

Week 18: @ Bears

The Vikings will head to Chicago to close out the 2022 season. Even though playing in Chicago in January is tough, I think the Bears franchise will be in disarray by this point in the season. Vikings win easily, coasting into wildcard spot the playoffs with a record of 10-7.

20-10, W

Overall Record: 10-7



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