Like most Vikings fans, I have many opinions on this team and the rest of the NFL, so I wanted to take a shot at predicting the Vikings’ 2025 schedule. It’s shaping up to be a challenging season for Minnesota as they face two of the toughest divisions in football, with their own NFC North, as well as the powerhouse AFC North. Time will tell how things actually play out, but these are just my personal predictions.
Week 1 - Vikings @ Bears
The Vikings and Bears on Monday Night Football is as good as it gets. J.J. McCarthy gets his first start in a hostile environment, while Caleb Williams and new coach Ben Johnson get a shot at Brian Flores’ confusing and disorienting defense. You love to see it. I do see this being one of the Vikings’ more challenging games in the first few weeks. Ben Johnson has had Flores’ number for their last few meetings, and J.J. is still technically an unknown. Still, the Vikings’ superior talent on both sides of the ball makes it difficult for me to choose the Bears. Ben Johnson could come out and surprise with a big win against an NFC North opponent just as KOC did against Green Bay in 2022, but I have my doubts.
Vikings W (1-0)
Week 2 - Falcons @ Vikings
It may be a slightly hot take, but I’m not sold on the Falcons yet. The running game will be fun to watch, but the team is overall very lacking in star power. Michael Penix should be better than Kirk was last year, but the Falcons went mostly defense early in the draft, which doesn’t give him much help in terms of weapons. This is also McCarthy’s first regular-season game at home, and that atmosphere is going to be electric. For those reasons, I have to go with the Vikings.
Vikings W (2-0)
Week 3 - Bengals @ Vikings
Will the Vikings start 3-0 in the 2025 season? In my estimation, no. Many have already written off the Bengals’ defense, but I think that McCarthy’s inexperience could show up in a big way here. Inconsistency is to be expected, and if the game turns into a shootout, I don’t see J.J. keeping up with Joe Burrow, especially with the Vikings’ cornerbacks being an underwhelming position group. I project a close loss for the Vikings in a game with explosive plays and very little defense.
Vikings L (2-1)
Week 4 - Vikings @ Steelers
The Steelers’ defense is scary, but the offense is still a bit of a mystery. Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf could work really well or be underwhelming. I’d lean toward the latter, and for that reason, I have the Vikings winning their first game in Europe for the 2025 season. Jordan Addison is also coming back this week, and his addition should add a new wrinkle to the offense.
Vikings W (3-1)
Week 5 - Vikings @ Browns
If you’ve followed the Browns quarterback situation this offseason, I’m sorry to hear that. Their offense is, in my opinion, one of the worst in the league. Even if Flacco has been replaced by Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders at this point, I don’t think there’s any saving it. The Vikings should win big here with their first blowout of the season.
Vikings W (4-1)
Week 6 - Bye
Week 7 - Eagles @ Vikings
A lot of people who watched Thursday Night Football may have come away thinking the Eagles look vulnerable. However, week one is full of mirages and smokescreens, and it’s safe to say that the Eagles are one of the best rosters in the league. I can’t confidently see the Vikings taking this one, even at home. They’ll take the L here, potentially by a pretty large margin.
Vikings L (4-2)
Week 8 - Vikings @ Chargers
One of the more exciting matchups for the season is J.J. McCarthy playing against his old coach, Jim Harbaugh, in Thursday Night Football. By week 8, I expect the Vikings offense to be in full swing and the defense to be firing on all cylinders as well. While Herbert has diced up the Vikings in the past, the fortified defensive line should cause him all sorts of trouble. I expect a close win with the Vikings making a statement in a short week.
Vikings W (5-2)
Week 9 - Vikings @ Lions
Even though I just said the offense was hitting its stride, there’s a very good chance the Vikings run into a wall the very next week. The Lions have typically won with offensive fireworks, but this could be a defensive battle, especially if the Lions are healthier than they were last year. For his first game at Ford Field, I expect J.J. and the offense to struggle a bit. The Lions take this one, leaving the Vikings with a still-solid 5-3 record.
Vikings L (5-3)
Week 10 - Ravens @ Vikings
Lamar Jackson should have won MVP last season and will be a man on a mission this year. The defensive line additions should help, but there’s no real way to contain a quarterback of this caliber. If the Vikings are to win this, they’ll have to rely heavily on the run game to keep Lamar sidelined. I expect the Vikings to get off to a rough start, but with big contributions from Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones, they can still win this one at home.
Vikings W (6-3)
Week 11 - Bears @ Vikings
While the Bears have numerous question marks, I do expect them to have a pretty decent season. That said, the Vikings getting two home games in a row here is huge, as it will allow McCarthy to sink into a rhythm and Flores’ defense to feel right at home against Caleb Williams. This will be a slugfest, but the Vikings should come out on top and sweep the Bears.
Vikings W (7-3)
Week 12 - Vikings @ Packers
For whatever reason, I see this being a cold, ugly game for both teams. It’s always tough to come to Lambeau and leave with a win, and with newly added Micah Parsons, the Packers’ defense may have the advantage over the Vikings’ offense. The Vikings will fight the good fight and come away with a solid Justin Jefferson performance, but I think the Packers get the last laugh in this game.
Vikings L (7-4)
Week 13 - Vikings @ Seahawks
Sam Darnold was a revelation last year for the Vikings, but we all know that he had a glaring weakness: holding the ball too long. Interior pressure often flustered Darnold, and conveniently enough, the Vikings acquired Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to bolster the defensive tackle room. The Seahawks should also have a solid defense, but I think that the pressure from Flores will force Darnold into some mistakes and allow the Vikings to prevail in this one.
Vikings W (8-4)
Week 14 - Commanders @ Vikings
Jayden Daniels set the world on fire during his rookie season, and while a sophomore slump is possible, I just don’t see him slowing down anytime soon. The Commanders team has a lot of questions, but I’m not sure how much they will matter in the long run. Their defense played well last year despite not being the most talented unit in their own division, and I expect them to do the same this year. This will be a great game, but the Commanders will just squeak out a victory.
Vikings L (8-5)
Week 15 - Vikings @ Cowboys
The Cowboys looked solid on Thursday night, but only time will tell how much losing Micah Parsons affects that defense. When the Vikings last played the Cowboys, they were blown out, mostly because of Micah Parsons and Tony Pollard. Both of those players are gone now, and the Vikings are a much better unit. I expect the Vikings’ o-line to feast in this game and for Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason to get a touchdown apiece in a huge win.
Vikings W (9-5)
Week 16 - Vikings @ Giants
On paper, the Giants’ defense should be one of the best in the league. Their offense has question marks, but the quarterback play should be improved. I see this being a game that plays out similarly to the Steelers game earlier in the season. It’s not high-scoring or particularly pretty, but the Vikings come away with the win.
Vikings W (10-5)
Week 17 - Lions @ Vikings
Kevin O’Connell has struggled with the Lions for years, but at home in week 17 is the perfect time to get a statement win that elevates the Vikings into true Super Bowl conversations. Last season, the Vikings were a first down away from putting the Lions away at home, and I expect them to pull it off this time.
Vikings W (11-5)
Week 18 - Packers @ Vikings
The NFC North is expected to be one of the best divisions in football, and if that turns out to be true, this game will have huge playoff implications. With an electric performance from McCarthy, the Vikings will win this game and go into the playoffs with momentum.
Vikings W (12-5)
Final Prediction: Vikings Finish 12-5
I project that the Vikings will end 12-5, which will put them right in the mix for the NFC North. Even with a fresh quarterback, the talent in both the team and the coaching staff will make them a hard team to beat week in and week out. Still, it is the Minnesota Vikings, and it’s impossible to predict exactly how things will go. That’s why I can’t wait for the season to start, so that we can see with our own eyes how this team matches up against the rest of the league.
