The Rest of the Schedule

After their Week 6 bye, the Minnesota Vikings return to football action in Week 7. A week 6 bye is usually a bit early for a 17-game season. With a 10-day overseas trip and a load of injuries, the early bye week couldn’t have come at a better time. The Vikings needed a break. They needed players to get healthy. The post-bye schedule is a demanding one. 

Week 7:   Philadelphia Eagles

Week 8:   @ Los Angeles Chargers (Thursday night)

Week 9:   @ Detroit Lions

Week 10: Baltimore Ravens

Week 11: Chicago Bears

Week 12: @ Green Bay Packers

Week 13: @Seattle Seahawks

Week 14: Washington Commanders

Week 15: @ Dallas Cowboys (Sunday night)

Week 16: @ New York Giants

Week 17: Detroit Lions (Thursday - Christmas Day)

Week 18: Green Bay Packers

When the NFL Schedule was released in the spring, the immediate takeaway was that the Vikings schedule was going to be much easier pre-bye than post-bye. The most demanding part of the post-bye schedule was, and probably still is, the Philadelphia Eagles - Los Angeles Chargers - Detroit Lions - Baltimore Ravens gauntlet that’s now right in front of the Vikings. That was one of the reasons I hoped that the Vikings would have a sparkling 5-0 record at this point in the season. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. At 3-2, they have a winning record. That’s a good thing. Losing very winnable games to the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers isn’t such a good thing. 

A lot has changed since the start of the season. As things currently stand, the post-bye, four-game gauntlet doesn’t look as daunting as it once did. After scorching starts, the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers have struggled recently. The defending champion Eagles are on a two-game losing streak. Can the Vikings make it three? The Chargers followed three wins with two losses. Like the Vikings, the Chargers have had their strong offensive line disrupted by injuries. A suspect offensive line can wreck an otherwise talented team. The Detroit Lions are a dynamite team when they can play their game. The Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs have shown the way to get the Lions out of their game. Week 1 and Week 6 losses to the Packers and Chiefs, respectively, definitely showed the Lions to be a beatable team. When healthy, the Baltimore Ravens boast one of the most talented rosters in the league. The roster has been blasted by injuries and the Ravens are sitting at 1-5. With Lamar Jackson likely back next week, the Ravens have very winnable games against the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins. The Ravens could be a very different 3-5 team when they come to Minnesota in Week 10. I’m hoping that the Vikings are, at worst, 3-1 over the upcoming four-game gauntlet. If they have to lose one game, I’m hoping that it’s a healthy Ravens. The Vikings need to win the NFC games and the Chargers game. I’ll be at SoFi so an in-person win would be nice. 6-3 after Week 10 would nice as the Vikings prepare to rip through the final eight games of their schedule. 

The Vikings can win any game. It’s been that way since Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores joined forces in 2023. They can win any game. They’ve also shown they can lose any game. They’re a good team with the potential to be great. Too often, the Vikings get in their own way and flip winnable games into disappointing losses. They must avoid the injuries that were a serious problem through the first five games. They must get their #1 offensive line on the field. That offensive line might not include center Ryan Kelly. His concussions have become too troublesome. For his future, team and player must be very careful moving forward. Right now, Blake Brandel might be the team’s top center. Surround him with Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Will Fries, and Brian O’Neill and keep those five on the field for the next 12+ games. Protect J.J. McCarthy and give him a legit chance. If that happens, the Vikings offense should start cruising. The defense needs Andrew Van Ginkel back on the field and to stay on the field. If that happens, the Vikings defense should become a big-play menace. 

A 3-2 start is disappointing because it could so easily be 5-0. The Vikings team that rolled the Bengals in Week 3 would’ve easily beaten the Falcons and Steelers. The Vikings only had three losses last season and this team is much more talented than that team. If they avoid injuries and play to their talent, the next 12+ games should be fun.