Vikings 2023 schedule could present some challenges for defending division champs
The Minnesota Vikings are the defending NFC North champions, but the Detroit Lions are the betting favorites to win the division in 2023. And with the NFL schedule release having just happened, it isn’t hard to see why. Minnesota has a much tougher schedule than Detroit does. The Vikings are also facing question marks after losing to the New York Giants in the playoffs last year. Will Kirk Cousins and Co. take a step forward this season?
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Minnesota Vikings betting odds
(odds from DraftKings as of May 11, 4:00 p.m. PT)
Season Win Total Odds: 8.5 (-120/+100)
Super Bowl Odds: +4500
NFC Champion: +1900
NFC North Champion: +350
Last season: 13–4, 1st in NFC North
Key additions: CB Byron Murphy, DL Marcus Davenport, DL Dean Lowry, TE Josh Oliver, WR Jordan Addison*, CB Mekhi Blackmon*
Key losses: CB Patrick Peterson, LB Eric Kendricks, WR Adam Thielen, DL Dalvin Tomlinson, TE Irv Smith Jr.
* – drafted
2023 Minnesota Vikings schedule
- Week 1: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (MIN -7, Total: 46.5)
- Week 2: @ Philadelphia Eagles (PHI -5)
- Week 3: vs. Los Angeles Chargers (LAC -1.5)
- Week 4: @ Carolina Panthers (MIN -1.5)
- Week 5: vs. Kansas City Chiefs (KC -4)
- Week 6: @ Chicago Bears (MIN -1)
- Week 7: vs. San Francisco 49ers (SF -1)
- Week 8: @ Green Bay Packers (MIN -1)
- Week 9: @ Atlanta Falcons (MIN -1)
- Week 10: vs. New Orleans Saints (MIN -2.5)
- Week 11: @ Denver Broncos (DEN -2)
- Week 12: vs. Chicago Bears (MIN -3.5)
- Week 13: BYE WEEK
- Week 14: @ Las Vegas Raiders (LV -1.5)
- Week 15: @ Cincinnati Bengals (CIN -5)
- Week 16: vs. Detroit Lions (MIN -1)
- Week 17: vs. Green Bay Packers (MIN -2.5)
- Week 18: @ Detroit Lions (DET -2.5)
(odds from DraftKings Sportsbook)
Minnesota Vikings schedule this year
The Vikings can’t be thrilled about having to go on the road to face the Eagles and Bengals this year, but their other road games are mostly winnable. Home games against the Chiefs and 49ers do present some serious challenges, and the Saints, Chargers and Lions aren’t going to make things easy on the Vikings either. But overall, this is a pretty tough schedule and it’s nothing like the one Minnesota faced last season.
Minnesota Vikings schedule analysis
For more on the Vikings schedule, here’s what Matt Youmans and Wes Reynolds had to say on VSiN Tonight following the NFL’s official release:
