Minnesota Vikings 2023 Season: Game-By-Game Prediction
The summer leading into an NFL season is a time of hope for all 32 fanbases, including the Minnesota Vikings' fans who were left with a sour taste in their mouths after a wild-card playoff loss to the New York Giants.
Will the Vikings have another winning season? Can they claim back-to-back NFC North titles? Here's a game-by-game prediction for the 2023 Minnesota Vikings season.
Strong Start
Week One Vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Win (1-0)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are trying to find themselves as they transition into NFL life without Tom Brady. Whether it's Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask, getting your first regular-season start for a new team at U.S. Bank Stadium is not an easy task. Minnesota starts the 2023 season with a victory.
Week Two At Philadelphia Eagles
Loss (1-1)
Playing on the road against the Eagles is never easy, and it's even more difficult coming off a short week. The Eagles blew out the Vikings in last year's Week Two matchup 24-7. Expect more of the same in this game.
Week Three Vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Win (2-1)
Minnesota gets a "mini-bye" heading into a home game against the Chargers. The Vikings beat L.A. 27-20 in their last matchup two years ago and should defeat them again.
Week Four At Carolina Panthers
Win (3-1)
Carolina is rightfully excited about the future with incoming rookie quarterback Bryce Young and an interesting wide receiver group. However, Minnesota spoils a potential Adam Thielen "revenge game" with their first road victory of the year.
Vikings Begin To Struggle
Week Five Vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Loss (3-2)
Patrick Mahomes has never faced the Minnesota Vikings, but that will change this October. There's no sign of the Chiefs slowing down, and the Vikings are going to struggle with a high-powered offense. Kansas City should be the best team in the league. They prove they're a powerhouse with a big road win in Minnesota.
Week Six At Chicago Bears
Loss (3-3)
Minnesota's first game against an NFC North rival doesn't play out how they imagined. Chicago is fielding a somewhat improved roster this season, and they win a close one at home against the Vikings.
Week Seven At San Francisco 49ers
Loss (3-4)
It doesn't matter who the starting quarterback is for the 49ers, the Vikings will struggle at Levis Stadium. San Francisco has won three of the last four meetings and will get another victory in Week Seven.
Week Eight At Green Bay Packers
Win (4-4)
Green Bay is heading into its first season since 1992 without Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers under center. The Minnesota Vikings have won three of the last five meetings with the Packers. Minnesota has the better roster and less uncertainty at quarterback. They grab their first victory in a divisional matchup of 2023.
Week Nine At Atlanta Falcons
Loss (4-5)
There is a lot of excitement around the Falcons this year. Minnesota struggles against Atlanta's fantastic run game and fails to get above .500 on the season.
Week Ten Vs New Orleans Saints
Win (5-5)
After a frustrating loss in Week Nine, the Vikings respond with a dominant home win over the New Orleans Saints. Cousins has a strong game, and Justin Jefferson grabs two touchdown passes.
Week 11 At Denver Broncos
Loss (5-6)
I expect Denver to be a much better team in 2023 under the leadership of new head coach Sean Payton. Mile High is always a tough road environment. Although they only play each other every four years (and every eight years in Denver), the last time the Minnesota Vikings won a road game against the Broncos was in 1999.
Week 12 Vs Chicago Bears
Win (6-6)
Despite the offense struggling, the Vikings take the second game of the season series against the Bears on the back of a shut-down performance by the Minnesota defense. They head into their Week 13 bye with some momentum.
Post BYE Week
Week 14 At Las Vegas Raiders
Win (7-6)
The Raiders could be one of the league's worst teams, and the Vikings continue to roll coming off their bye week. Also, expect to see lots of purple and gold at Allegiant Stadium.
Week 15 At Cincinnati Bengals
Loss (7-7)
Cincinnati is a Super Bowl contender with an incredibly talented roster. I can already see the Minnesota secondary struggling to stop the air attack of Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd.
Week 16 Vs Detroit Lions
Win (8-7)
Detroit is heavily favored to win the NFC North however, they fail to defeat the defending champs in the first of the two meetings this season. The Lions have not beaten the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in the Kirk Cousins era, which continues for another year.
Week 17 Vs Green Bay Packers
Win (9-7)
The Vikings rely on two defensive scores for this win at a chilly Lambeau Field. Minnesota spoils the New Year's Eve celebrations for Packers fans everywhere with a blow-out victory.
Week 18 At Detroit Lions
Loss (9-8)
The final game of the season determines the winner of the NFC North, and it does not go the way the Minnesota Vikings hope. Detroit's defense has its best game of the year and comes away with a division title.
Final Thoughts
It's a year of change in Minnesota. This roster feels like it is always a piece or two away from being a real Super Bowl contender.
Although a 9-8 season will seem like a disappointment after the stellar 13-4 record during the 2023 campaign, I believe the Minnesota Vikings will get the final wild-card spot in the NFC.
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