Minnesota Vikings 2025 NFL Schedule: J.J. McCarthy set for primetime debut, multiple high-profile matchups in first year as starter

Minnesota Vikings' 2025 Schedule

• Week 1: @ Chicago Bears (Monday Night Football, September 8th, 7:20 CT)
• Week 2: vs. Atlanta Falcons (Sunday Night Football, September 14th, 7:20 p.m. CT)
• Week 3: vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday, September 21st,
• Week 4: @ Pittsburgh (Sunday, September 28th, 8:30 a.m. CT, Dublin, Ireland)
• Week 5: @ Cleveland (Sunday, October 5th, 8:30 a.m. CT, London, England)
• Week 6: Bye Week
• Week 7: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, October 19th)
• Week 8: @ Los Angeles Chargers (Thursday Night Football, October 23rd 7:15 CT)
• Week 9: @ Detroit Lions (Sunday, November 2nd)
• Week 10: vs. Baltimore Ravens (Sunday, November 9th)
• Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears (Sunday, November 16th)
• Week 12: @ Green Bay Packers (Sunday, November 23rd)
• Week 13: @ Seattle Seahawks (Sunday, November 30th)
• Week 14: vs. Washington Commanders (Sunday, December 7th)
• Week 15: @ Dallas Cowboys (Sunday Night Football, December 14th, 7:20 p.m. CT)
• Week 16: @ New York Giants (Sunday, December 21st)
• Week 17: vs. Detroit Lions (Christmas Day, 3:30 p.m. CT)
• Week 18: vs. Green Bay Packers (TBD)

Biggest Games on the Vikings' 2025 Schedule

Vikings vs. & at Lions: Two of the Vikings' four losses came against the Lions. If they want to end up winning the division, they have to at least win one game against the Lions.

Vikings vs. Eagles: If you want to be the man, you have to beat the man. The Eagles are reigning Super Bowl champions and this is the perfect hill to climb to take that next step.

Vikings at Chargers: Jim Harbaugh vs. J.J. McCarthy? Sounds like a fascinatingly fun matchup.

Vikings vs. Commanders: One of the first times that McCarthy will face a quarterback in his draft class. Daniels was one of the best players 

Primetime matchups with viewing/streaming info

Which games will be primetime viewing and which ones will be streamed?

The Vikings have a total of ENTER HERE primetime games in 2025:

• Week 1: @ Chicago Bears (Monday Night Football, September 8th, 7:20 CT)
• Week 2: vs. Atlanta Falcons (Sunday Night Football, September 14th, 7:20 p.m. CT)
• Week 8: @ Los Angeles Chargers (Thursday Night Football, October 23rd 7:15 CT)
• Week 15: @ Dallas Cowboys (Sunday Night Football, December 14th, 7:20 p.m. CT)

Strength of Schedule (based off Vegas win totals, not 2024 record)

Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis does something really interesting each year by ranking each team based on their win total with the sportsbooks in Las Vegas. It's all projection, but it provides a cool look at how hard the schedule projects to be heading into the season.

Sharp has the Vikings' SOS as the fifth-hardest. The NFC North has a brutal schedule with the Lions having the second-hardest, the Bears the seventh-hardest and the Packers the 10th-hardest.

Revenge Games on the Vikings' 2025 schedule

• Both Lions matchups: The Lions won both games against the Vikings, which ended up knocking the Vikings to a wild card spot. The only other team the Vikings lost to last year was the Los Angeles Rams
• Justin Jefferson vs. Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase: In two previous matchups, the Vikings have lost to the Bengals by a field goal in overtime. Having played with both players at LSU, there is a little extra motivation to get the job done against the Bengals.

5 Must-watch Matchups

• Justin Jefferson vs. Quinyon Mitchell: One of the best young cornerbacks in the NFL taking on the best wide receiver in the NFL. That's the kind of matchup you want to see.
• J.J. McCarthy vs. Jim Harbaugh: Michigan quarterbacks facing off. This is going to be great, especially the quotes leading up to it.
• Brian Flores vs. Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley: The last time the Vikings played the Eagles, they got destroyed on the ground. Will Flores have the secret sauce to stop them this year?
• Brian Flores vs. Lamar Jackson: One of the greatest defensive minds in the NFL vs. the most dynamic dual-threat in the league since Michael Vick. Who wins that matchup?
• Brian O'Neill vs. T.J. Watt: Watt loves to rush against right tackles, and O'Neill is one of the best in the league. Who ends up winning that battle?