NFL Insider Reveals Surprising News on Vikings'

According to USA Today's Nate Davis, several anonymous sources said the Vikings "sought the opportunity" to play in the league's first regular-season game in Ireland, adding to an expected trip to London.

"The two-game trip gives us an unbelievable opportunity to take our team on the road, get away from a lot of the day-to-day things that may be pulling players in any other direction. It feels almost like a training camp," O'Connell said in a May 12 news conference. "It feels almost like a trip to allow us to come together closer than ever, build our team camaraderie and culture even stronger, which has been such a strong asset to us over three years here."

Seen as a strategic disadvantage due to not practicing at their facilities for two weeks, the Vikings will have an advantage in the long run, turning two of their road games into neutral-site games.

“From a football side of it, both opponents that we'll play,” said O’Connell, “have very high-quality home atmospheres in their home stadiums here in the United States. So to get to play them not at their home stadium – tough division, the AFC North tends to be year-in and year-out … we found that to be a potential bonus for our football team, as well as getting the opportunity to have a trip together where we can continue to build our team, our camaraderie.”