Minnesota Vikings schedule: Games, dates, TV channels, predictions for 2026 season
Jacob CamenkerThe Minnesota Vikings decided to begin the J.J. McCarthy era during the 2025 NFL season, letting Sam Darnold walk in free agency to clear a path for the 2024 first-round pick to become the team's starting quarterback.
The result of that decision could serve as a cautionary tale to NFL franchises for years to come.
Darnold built on his career-best season with the Seattle Seahawks. He was named to the Pro Bowl after completing 67.7% of his passes for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions and guided Mike Macdonald's squad to a Super Bowl 60 win over the New England Patriots.
Meanwhile, McCarthy struggled immensely in his first season with the Vikings, completing just 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His 72.6 passer rating ranked dead-last among 33 qualifiers while he graded as Pro Football Focus' 33rd quarterback among 38 qualified players.
McCarthy's struggles prompted the Vikings to bring in veteran Kyler Murray to compete with him in what figures to be one of the NFL's most intriguing quarterback battles. The winner will be granted a chance to try to bring the Vikings back to playoff contention after a 9-8 season and work with a strong receiving corps featuring Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings and tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Here's what to know about the Vikings' schedule for the 2026 NFL season.
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Minnesota Vikings schedule 2026
This section will be updated when the NFL schedule is released on May 14:
- Week 1: vs. Green Bay Packers, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 2: at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 3: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 4: vs. Miami Dolphins, 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 5: at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 6: BYE
- Week 7: vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 8: at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 9: vs. Buffalo Bills, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN ("Monday Night Football")
- Week 10: at Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 11: vs. San Francisco 49ers, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC (in Mexico City)
- Week 12: vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 13: vs. Carolina Panthers, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 14: at New England Patriots, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video ("Thursday Night Football")
- Week 15: vs. Detroit Lions, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC ("Sunday Night Football")
- Week 16: vs. Washington Commanders, TBD
- Week 17: at New York Jets, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 18: vs. Chicago Bears, TBD
Vikings record prediction 2026
Record prediction: 9-8
The Vikings are presently one of the NFL's most enigmatic teams. They have a strong offensive supporting cast, but possess uncertainty at quarterback. Brian Flores remains one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL, but they have seen significant personnel change on that side of the ball – especially along the defensive line.
To boot, they rank middle-of-the-pack in strength of schedule, possessing the 16th-easiest schedule for the 2026 season, according to Sharp Football Analysis.
What does all that mean? It's difficult to accurately project how the Vikings will perform. They have the talent and coaching acumen needed to emerge as a playoff team, but both of their top quarterbacks also have durability concerns that could once again derail the team's season.
That risk – plus the fact that Minnesota plays in the ever-difficult NFC North – could work to prevent Minnesota from reaching double-digit wins in a second consecutive season.
Vikings home opponents 2026
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Atlanta Falcons
- Buffalo Bills
- Carolina Panthers
- Indianapolis Colts
- Miami Dolphins
- Washington Commanders
Vikings away opponents 2026
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- New England Patriots
- New Orleans Saints
- New York Jets
- San Francisco 49ers
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl 61 odds
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