Vikings 2025 schedule with game-by-game predictions: Projecting how J.J. McCarthy's first season will go

Week 1: @ Chicago Bears (Monday Night Football)

Vikings win 21-17 Games at Soldier Field are always weird. Last season, the Vikings led by 11 with less than a minute to go and had to kick a game-winning field goal in overtime. Don’t expect much to change this time around.

Week 2: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Vikings win 28-16 The Vikings destroyed the Falcons last year, and that’s going to continue this year. Minnesota did a lot to improve the team, whereas the Falcons will be relying on two rookies to be the bulk of their pass rush.

Week 3: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Vikings win 27-24 To put it simply: Justin Jefferson is now 0-2 against his former LSU teammates Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. He will get his first win with a dynamite performance that will earn him NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

Week 4: @ Pittsburgh Steelers (Dublin, Ireland)

Vikings win 24-13: The Vikings will play the Steelers in Dublin to mark the first-ever matchup to take place in three different countries during the regular season. As things currently sit, the Steelers are set to start Mason Rudolph, and Brian Flores will have a field day attacking him relentlessly.

Week 5: @ Cleveland Browns (London, England)

Vikings win 31-16 Hopefully, Christian Darrisaw is fully healthy for this game, as it will be a phenomenal matchup against Myles Garrett. These are the battles that you want to see with star players. Outside of that, the Vikings are primed to be the better team across the board.

Week 6: Bye Week

Week 7: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Vikings lose 24-21 The Eagles are one of the best running teams in the National Football League and they have the team to be able to establish it against the Vikings number two run defense from a year ago. Whoever wins in the trenches will get the windin this game, and that’s more likely than not going to be the Eagles.

Week 8: @ Los Angeles Chargers (Thursday Night Football)

Vikings win 27-24 This will be a hard-fought matchup between both teams, with the biggest factor being J.J. McCarthy facing off against his former head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Week 9: @ Detroit Lions 

Vikings lose 31-23 The Lions have had the Vikings’ number in recent years. They have won the last four matchups, including the week 18 matchup that earned the Lions the NFC North and the number one seed. Things are going to look different for both teams this year, especially on offense with both teams seeing major leadership changes. However, the Lions when healthy are one of the best teams in the NFL and play excellent at home.

Week 10: vs. Baltimore Ravens

Vikings lose 21-20 Lamar Jackson is coming off of an MVP-caliber season where he was dynamite throughout the year. The Vikings can struggle with quarterbacks who are really good at navigating pressure and he’s one of the best in the league. Expect this to be a battle.

Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears

Vikings win 34-20 To put it simply, I’m not sold on the Bears. Sure, Ben Johnson is taking over at head coach, but Caleb Williams needs to prove a lot. Plus, while the Bears have a lot of talent with their weapons, most of them have question marks. This could take a little bit to get going, and the Vikings will take advantage

Week 12: @ Green Bay Packers

Vikings lose 24-20 The Vikings won the last two games at Lambeau Field against the Packers, with both games being somewhat of a blowout. That luck changes this year, as the Packers will get over the hump and get a crucial division win.

Week 13: @ Seattle Seahawks

Vikings win 31-20 The Vikings will be facing a motivated Seahawks team, as they let quarterback Sam Darnold leave in free agency. He signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract, and they selected Jalen Milroe in the third round. How invested are they in Darnold as the starter? He’s going to want to play a great game against his former team to continue proving they were wrong about letting him go.

Week 14: vs. Washington Commanders

Vikings win 24-23 The Commanders are one of the better teams in the National Football League and they have improved the roster after making the NFC Championship Game last season. Ultimately, turnovers did them in, but a full offseason to develop for Jayden Daniels will make a major difference, but not quite enough to get the Commanders the win.

Week 15: @ Dallas Cowboys (Sunday Night Football)

Vikings lose 27-24 The Vikings can’t win every game on the schedule, and the Cowboys have a much better team than most have given them credit for, especially in the trenches. Dak Prescott has two dynamic receivers to throw to and an offensive line who can protect him very well.

Week 16: at New York Giants

Vikings win 34-13 This shouldn’t be that much of a matchup. The Vikings are arguably better at every position group than the Giants, and the quarterback situation isn’t a great one. Russell Wilson is relatively washed and Jaxson Dart isn’t going to be ready this season. It should be somewhat of a repeat of last year’s game, especially if the Giants do put Dart in the game.

Week 17: vs. Detroit Lions (Christmas Day, 3:30 p.m. CT)

Vikings win 31-26 This is one of the biggest rivalries in the NFL right now. The Lions have won the last four games, but the matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium was inches away from being a Vikings victory. The losing streak isn’t going to last for the Vikings, especially with how deep the roster is.

Week 18: vs. Green Bay Packers

Vikings win 28-20 To put it simply, the Vikings have a better team than the Packers do. The only spots where the Packers have an advantage are at quarterback and running back, and that could end up changing if J.J. McCarthy sees a lot of success.

Vikings' Final Record:

Record: 12-5 It's a tough schedule for the Vikings, as they have to play the entire NFC East and AFC North. The one thing the Vikings have going for them is their roster is deep. If McCarthy plays just average football, 12 wins is a likely number, but don't be surprised if there is an extra loss or two. This is a huge season for the Vikings, and it looks like it'll be a successful one.