The 2025 Vikings’ schedule includes hosting the Falcons in prime time and opening against the Bears.
The Minnesota Vikings have more than just two foreign games in 2025. They also have two games in the United States.
It turns out that the Vikings will have two prime time games to start the 2025 NFL season: they will go to Chicago to play the Bears in Week 1 and then host the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2.
It will only be the second time since 1981 that Minnesota has opened with back-to-back prime time games.
When the 2025 season starts, the Vikings will go to J.J. McCarthy’s neighbourhood to start the new era and season. Monday Night Football will air at the same time on both ESPN and ABC. It will be the first regular-season game for the No. 10 overall pick in 2024, and it will also be the first game as head coach for Ben Johnson, who used to be the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. Johnson has joined with the top pick in 2024, quarterback Caleb Williams.
The talk about McCarthy vs. Williams and other young quarterbacks is likely to continue into Week 2 when Minnesota plays Michael Penix, Jr. on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.
Penix was picked eighth overall in the 2024 draft. He started three games for the Falcons last season after Kirk Cousins and the Vikings switched quarterbacks.
Justin Jefferson will finally get to play Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, who used to play for LSU together, when the Cincinnati Bengals come to town in Week 3. It will be Minnesota’s only noon (CT) start in its first five games.
Week 1 at Chicago Bears: This will be just the fourth time in 65 seasons that Minnesota has opened as the road team against Chicago (1991, 1995 and 2002).
Week 2 vs. Atlanta Falcons: The Vikings and Falcons will make their first joint appearance on Sunday Night Football.
Week 3 vs. Cincinnati Bengals: The Vikings fell 27-24 in overtime in trips to Cincinnati in 2021 and 2023 but will try to improve to 7-0 all-time when hosting the Bengals.
Week 4 at Pittsburgh Steelers (Dublin, Ireland): The Vikings will try to improve to 2-0 against the Steelers on international soil in a rematch of the 2013 pairing in London, when Minnesota toppled Big Ben in the first international regular-season game for both teams.
Week 5 at Cleveland Browns (London, England): Speaking of rematches, Minnesota also intends to improve to 2-0 against Cleveland in London, having claimed the first encounter in 2017. This game, however, will be at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium instead of Twickenham Stadium.
Week 6 Bye: For a second consecutive season, the Vikings are following their trip across the Atlantic with rest.
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