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J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings throws a pass against the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Vikings 2026′ regular season schedule has been unveiled after a long wait. Check out the slate below (and plan your trips accordingly).

• Week 1; 9/13/26 – vs. Green Bay Packers (3:25pm CDT)
• Week 2; 9/20/26 – @ Chicago Bears (Noon CDT)
• Week 3; 9/27/26 – @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3:05pm CDT)
• Week 4; 10/04/26 – vs. Miami Dolphins (3:05pm CDT)
• Week 5; 10/11/26 – @ New Orleans Saints (Noon CDT)
• Week 6 – BYE
• Week 7; 10/25/26 – vs. Indianapolis Colts (Noon CDT)
• Week 8; 11/01/26 – @ Detroit Lions (Noon CDT)
• Week 9; 11/09/26 – vs. Buffalo Bills (7:15pm CDT – Monday Night Football)
• Week 10; 11/15/26 – @ Green Bay Packers (Noon CDT)
• Week 11; 11/22/26 – vs. San Francisco 49ers (7:20pm CST – Sunday Night Football)
• Week 12; 11/29/26 – vs. Atlanta Falcons (Noon CST)
• Week 13; 12/06/26 – vs. Carolina Panthers (3:25pm CST)
• Week 14; 12/10/26 – @ New England Patriots (7:15pm CST – Thursday Night Football)
• Week 15; 12/20/26 – vs. Detroit Lions (7:20pm CST – Sunday Night Football)
• Week 16; TBD – vs. Washington Commanders (TBD)
• Week 17; 1/03/27 – @ New York Jets (Noon CST)
• Week 18; TBD – vs. Chicago Bears (TBD)

If you look closely at their schedule from Week 9 to Week 15, you can see a clear message to the Vikings from the NFL.

Vikings Once Again a “Primetime” Draw in Eyes of NFL

The NFL made it clear that they view the Minnesota Vikings as a true primetime draw in 2026. The acquisition of Kyler Murray probably pushed that thought through a bit.

However, look outside of the primetime games as well. Less than half of the currently-available slate of games are after the noon-slot on Sunday. The Vikings have 4 late-window kickoffs, and 4 primetime games. They also have 2 games with times not yet decided until later in the season.

The Minnesota Vikings will have more eyes on them than usual this season. Not only because of primetime, but because they are featured heavily in late-window matchups. These slots usually only contain 3 or 4 games at a time.

Minnesota Has Decisions to Make Ahead of 2027 Season

The Minnesota Vikings have a long-list of notable pending free agents to make decisions on ahead of the 2027 season.

• OL Brian O’Neill
• OL Blake Brandel
• QB Kyler Murray
• WR Jauan Jennings
• RB Aaron Jones
• CB Isaiah Rodgers Sr.
• LB Ivan Pace Jr.

There likely could be extensions dealt out to at least a few of these gentlemen over the next few months. NFL teams usually get a year ahead of the contract’s expiration so the pending free agents can’t negotiate with other teams.

There are a few of these names, however, that will not be extended this offseason. Kyler Murray and Jauan Jennings are on that list, seeing as they signed in Minnesota this offseason. Aaron Jones won’t get one either, as his deal was revised this offseason as well. Ivan Pace Jr. was tendered by the Vikings, meaning he will make around $3 million this offseason. In simpler terms, he signed a 1-year/$3 million deal and will need a new contract next offseason.

Per OverTheCap, the Vikings currently have $56.7 million in cap space in 2027, the 14th-most in the NFL as it stands.