The NFL schedule for the 2023-24 season
The Vikings get five primetime games this season
By: Ross Blilie
05-12-23
Yay! The schedule for the 2023 NFL season has been released! I'm excited the Vikings will get to play the Bears and the Packers in two primetime games this season. It's so fun to watch the Vikings-Packers games because everyone is so fired up!
The Vikings have a few tough games right away, but I think they will be able to be better than they were last year. They hired Brian Flores as the Defensive Coordinator plus they've got some fresh bodies that really didn't get much playing time. I think it'll be interesting to see how Lewis Cine will do once he gets back out on the field.
The Vikings will play the 49ers for their season opener on September 10th. It'll be interesting to see if Trey Lance will be ready to be the starter for the 49ers. There's been a rumor floating around that he could get traded. Plus, there's been a rumor going around that the Vikings wanted to pick him up. I don't think that will happen, but sometimes you just don't know.
For the Vikings, everyone knows that Kirk Cousins will be the starting QB this season, but what we don't know is who will back him up. Last year, it was Nick Mullens from the Las Vegas Raiders. But this year it could be the new guy from BYU, Jaren Hall, or it could be Logan Nelson from the University of Mary, which is in Bismarck, ND.
The most interesting thing about Logan Nelson is the fact that he played college for a small town in North Dakota. Yes, he was only invited to rookie minicamp, but he could impress a lot of people. He set some records in the NSIC his senior year. Even if he doesn't make the team or the practice squad, the fact that he at least got an invitation to try out for the Vikings is impressive. Usually athletes from those schools don't get invites. It will be interesting to watch and see how he does. I think Nick Mullens will probably be the backup to Cousins because of his knowledge about the offensive system and his experience in the league.
Taking a look at the schedule, and thinking about how the team did last year, I think that their record would be 10-7. I think that it will take a few games for the defense to get used to how Flores does things. What I don't want to see is them playing that 2 deep shell defense from last year. That was a terrible plan. They gave up way too many yards too often. That particular zone defense really got under my skin.
I'd like to see the corners play more aggressively, but not get beat deep. I know that's easier said than done, but something on the defense needs to change. Giving up thirty or more points per game is not going to get you to the super bowl nor the playoffs.
In summary, I'm super excited that the new schedule is out and the Vikings get five primetime games. My prediction for their regular season record is very average: 10 wins, 7 losses. They WILL make the playoffs and beat the Packers and Bears to end the season.
Ross Blilie is an avid NFL fan of the Minnesota Vikings since the 1990’s. He loves to talk about the NFL. He also enjoys attending the University Of North Dakota Men’s Hockey games in Grand Forks, ND. His hobbies also include bowling with his wife and friends, narrating audiobooks, fishing, and even sitting by a campfire with family at Lake Blackduck in Minnesota. You can find Ross on twitter & Instagram @Rossthenarrator.
