The NFL will release the official 2025 schedule within the next few hours.
While we know which teams the Minnesota Vikings will play, we won’t know when they will play them until later today. And in a competitive NFC — not to mention playing in what is likely the most competitive division — it’s fair to believe that Week 1 might be paramount.
The Vikings will play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin and the Cleveland Browns in London, so fans know they will not play against those teams in Week 1.
If fans believe this team can contend for a title, it would make sense to want an NFC contender rather than an easy opponent. If the Vikings want to know how they stack up in the NFC right away, here are the top three teams they should hope to face in Week 1:
Seattle Seahawks
This one would be an exciting Week 1 matchup with many storylines.
Vikings’ savior last season, Sam Darnold, is going against his former team.
J.J. McCarthy‘s first regular-season start.
Will J.J. McCarthy show that he would have eventually taken over at starter if it wasn’t for the knee injury?
That game will be in Seattle, so we’d know immediately how the Vikings handle a hostile road environment. Seattle is known for its raucous fans, known as the 12s.
McCarthy’s ability to handle running silent cadences and showcase his leadership skills in and out of the huddle could give the Vikings’ fanbase something to be excited about, win or lose.
Washington Commanders
No matter what week they play this game, it will be must-see TV. Still, what better week than Week 1 to face last season’s Rookie of the Year?
This matchup also features two teams that made the playoffs last year despite many predictions and preseason power rankings. Washington made a run, losing to the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC title game. Minnesota shocked the NFL, becoming the first team to win 14 games and not win their division. Instead, they settled for a Wild Card spot and lost to the Los Angeles Rams.
Vikings-Commanders would almost certainly be a showdown between McCarthy and Jayden Daniels, two top-10 picks from the 2024 draft who came off incredible 2023 college seasons. McCarthy won the CFB Championship game, and Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. But their trajectories diverged sharply last season, when Daniels became the league’s breakout star while an injury sidelined McCarthy.
In a game that fans already want to see in Week 1, give them what they want: two up-and-coming stars battling for early-season supremacy in US Bank Stadium.
Detroit Lions
What better way to see where you stand in your division heading into the season than to face last season’s division champions?
The Lions had to replace both coordinators after the New York Jets and Chicago Bears hired Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson as head coaches.
Meanwhile, the Vikings have had continuity. They kept their play callers, Brian Flores and Kevin O’Connell. They also brought back Wes Phillips and Josh McCown, two coaches who played vital roles in game planning for a Minnesota offense that surprised many last season.
Whether at home or in Detroit, this matchup would immediately give the Vikings a good look at McCarthy and how he handles the pressure of a divisional contest. And in a division that came down to Week 18 last season, this matchup could help the Vikings set the tone.
What Week 1 means
These three contests are the most intriguing because they offer the best and fastest way to gauge how Vikings fans should view the 2025 season. These teams were above .500 last season and either made the playoffs or barely missed out in Seattle’s case.
A win in any of these games to start the season, and the Vikings identify themselves as serious contenders. Meanwhile, a loss could just be a sign of growing pains the team can hopefully work out and overcome.
A blowout loss, on the other hand, might reveal that there are more concerns than reasons for optimism.