**Long-time fan living in Phoenix, Arizona (by way of Blaine, Minnesota). I'm curious why the Vikings would get not one, but two "exhibition games" overseas. I call them "exhibition games" because they seem to take away from the seriousness of the regular season.**
**What is frustrating? Well, we have to get up insanely early to watch games those days, the games aren't serious games, and anyone can win (no home-field advantage). In 2025, nearly 12 percent of Vikings games will not be serious games (Ireland, England).**
**The message I'm getting loud and clear from the league is that the NFL doesn't take the Vikings as a serious team. They think the Vikings utmost value in 2025 is growing league business (which makes sense from a business standpoint, after all, NFL teams revenue share), not competing for the end of season awards. Does anyone else find this extremely frustrating? Last year we drew the Jets, which was a joke. This year, we're playing the rebuilding teams, Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Both games are certain to be awful for regular fans.**
**On the bright side, it looks like these are away games as of now, so at least we're not getting the shaft on games at U.S. Bank Stadium this year. I, for one, would love to see exhibition games played in the offseason or another time, not during the heat of the regular season.**
I can definitely understand the early wake times being less than ideal for someone in Arizona, but a lot of folks still in Minnesota have enjoyed the "breakfast ball" with 8:30 a.m. (CT) kickoffs.
Both games will be televised nationally by NFL Network. Playing over there is a way to reward fans who stay up so late or get up so early for most of the regular season.
I hope I convey how privileged I consider myself to have made the past three trips to the UK and my appreciation for the incredible atmospheres that have welcomed the Vikings (and other participating teams), as well as the goodwill shared by the locals in leading up to the games.
The Vikings will be going from two places that can be really difficult for visiting teams to neutral sites. Minnesota's 4-0 mark is the best in the NFL on international soil. That doesn't guarantee two more victories this year, but I'd like to disagree with the "exhibition" status. The results will legitimately count as part of an incredibly difficult schedule.
The past two London Games by the Vikings have been decided on a final kick as time expired (Saints) and secured with an interception at the Minnesota 9-yard line with under a minute remaining (Jets).
Minnesota was awarded seven exclusive-window games (Weeks 1-2 in prime time; Weeks 4-5 internationally, _Thursday Night Football_ at the Chargers in Week 8, _Sunday Night Football_ at Dallas in Week 15 and the Christmas Day game against the Lions in Week 17). The NFL and its broadcast partners would not do that if they didn't believe the Vikings will be worth watching.