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Vikings 2026 Schedule Preview: Colts, Lions, Bills & Packers in Weeks 7-10

After a critical on-ramp of home and road games against NFC North rivals to launch its 2026 slate plus non-division dates with Tampa Bay, Miami and New Orleans — another Week 6 bye, too — Minnesota will welcome Indianapolis and Colts quarterback Daniel "Indiana" Jones to U.S. Bank Stadium, nearly 23 months removed from Jones being released by the Giants and signing with the Vikings.

The next string of games in our four-part schedule series (click to digest the first installment) continues with a trip to Detroit 364 days after young QB J.J. McCarthy returned from a five-game layoff caused by a high-ankle sprain and floored the crowd at Ford Field with a trio of touchdowns in an epic Vikings victory, then a prime-time tilt at home versus Buffalo — Minnesota's first time playing the Bills on Monday Night Football — and, gulp, a potentially but hopefully not too cold gathering on Packers grass (eight days sooner than last season, at least). The four challengers in this stretch, by the way, combined to go 38-29-1 in 2025 (.566).

Vikings vs. Colts | Week 7

Series Results

Vikings W-L-T: 9-18-1 (0-1 in the postseason)

Home record: 9-6-1

Last regular-season meeting: Minnesota defeated Indianapolis 21-13 at U.S. Bank Stadium (Week 9 of 2024)

2025 Stats

Indianapolis offense

Yards/game: 345.9 (9th) | Points/game: 27.4 (8th)

Indianapolis defense

Yards/game: 349.8 (23rd) | Points/game: 24.2 (T-20th)

The More You Know

Indianapolis packaged 2026 and 2027 first-round picks (plus WR Adonai Mitchell) to the Jets last November in exchange for two-time All-Pro corner Sauce Gardner, who didn't really have the chance to make an impact for 'The Horseshoe,' yet, because of a calf injury. Gardner — and rookies Allen and Haulcy — are tasked with further overhauling a defense that Lou Anarumo took from 24th and 29th in points and yards allowed in 2024 to 21st and 23rd in his first season alongside Steichen. Anarumo gained clout during his run w/ Cincinnati, which peaked with a Top 10 scoring "D" in 2022.

Vikings at Lions | Week 8

Series Results

Vikings W-L-T: 82-45-2

Away record: 37-27-1

Last regular-season meeting: Minnesota defeated Detroit 23-10 at U.S. Bank Stadium (Week 17 of 2025)

Last regular-season meeting on the road: Vikings defeated Lions 27-24 at Detroit (Week 9 of 2025)

2025 Stats

Detroit offense

Yards/game: 373.2 (5th) | Points/game: 28.3 (T-4th)

Detroit defense

Yards/game: 331.9 (18th) | Points/game: 24.3 (22nd)

The More You Know

Detroit's offense dipped from first and second in the NFL in points and yards in 2024 to fourth and fifth in 2025. In other words, yes, there were effects of former Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson leaving to take the head job in Chicago — but the firepower and identity harnessed by the Lions under Campbell mostly persisted. Now, enter another sharp and young coordinator in Drew Petzing, who called Arizona's offense the past three seasons after several years with Cleveland and worked his way up during six as an assistant with Minnesota under Mike Zimmer. Twelve years after joining the Vikings, Petzing, 39, will try to use his experiences against them and Minnesota Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores, who is 45. Flores and Petzing are New York natives and both previously coached at Boston College.

Vikings vs. Bills | Week 9

Series Results

Vikings W-L-T: 9-6-0

Home record: 4-2

Last regular-season meeting: Vikings defeated Bills 33-30 in overtime at Buffalo (Week 10 of 2022)

Last regular-season meeting at home: Buffalo defeated Minnesota 27-6 at U.S. Bank Stadium (Week 3 of 2018)

2025 Stats

Buffalo offense

Yards/game: 376.3 (4th) | Points/game: 28.3 (T-4th)

Buffalo defense

Yards/game: 293.1 (7th) | Points/game: 21.5 (12th)

The More You Know

Four years ago, in the most recent Vikings-Bills headbutt at now-decommissioned Highmark Stadium, Justin Jefferson saved Minnesota on a fourth-and-18 with an otherworldly one-handed catch in traffic. That scene unfolded with Brady, who was Jefferson's wide receivers coach at LSU in 2019, serving in his first season as the Bills quarterbacks coach. Now, the 36-year-old Brady is the youngest head coach in the league and gets free rein to exploit QB Josh Allen, who claimed the 2024 MVP award and has placed in the Top 5 on the ballot in five of six seasons since Jefferson's historic rookie year.

Vikings at Packers | Week 10

Noon | Nov. 15 | Lambeau Field | FOX

Series Results

Vikings W-L-T: 61-67-3 (includes 1-1 in the postseason)

Away record: 28-36-3 (includes 1-1 in the postseason)

Last regular-season meeting: Minnesota defeated Green Bay 16-3 at U.S. Bank Stadium (Week 18 of 2025)

Last regular-season meeting on the road: Packers defeated Vikings 23-6 at Green Bay (Week 12 of 2025)

2025 Stats

Green Bay offense

Yards/game: 332.6 (15th) | Points/game: 23 (16th)

Green Bay defense

Yards/game: 311.8 (12th) | Points/game: 21.2 (11th)

The More You Know

Minnesota's Week 12 loss last season at Lambeau Field dropped its record in post-October Border Battles on the road (when it's generally a little chillier) to 14-21-2. The Vikings are 14-13-4 in 31 historical road matchups — against any opponent — outdoors when the temperature was 30 degrees or colder, according to StatHead. They've played 14 games in those conditions visiting Green Bay and gone 6-6-2. Conversely, when it's been 60 degrees or warmer at Lambeau, Minnesota is 5-4-1.