International games can sometimes be a mess for teams but the Minnesota Vikings got one of the best situations in their London game this year.
Playing games in the international series is always strange. It’s great that the NFL wants to expand their markets and teams can gain fans all over the world, but squads like the Minnesota Vikings sometimes pay the price for them.
It had already been revealed that Minnesota would be participating in an international contest this year and rumors had been swirling that it would be against the New Orleans Saints in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. All those suspicions were confirmed on Wednesday when the NFL released the schedule for those games.
The Vikings will indeed be playing the Saints in London on Oct. 2, prompting an early start time for that game. Waking up a bit early for the 8;30 am Central kickoff in the U.S. isn’t so bad. And thankfully some of the other things about this game are good too.
Why is the Minnesota Vikings game vs. the Saints in London good?
Minnesota got the good end of just about everything from this scheduling. If the Vikings are participating in a game outside the states, it is best if that game isn’t a home game for the purple and gold.
Instead of losing a game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Minnesota doesn’t lose a home in the mix to act as the host for a game played at a neutral international site. Not only is that a huge positive for home-field advantage, but it is also big for fans hoping to see the game in person in Minneapolis.
Plus, games against the Saints have been historically exciting other than the most recent contest where the Vikings were run all over for the tune of 264 yards and lost 52-33 in the Superdome on Christmas Day in 2020. Giving England what should be a good game could do wonders for the fan base over there.
Finally, the Vikings avoided that one game from the International Series that would be available exclusively on ESPN+. While that may not be a big deal for some fans, it could be an inconvenience for those who love to catch every game as it happens and don’t want to add another streaming service.
If the Minnesota Vikings were going to have an international game this year, this is probably the best possible way that it could happen. Best of luck to the purple and gold when they make the trip across this pond this season.