3 ways the NFL screwed the Vikings with the 2023 schedule

Week 18 at the Detroit Lions

In what could be a potential NFC North deciding game, the Vikings will need to travel on the road to the Motor City. The NFL has done the Lions quite a few favors with their schedule, and you get the feeling as though the league is already crowning them division champions. Detroit will have three of their first five games in front of their home crowd, as well as a date with the Chiefs to open the NFL season.

It is interesting to note that the Green Bay Packers were awarded a Week 18 home game against Detroit this past season after winning the NFC North in 2021. The Vikings were not as fortunate as those Packers were, and they may have their NFC North title on the line when they visit Dan Campbell and company come Week 18.

In recent years, Week 18 has been a positive for these Vikings as they are 3-0 in their last three Week 18 games, but this Lions squad will, without question, be the best team they have faced in Week 18 recently and potentially the best team they face in the entire second half of the 2023 season.

This game not only has big implications in the NFC North, but potentially the entire NFC playoff picture could be affected by the outcome of this game.

For the NFL to schedule a Lions home game against the defending division champions in the final week of the regular season is very telling. Detroit being the betting favorites in the division tells all you need to know about what the league values most... money.

All in all, the Vikings may have an opportunity to prove the doubters wrong and change the perception of their team if they can walk out of Detroit as NFC North champions. That is, if it comes down to it.