7 biggest takeaways from the Vikings loss to the Packers in Week 17

Vikings Takeaway No. 3

Home not-so-sweet home?

Typically, Minnesota has one of the best home-field advantages in the entire NFL each season inside of U.S. Bank Stadium. But for the first time in the building's existence, the Vikings were only able to win two games on their home field this season.

Prior to the 2023 campaign, Minnesota had never won fewer than three home games since U.S. Bank Stadium first opened in 2016. That obviously changed this season, as the Vikings will finish with their fewest home wins since 2011, when they only managed one victory inside the Metrodome.

Looking back, Minnesota had a pretty difficult home schedule in 2023. Aside from the Los Angeles Chargers and Chicago Bears (who they still lost to anyway), six of the Vikings' eight home opponents this season have either clinched a playoff spot already, or they're still in contention for a postseason berth heading into Week 18.

Before Sunday night's blowout loss to the Packers, Minnesota's other five losses inside U.S. Bank Stadium were only by an average margin of 4.4 points. So, the Vikings could have easily won some of these home matchups, the ball just didn't bounce their way this season like it did so many times in 2022.

Minnesota's struggles at home in 2023 are especially odd since they were 8-1 in their home-building last season. But after further examination, seven of the Vikings' nine opponents inside U.S. Bank Stadium in 2022 failed to make the playoffs last season.

So, while it seems like Minnesota has this massive home-field advantage every year, their success inside U.S. Bank Stadium might actually depend more on the talent level of their opponent, which would mean they don't really have any more of an advantage in their home building than other teams do when they get to play on their home field.