Minnesota Vikings schedule gives them a unique advantage in game during crucial stretch
Playing in a fourth international game over the last three years isn’t ideal, but the Minnesota Vikings have quite an advantage.
The Minnesota Vikings’ schedule is an interesting one.
You can split it up into three different groups:
After starting the first two weeks against divisional opponents, the schedule in theory is relatively easy until you get to the Week 8 matchup at the Detroit Lions, which is the beginning of the four-game gauntlet that is as tough of a stretch as any NFL team has in 2026.
Minnesota Vikings have hidden advantage in their schedule
The final game of that gauntlet is the international game against the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City. It comes after facing the Lions, Buffalo Bills, and Green Bay Packers. It’s a brutal stretch for anyone, but it’s especially tough to finish it in Mexico City.
The one good thing that the Vikings have that everyone else doesn’t is the advantage of preparing for high altitude. In the final week of the preseason, the Vikings are traveling to Denver to take on the Broncos. Being a mile above sea level is going to help them prepare for the 7,439-foot altitude Mexico City offers.
Yes, the over 2,000-foot difference that Mexico City has compared to Denver is substantial, but making the trip to the Mile High City will give the football operations team the ability to create a game plan.
Each team has a plan to maximize its team’s impact when dealing with high altitudes. From oxygen to supplements, there are many things that you can do to combat it. Being that it’s significantly higher in Mexico City, they have the opportunity to test different processes to maximize its impact.
The 49ers will play the Broncos during the regular season, but it’ll be in Santa Clara. That could give the Vikings an advantage over the 49ers. How much of an advantage will it be? Who knows for sure, but it won’t be zero, and that can be a benefit for the Vikings.
