The 2023 Minnesota Vikings are an interesting enigma. Ranking 15th in the league and only a 29% chance to win the NFC North per ESPN’s Football Power Index, there isn’t a lot of confidence in a team that went 13-4 in 2022.
FPI also has rankings on strength of schedule on the basis of comparing their remaining schedule from the perspective of an average team. Based on that ranking, the Vikings have the 15th most difficult schedule per FPI.
One of the elements that the Vikings have going against them is a first place schedule that will have them play the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals as their opponents that differ from the rest of the NFC North.
For comparison, the Green Bay Packers rank with the 21st-toughest schedule, the Detroit Lions 23rd and the Chicago Bears 24th.