The NFL schedule release is always one of the most anticipated events of the NFL offseason period. In 2020, this was even more true with other live sports nowhere to be found.
One look at the 2020 NFL schedule and it’s clear that the league has set up the schedule so that it can adjust if needed due to circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The early weeks of the season are littered with interconference games that could, in theory, be eradicated if a shortened season was necessary.
While the NFL has said that it anticipates the season to be played as scheduled with fans in attendance, many speculate that fans will almost surely not be allowed to attend games, at least to begin the season, if played as scheduled.
Of course, this creates a disadvantage for teams that have a heavy dose of home games early in their schedules, or even a single important matchup at home.
The latter applies to the Vikings. Minnesota is scheduled to open the season at home against NFC North rival Green Bay in what would be one of the most anticipated Week 1 Vikings games in recent memory.
It’s not difficult to envision the atmosphere for that matchup if fans are allowed to attend. The Vikings-Packers rivalry has gained significant steam over the last few years and several memorable games have been played, including two ties in the last seven years.
In the event that fans aren’t allowed to attend games for, say, the first two weeks or the first four weeks, the Vikings would have to play that game against the Packers without perhaps the best home-field advantage in the NFL. U.S. Bank Stadium has a strong reputation as not only one of the best facilities in the entire league, but also one of the loudest. Minnesota is 23-9 at home since U.S. Bank Stadium was opened in 2016, and it’s fair to suggest that the crazy environment in the stadium has aided the Vikings in compiling that record.
Of course, this disadvantage could also apply to Minnesota’s Week 3 matchup against Tennessee, which just earned a berth in the AFC Championship Game. One could argue that Green Bay and Tennessee are the toughest opponents that the Vikings are scheduled to play at home in 2020. Minnesota might be forced to play both games without fans while other teams play their most crucial home games in front of a packed stadium later in the season.
Additionally, the Vikings are scheduled to play at Lambeau Field against the Packers for a Week 8 matchup. It’s definitely possible that Minnesota is forced to play the Packers at home without fans, while the Packers get to host the Vikings with a home crowd in attendance.
Again, all of this is speculation for the time being. It’s too far out to have a good idea of how the NFL season will actually be handled in September. Heck, there may not even be a season. Or, maybe the entire season is played with fans in attendance and this is a moot point.
But, one more thing to consider is that both of the Vikings’ primetime games are on the road this season — as is the Christmas Day afternoon game against New Orleans. The electric home-field advantage that is U.S. Bank Stadium will not be featured in primetime for a whole season for the first time in the stadium’s history. The Vikings are 5-3 in primetime games at U.S. Bank Stadium.
This isn’t to say the NFL has purposefully given the Vikings the raw end of the deal. That would be an irresponsible assumption.
But this schedule is set up in a way that could minimize Minnesota’s home-field advantage in the most significant manner possible.
