The NFL’s growing global footprint will reach new heights in 2025, with a record seven international games scheduled. Among the most intriguing developments: The Minnesota Vikings will be the second team to play back-to-back international games in a single season (Jacksonville Jaguars did in 2023 and 2024). While that may sound like a logistical headache on paper, at least one NFL insider believes the Vikings might benefit from the overseas swing.
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NFL Schedule: 2025 International Game Stretch May Benefit Minnesota Vikings in Big Ways
Minnesota will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin on Sept. 28 and then take on the Cleveland Browns in London on Oct. 5. These destinations are thousands of miles from U.S. soil but just a hop, skip and a jump over the pond from each other.
Most teams would dread that kind of travel, but NFL insider Albert Breer outlined why this could play in the Vikings’ favor. His breakdown offers three key advantages that could quietly boost Minnesota’s chances next season.
In a tweet shortly after the announcement, Breer wrote: “The Dublin/London swing could give the @Vikings an edge …” — and then laid out three compelling reasons.
The Dublin/London swing could give the @Vikings an edge …
1) They save trips to Pittsburgh and Cleveland, which could've been bad-weather games.
2) They'll be acclimated for the second game, far moreso than the Browns.
3) Instead of 9 "true" road games, they'll only have 7.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer)
1) Weather Avoidance
Breer’s first point emphasized something every cold-weather team understands: The value of dodging bad late-season conditions. “They save trips to Pittsburgh and Cleveland, which could’ve been bad-weather games.” Playing the Browns in London spares the Vikings from a potentially ugly December showdown in the brutal cold and slush of Northeast Ohio. For a dome team like Minnesota, that’s a meaningful win. The neutral climate abroad could allow their offense to operate more cleanly and reduce the risk of weather-related mishaps.
2) Acclimation Advantage
Breer continued: “They’ll be acclimated for the second game, far moreso than the Browns.” By staying overseas between games (which the Jaguars willingly do), the Vikings will already be adjusted to the time zone, routine, and surroundings when they face Cleveland in Week 5. The Browns, meanwhile, will likely be flying in just days before kickoff, dealing with jet lag and disrupted practice schedules. In a league where marginal gains can swing outcomes, that’s not insignificant.
3) Fewer True Road Games
Lastly, Breer pointed out how the international slate impacts the broader schedule: “Instead of 9 ‘true’ road games, they’ll only have 7.” Because both games in Europe are technically “away” matchups for Minnesota, the Vikings will end up with just seven traditional road environments — less crowd noise, less travel, and a more favorable balance overall. That kind of structural scheduling edge doesn’t appear in stat sheets but can affect win totals.
The NFL officially began playing international games in 2007 with the start of its International Series. However, the first regular-season NFL game outside of the United States was played in 2005 between the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City. Since then, the NFL has expanded its slate of international games, including many in London and cities like Toronto and Frankfurt.
While the overseas stretch will still test the Vikings’ stamina and planning, Breer’s analysis reframes the situation: What looks like a burden could be a blessing. If Minnesota capitalizes on the rare opportunity, the team might emerge from its international tour not just surviving but thriving.
