If you’re refreshing your phone looking for the minnesota vikings score tonight, I’ve got some bad news for you. The Vikings aren't playing. In fact, their season ended exactly two weeks ago on January 4, 2026.
It’s that weird, bittersweet time of year. The NFL Divisional Round is currently in full swing, with teams like the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams battling it out for a spot in the NFC Championship, but the locker rooms at TCO Performance Center in Eagan are already cleared out.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a bummer given how the team finished. Minnesota actually went on a tear to end the regular season, winning five straight games to finish with a 9-8 record. But in the ruthless world of NFL tiebreakers and playoff seeding, it just wasn't enough to leapfrog the teams ahead of them.
The January 4 Finale: A Final Look at the Scoreboard
The last time we saw a minnesota vikings score that actually mattered was the Week 18 "Border Battle" against the Green Bay Packers. It was a weird atmosphere. The Packers had already locked up the No. 7 seed and were resting stars like Jordan Love.
The Vikings, on the other hand, played like a team with something to prove. They absolutely stifled Green Bay in a 16-3 victory.
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The defense was the story that day. Brian Flores had his unit flying around, and the Packers didn't even cross midfield until the third quarter. It was the kind of dominant performance that makes you wonder "what if" about the four-game losing streak the team suffered back in November.
Why Tonight’s Playoff Games Feel Different
While you're searching for the minnesota vikings score tonight, you’ll likely see the Rams and Bears on your TV screen. That has to sting for Vikings fans.
Remember last year? On January 13, 2025, the Vikings were actually in this position. They played a Wild Card game against those same Rams. It was a disaster—Sam Darnold was sacked nine times and Minnesota lost 27-9. This year, despite a better finish, they’re watching from the couch.
Football is funny like that. A 9-8 record in 2026 feels more "successful" than the playoff run of 2025, simply because of the momentum they built at the end.
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The Harrison Smith Moment We Can't Forget
One reason people are still talking about that final minnesota vikings score from two weeks ago isn't just the win—it was the tribute to Harrison Smith.
Late in the fourth quarter, Kevin O'Connell did something pretty classy. He called a timeout specifically so the home crowd could give "The Hitman" a standing ovation. Smith hasn't officially said he's retiring yet, but at 207 career games, it felt like a goodbye.
If that was his final game in purple, a 16-3 win over Green Bay is a hell of a way to go out.
What’s Next for the Vikings in 2026?
Since there is no minnesota vikings score tonight, the focus shifts entirely to the off-season. The front office is looking at a tricky 2026 schedule that was just finalized.
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Because they finished third in the NFC North, they’ll face a mix of tough divisional rivals and some intriguing out-of-conference matchups. Here is what we know about the 2026 opponents:
- Home Games: Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Atlanta, Carolina, Buffalo, Miami, Washington, and Indianapolis.
- Away Games: Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, New England, New York (Jets), and San Francisco.
That road trip to San Francisco is already circled on my calendar.
Actionable Next Steps for Vikings Fans
Since you can't watch a game tonight, here is how you can stay locked in:
- Watch the Divisional Round: Keep an eye on the Chicago vs. LA Rams game tonight. These are the teams Minnesota has to beat next year to reclaim the North.
- Monitor the Retirement Tracker: Keep your ears open for news on Harrison Smith and other veterans. Their decisions will dictate how the Vikings approach the draft in April.
- Check the Salary Cap: With the season over, the "legal tampering" period is closer than you think. Minnesota has some decisions to make regarding the roster depth that fueled that late-season win streak.
The minnesota vikings score tonight might be non-existent, but the 2026 off-season is officially underway.