Grab your passports.
The NFL international games have been announced. The Minnesota Vikings will become the first team in history to play back-to-back games in two different countries outside America.
In Week 4 the Vikings will travel to Dublin to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at Croke Park.
Following that there is a short trip over the Irish Sea to England and the now familiar setting of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In London it will be another away game against another AFC North team, this time the Cleveland Browns.
London has been a happy hunting ground for the Vikings in recent years. Here are some reminders of the good times.
Wembley Stadium – 2013 vs Steelers
This is the match-up that introduced me to the Vikings. When the games were announced the team decided to send a delegation over to promote the sport and the organisation.
Kyle Rudolph, John Sullivan and a fresh-faced Harrison Smith came over to England. Among their many stops was a joint training session with the Yorkshire Vikings cricket team.
They all had a go in the nets and Rudolph in particular held his own against a cranked up bowling machine.
As a proud Yorkshireman I was intrigued and having never watched a game before decided to tune in and watch the Vikings take on the Steelers. An Adrian Peterson inspired Vikings team came up with a 34-27 victory. The aforementioned Peterson putting up 140 yards and two touchdowns. From that day, I was hooked.
Twickenham – 2017 at Browns
In 2017 the Vikings were the designated away team at Twickenham but London was beginning to feel like home.
Despite trailing by a point to the Browns at half time the Vikings rallied in the second half of the game to come out with a 33-16 victory.
The win is most remembered for the Adam Thielen touchdown and subsequent knee-slide celebration across the glossy Twickenham turf.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – 2022 at Saints
The Vikings first trip to Tottenham was symptomatic of the 2022 season as a whole.
The Vikings shot out to an early lead before being pegged back in the third quarter. As the game wore on the teams traded scores before a 47-yard Greg Joseph field goal gave the Vikings a three-point advantage with just 24 seconds remaining.
For most teams that would be a comfortable way to close out the game, the 2022 Vikings were not most teams. Andy Dalton found Chris Olave for a 32 yard gain with the first play after the kick off.
Will Lutz then attempted a 61 yard field goal to tie the game up and send it to overtime as time expired. Fortunately for the Vikings the goalposts at Tottenham had just received a new coat of paint. Lutz’ kick first hit the upright before dropping on to the crossbar and bouncing on the right side of the frame – for the Vikings.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – 2024 vs Jets
A second trip to Tottenham and the sub plot for the match up was the quarterbacks.
Sam Darnold facing off against the team that drafted him. Aaron Rodgers once again attempting to break the hearts of Vikings fans, albeit in a different shade of green.
The Vikings got off to an early lead with a Will Reichard field goal and a 63 yard Pick Six courtesy of Andrew Van Ginkel. A rare touchdown from C.J. Ham extended the lead to 17-0.
Playing from behind the Jets had no choice but to throw the ball. Rodgers attempted a season high 54 passes trying to get the Jets back into contention. Ultimately it was another interception, this time by Stephon Gilmore which iced the game for the Vikings.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – 2025 at Browns?
It is far too early for any predictions on this years game.
There is a real chance that we will see two starting quarterbacks who as of today have not taken a snap in an NFL game. History is on the Vikings side and on October 5th we will find out who will come away with the win.
