LET'S TALK FOOTBALL - Minnesota Vikings

Through all of the adversity and tragedy that the Minnesota Vikings had to endure before the beginning of the 2024 season, they managed to have one of their best seasons in franchise history. With Sam Darnold as the starting quarterback, the Vikings went 14-3 with Kevin O’Connell receiving Coach of the Year honors. Sure, it ended with a crushing defeat to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round, but Minnesota only lost to two teams if you really think about it in the big picture. Now, they are trying to make sure that last year was not a fluke. This time, it will be with JJ McCarthy as the new team leader.

There is only one reason why McCarthy is the sole X factor on this team: because we don’t know who he is yet. The first round pick out of Michigan unfortunately missed his entire rookie season due to a torn meniscus, and after seeing Darnold lead the team to fourteen wins, he has even more pressure on his shoulders. Thankfully, the supporting cast around him has not drastically changed. Aaron Jones proved that he can still be a workhorse in any backfield and he took a lot of pressure off of Darnold’s hands when it mattered most. McCarthy has the best receiver in football as his number one option in Justin Jefferson, so that will greatly increase the pace of his development. Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor have emerged as legitimate supporting options and TJ Hockenson looked promising in his return from a torn ACL. However, the state of the offensive line always leaves me curious. Last year, it gave up 49 sacks, which was the tenth most in the National Football League. A lot of that happened to do with the fact that Christian Darrisaw suffered a torn ACL and MCL in the middle of the season, but throughout the offseason, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made sure that it would not be a liability anymore. He moved on from Ed Ingram, Cam Robinson, and Garrett Bradbury after extremely underwhelming stints. In free agency, the Vikings replaced two of them with Ryan Kelly and Will Fries, two of the best lineman available. With their first round pick, the team selected guard Donovan Jackson out of Ohio State, who allowed just five sacks in his college career. With O’Connell calling the plays, there is no question that this will be a top ten offense in the entire league. As long as everybody stays healthy, there is no question that they will be the biggest reason why this team is an instant playoff contender.

However, that is not to disregard the Vikings defense, which showed tremendous promise last year. Even though they allowed a ton of passing yards, there were more positive takeaways than negative. For starters, they led the league in takeaways and were tied for fourth in sacks. They were the second best rushing defense, with the Baltimore Ravens as the only that gave up the fewest run yards. Last but not least, Minnesota allowed the fifth fewest points, so this unit was far from a liability. In the offseason, they completely boosted this unit. They beefed up the trenches by adding both Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to complement an underrated duo of Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard, who both finished with double digit sacks. Just imagine how much of a nightmare it can be with Dallas Turner having a breakout season. In the second level, Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace did more than enough to hold their end of the bargain, but it will look different with Patrick Jones II departing in free agency. The secondary is the only weakness that I truly see with this football team. As I said, they are a “bend but don’t break unit”, but giving up the fifth most passing yards in football is a giant red flag. It is an opportunistic group, especially when Brian Flores’ blitz calls work to fruition, but they can get exposed when opposing offenses can keep up. I love that they were able to keep Byron Murphy because he truly proved that he could be a vital piece to any secondary and I have always liked the safety tandem of Harrison Smith and Josh Mettelus. However, they really replaced Stephon Gilmore with a two-year contract for Isaiah Rodgers? Also, why are the backups Jeff Okudah and Ambry Thomas? I definitely see this defense as a boom-or-bust unit, because if they cannot generate consistent pressure and throw opposing quarterbacks off guard, then they might take more than a couple steps back from last year.

It is too early to say that the Vikings are going to dethrone the Lions as the NFC North champions, but I can absolutely see this team making a push for the Wild Card. As I said earlier, this team needs to be healthy because one key absence might jeopardize their whole chances, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Just look at how 2023 turned out. I am sure that the Vikings and their entire fanbase do not want to live through that nightmarish season again.

WEEK 1 @ CHICAGO BEARS

It did not take too long before the Vikings faced their first true test of the 2025 season: a road matchup against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. On the surface, you might be confused as they only had five wins last year. Well, now that the Bears hired Ben Johnson as the head coach, everybody is expecting that this team can finally turn the corner. It sounds redundant since we have been saying that about the Bears for a few years, but this time should be different. Caleb Williams is hoping to take a huge leap into his sophomore season, perhaps proving that offensive coordinator Shane Waldron really was a hack and should not have been the guy to guide him in his rookie year. Entering 2025, the pieces are more and less the same, but they are hoping to improve as well. D’Andre Swift is still a capable running back, DJ Moore is a number one option for any quarterback in the NFL, Cole Kmet is always a serviceable tight end, and Rome Odunze is hoping to make sure that his second year is a breakout one. However, I think that there are definitely a couple of additions that could make a difference. The fact that wide receiver Luther Burden fell to the second round was absolutely shocking because he is an incredible playmaker that can take off after the catch, so this is definitely somebody that Caleb would absolutely dream to have as a teammate. In the first round, the Bears drafted a stunner in tight end Colston Loveland over Tyler Warren, but Ben Johnson knew that this guy would fit the Sam LaPorta mold perfectly. Loveland is also going to give Kmet something to think about in training camp, because if he develops in the right direction, then the starting job for tight end is definitely going to change hands at some point in the season. The biggest improvements that Chicago made with their offense revolved around their line. They traded for a four-time champion in All-Pro guard Joe Thuney, made another trade for Jonah Jackson, and signed the best free agent center in Drew Dalman. You pair those three with Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright, that is a solid line. Last year, it was a complete abomination as it gave up the most sacks in the entire NFL, so Johnson is hoping that they make a very quick turnaround.

Despite the Bears defense finishing tenth in takeaways, this unit was average at best. They allowed the sixth most yards in football, ranked sixteenth in both passing and sacks, finished the fifth worst in rushing yards allowed, and placed thirteenth in points given up. I really don’t see Dennis Allen as an upgrade over Matt Eberflus, but he is at least a better coordinator than a head coach. The biggest moves that Chicago made with its defense in free agency is with the defensive line, just to make sure that the identity was not “Montez Sweat or bust.” By the way, he only had 5.5 sacks in 2024. Fortunately, he has a lot more help around him this time. Dayo Odeyingbo got himself a big contract of $48 million over three years, and even though I think they overpaid a tad too much for Grady Jarrett, he is at least a proven pass rusher that might have just needed a change of scenery. What I want to see, though, is the younger guys stepping up. This means that Chris Williams, Austin Booker, and Gervon Dexter are going to need to post bigger numbers. Otherwise, it won’t be long before Ryan Poles sends any one of them to another organization. In the linebacker room, they still have Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards as a rock-solid duo, but they also need to prove that whatever happened last year was just a fluke. The secondary is still an opportunistic unit with a lot of key playmakers. Jaylon Johnson is easily a top three cornerback, Jaquan Brisker is one of the most underappreciated safeties in football when he is on the field, Tyrique Stevenson still has plenty of room to grow, and Kyler Gordon will hope to have a bounce-back year as well. I’m not saying that this defense is going to be great, but if Ben Johnson can get the offense back on track, then there won’t be an overwhelming amount of pressure that they have to drag throughout the season.

This is going to be a very intriguing matchup to watch, especially between two first round quarterbacks in the same draft class. I only have one reason why I will give Minnesota the advantage and that is because they are a more structured and experienced team. I believe that their offense is more consistent and that their defense is more aggressive, even with the Bears being at home. I doubt that this series will be a sweep, but I can see Minnesota throwing the first punch.

WEEK 2 vs. ATLANTA FALCONS

Any time I think about the Atlanta Falcons, I always wonder how they are going to screw it up this time. They are a team that should have a lot more success and promise, yet they always stumble when you least expect it to happen. They started 6-3 with Kirk Cousins, only him to implode and cause the team to miss the playoffs, thus leaving him on the bench for the heralded rookie Michael Penix. Now that he has the full keys to the offense, one of two things is going to happen. Either he surges like Lamar Jackson did in his sophomore year and carries the team to relevance, or the flaws keep rearing their ugly heads as they walk into another mediocre season. As I said, this is a team that has plenty of talent to get over the hump. Bijan Robinson is easily one of the top five running backs in all of football and Drake London broke through in his third year with over 1200 receiving yards. However, for this offense to truly rise up the charts, they need Kyle Pitts to get back on the map. After his rookie season, he was expected to be a huge focal point of the offense. Then all of a sudden, his play diminished and he has been in a lot of trade rumors. At some point in time, the quarterback cannot be the scapegoat for this anymore, so it will be really interesting to see how Pitts performs in 2025. Let’s not forget that Darnell Mooney fell eight yards short of a thousand last season and Ray-Ray McCloud set career highs in targets, catches, and yards! I don’t have a lot of concerns for the offensive line, even with the loss of Chris Dalman, because it is a group with proven starters. The Falcons only gave up thirty-two sacks the year before and was considered one of the best run blocking lines in football, so it really comes down to the receivers getting open and Penix being smart with his decision making.

As for the defense, it was really the most disappointing in the league. There is a reason why they did not decide to bring Matthew Judon or Justin Simmons back after signing them to prove-it deals for one year. They also knew that they could not keep Grady Jarrett around much longer because after the extension he received in 2019, he never totaled more than six sacks in a season. The good news was that Atlanta had two first round picks and decided to boost the edge with those selections. They finally made a smart decision and took Jalon Walker with their first pick, but then stunned all of us by trading a future first for James Pearce Jr. That means that head coach Raheem Morris sees them as immediate impactful players to complement Arnold Ebiketie. The rest of their defensive line has proven veterans like Leonard Floyd and David Onyemata, but they are also not getting any younger, so a lot more weight is going to be given to the young guys. They finished with the second fewest sacks in the NFL, so even though that number will get higher this season, I do not see a drastic improvement. I never had an issue with the linebacking room. Kaden Elliss is an extremely versatile linebacker and I have hopes for JD Bertrand, so I think the signing of Divine Deablo can help this group instead of hurt them. But the one position group that I have never been fond of is the secondary. AJ Terrell and Jessie Bates might be All-Pro caliber players, but who do they have to help out? I like Dee Alford, but he had an up-and-down season as he struggled with coverage. Jordan Fuller is a guy that I liked when he was on the Rams, but he tailed off in Carolina and got cut after one year for a reason. Mike Hughes did not do too bad and Atlanta brought him back on a new contract, yet I am worried that last year might have been a blimp in the radar.

Even though I am hoping that the Falcons can prove me wrong for once, I just see the Vikings as a more complete and well-rounded football team. Kevin O’Connell has not lost to the Falcons yet in his coaching career and I do not expect that to change any time soon, so even on another primetime stage, the Vikings can handle the pressure and take care of business at home.

WEEK 3 vs. CINCINNATI BENGALS

The Cincinnati Bengals managed to survive the last two matchups with thrilling 27-24 victories in overtime, but now that these two will meet in Minnesota, it is time for the Vikings to flip that script. Cincinnati has not won a game in that state in their entire existence, so even with JJ McCarthy at quarterback, the streak might stay alive. However, that is no reason to completely sleep on the Cincinnati Bengals. As long as their offense is fully healthy, this team will be a playoff contender. Even though they missed the playoffs, Joe Burrow threw forty-three touchdowns to just nine interceptions and Ja’Marr Chase was the Triple Crown winner. How many teams can they say they have playmakers like those two? Not to mention that Tee Higgins signed a contract extension to make him the highest paid number two option in football, so Cincinnati’s “Big Three” will be in the Jungle for years to come. But let’s not dismiss some of their other playmakers. Chase Brown stood out with 1000 yards from scrimmage in his sophomore year and is poised for a breakout season, Mike Gesicki signed a small extension to remain the security blanket, and Andrei Iosivas is a stud on the rise as he continues to develop upwards. Hopefully, Jermaine Burton shakes off a dismal rookie season, because the talent he showed in college was truly too good to waste. Yet, the one weak link that always leaves me cautious about this team is their offensive line. Cutting Alex Cappa was a start, but I don’t know if it truly fixed everything. They allowed forty-eight sacks the season before, so even though they have a boatload of talent on the offensive side of the ball, it might be another wasted season if Burrow cannot stay in the pocket.

We all know what is going to hold the Bengals back from making the playoffs and that is their defense. Sure, they let go of Lou Anarumo and replaced him with Al Golden. But that side of the ball still has so many flaws and weaknesses. For starters, not only is Trey Hendrickson holding out for a new deal, but so is their first round pick Shemar Stewart! Cincinnati already lost Sam Hubbard due to retirement, so if they lose two of the only guys that will keep this defense relevant, then that is just going to give the secondary even more trouble. Cam Taylor-Britt is probably the only notable player on that unit, but he is another player that has been inconsistent throughout his career. Geno Stone has not been the difference maker the Bengals were expecting, even with a late turnaround. Even their run defense was a massive flaw, even with Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson finishing 2024 with over 100 tackles. Maybe Oren Burks can stabilize things since he is a solid rotational piece, but you can only ask but so much.

As a history junkie, I truly believe that the Vikings can win this game and not make this a close one. As much as I love Joe Burrow and that Bengals offense, they are going to have their hands full with a hungry Minnesota defense, and that will make things easier for JJ McCarthy to slice up a fragile secondary.

WEEK 4 @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The Vikings will play in the first NFL game hosted in Dublin against the Pittsburgh Steelers, with a familiar friend as the starting quarterback. Now that Aaron Rodgers is in the Black and Gold, the streak of winning seasons for Mike Tomlin will most likely stay alive, although many of their fans are hoping for the contrary so that management can see their flaws. Either way, it is not like the Steelers have a terrible team. Najee Harris is gone, but Jaylen Warren has always been a huge focal point of this offense, and I think rookie Kaleb Johnson could mold in well with Arthur Smith’s system. George Pickens got traded, yet DK Metcalf is always a receiver that any quarterback would love to have. Hopefully, he shows more consistency in his play because he is incredibly athletic and physical, but you do not see it as often as you would hope. Pat Freiermuth is always a serviceable security blanket, Calvin Austin shows plenty of flashes with his speed, and Roman Wilson is trying to bounce back after an injury-riddled rookie year. However, the offensive line brings up a lot of concerns as they allowed the ninth most sacks in the NFL. Dan Moore Jr. left in free agency, which will make Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones the two startling tackles for the season, so let’s see if that is a move that will pay off over time.

Whether the Steelers make the playoffs or not, I seriously doubt that defense is going to regress. That is if TJ Watt clears up whatever issues he might have with the front office. Otherwise, they are screwed. As much as I love guys like Alex Highsmith and Cam Heyward, they will not have a pass rush without the former Defensive Player of the Year. We can only hope that rookie Derrick Harmon can have an instant impact on that line because that would be absolutely critical. The linebacking room is a deep one per usual, and I think it will get even stronger with Jack Sawyer as a late draft addition, but I hope they do not wear down like they did last year before. As for the secondary, it is also a well respected group that just got stronger. Darius Slay might not be the corner that he was in his prime but he can still play at a high level and complement a shutdown beast in Joey Porter Jr. The same goes with safety Juan Thornhill to help out Minkah Fitzpatrick. They will be the biggest reason why this Steelers team is competitive, but if their offense is near the bottom of the dumpster, then it is going to be an exhausted group as the season progresses.

Even if Aaron Rodgers signs with Pittsburgh, I still believe the Vikings have the better team. It will be a big hurdle for Minnesota’s offense to overcome, but as long as they hold onto the ball, they should do just enough to stay undefeated.

WEEK 5 @ CLEVELAND BROWNS

After a fun trip in Dublin, the Vikings will be heading up to London for what should be an easier matchup against the Cleveland Browns. At this point, I don’t even need to say why anymore but I will anyways: they don’t have a quarterback. They might have drafted Dillon Gabriel AND Shadeur Sanders, but if the only veteran backups are Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, then that is not the best considering that Deshaun Watson suffered two torn Achilles injuries. It doesn’t help that Nick Chubb is no longer on the roster, despite the fact that he was a shell of himself trying to come back from that knee injury, and then later suffered a broken foot late in the 2024 season. The good news is that Cleveland made sure to draft not one but TWO future running backs to their core! I’m curious to see which one will be the lead between Qunshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, because if I’m being quite honest, I don’t know what role Jerome Ford is going to carve out in this offense. In the passing game, the two main focal points will most likely be Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku, but there need to be more than a few guys that will have to step up. Cedric Tillman, David Bell, and Diontae Johnson are the more notable examples. However, that offensive line really took a huge slide as it allowed the second most sacks in the league. Even with the addition of Teven Jenkins, I do not know if we are going to see any improvement, unless one of these four quarterbacks completely stun us and somehow lift this team to the playoffs.

Their defense is not void of blame because after a dominant 2023 season, they saw signs of regression as well. A lot of it happened to do with the setbacks of the offense, but Myles Garrett was quite possibly the only player showing any form of consistency. One of the boldest moves they made in regards to that defense was to trade down three spots from the second overall pick and select Mason Graham out of Michigan, while receiving a significant package that includes a future first. Jacksonville might have been the lucky ones to select Travis Hunter, but if Graham turns into a successful player, then Cleveland will have little regrets. The rest of their defensive line has a bunch of rotational pieces that can make solid contributions, but the linebacking corps took a hit with Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah ruled out for the season due to a neck injury. Even though they signed Jerome Baker and kept guys like Devin Bush and Jordan Hicks around, the Browns are going to have an average run defense at best. I cannot say anything different for the secondary, because although Denzel Ward and Grant Delpit are absolute studs, the rest of the group could not follow the way. Martin Emerson and Greg Newsome have been massive disappointments, Rayshawn Jenkins is just an okay safety, and it didn’t help that Juan Thornhill left in free agency. Jim Schwartz is one of the smartest defensive minds in the game, but after that dip of a performance last year, who knows which direction they will take this season?

If the Vikings do not win this game, I will be absolutely stunned. They are way too talented and better coached for them to let this slip away, so the only way I can believe that Cleveland could pull this upset off is if they finally live up to their potential for once in their lives.

WEEK 6: BYE

WEEK 7 vs. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Just like last year, I feel like the Vikings are going to get off to a 5-0 start, only to lose their first game to an interconference juggernaut. This time, it will be against the defending Super Bowl champions. I won’t be like a bunch of national media pundits and say that Philadelphia is starting a dynasty, but they are the most feared team in the NFC. Jalen Hurts finally got the respect he deserved by winning a championship and the game’s MVP, because when Philadelphia’s best player Saquon Barkley was held in check, it was the quarterback that rose up to the moment and redeemed himself from two years ago. Thankfully, the offense from that season will be back. Saquon is still at the peak prime of his career, the Eagles have one of the best receiving duos featuring AJ Brown and Devonta Smith, but one of the best news of the offseason was that they found a way to keep tight end Dallas Goedert for the foreseeable future. The offensive line has four of its five starters returning, so this offense should still be dominant on paper. The last thing Philadelphia wants, however, is a repeat of what happened two years ago. They might have finished with a winning season and a playoff appearance, but they collapsed after a 10-1 start and got demolished in the Wild Card with two different coordinators than the ones they had in their first Super Bowl matchup against the Chiefs.

Thankfully, Vic Fangio will still be in charge of the defense, which means you should not experience a setback any time soon. Even though they lost a ton of pieces in the offseason, Philly is deciding to focus on its youth to keep their repeat chances alive. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis will be the two key pieces to their defensive line, with assistance from Nolan Smith and perhaps Jalyx Hunt coming around the edge. In the second level, Zack Baun will be the quarterback of the unit as he is coming off of a breakout season, with the confidence that he will come out stronger this year. With help from Nakobe Dean and rookie Jihaad Campbell, I don’t expect that run defense to get worse. The secondary is where it gets really interesting because even though they are still young, both Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean formed into a lethal cornerback tandem. Reed Blankenship has evolved into a legitimate starting safety and Sydney Brown is hoping to reach that level, so there is depth in that group as well. I don’t think that defense will be as dominant as it was the year before, especially since there will be a lot more inexperienced guys being thrusted into starting positions, but then I remember what happened in 2023. When they lost to Kansas City, the Eagles had the best defense in football. One year later, they were one of the worst. It was the biggest reason why Philadelphia fell apart after such a strong start, so my fear is that it could happen again, especially since it will be a younger unit.

There is an outside chance that the Vikings could pull off this upset, but I think that barring injury, the Philadelphia Eagles are just a better team. I doubt this will be a cakewalk, so Minnesota is going to put up a strong fight. However, if the Eagles show a semblance that they are just as strong as the year before, then that could be enough to hang on.

WEEK 8 @ LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

This really might be deja vu from last year: lose a hard-fought game to a great team at home and then try to quickly turn it around at So-Fi Stadium on Thursday night. The good news is that they do not have to worry about the Rams yet, but their residential neighbor in the Chargers. However, this is not a team you want to underestimate, especially with Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert as the main centerpieces. Last season did not end the way they wanted, but the Chargers proved that they could compete with anybody in the league. Harbaugh implemented the same formula with LA that he did when he won the National Championship at Michigan: run the ball, play great defense, keep the quarterback out of harm’s way. It helped JK Dobbins bounce back with a near thousand yard season, so just imagine what things could be like with rookie Omarion Hampton and veteran Najee Harris. But even if a defense manages to keep the running game in check, then there is wide receiver Ladd McConkey to worry about, who thrived in his rookie season. My only question is who will be Herbert’s second option. Quentin Johnston is incredibly talented yet has drop issues, Mike Williams had a very up-and-down season in 2024 trying to return from injury, and tight end Tyler Conklin is the only other security blanket on the roster. The Chargers offensive line is an average unit that does well with run blocking, but could have its issues in pass protection, so the latter might be a problem if Herbert does not have anybody that can consistently get open.

What really turned things around for the Chargers was their defense, which went from being one of the worst in the league to allowing the fewest points one year later. When you look at the defensive line, there are not too many household names, but this is still a group that had the sixth most sacks in the league last season. Khalil Mack might not be the player he was in his prime, but he is still one of the most productive edge rushers in the league. Tuli Tuipulotu is emerging as one of the more underappreciated players at his position and veteran Bud Dupree did not do bad himself with six sacks of his own. What LA is hoping, however, is for more of the younger guys to step up and shine for this team. Daiyan Henley received that message early by nearing 150 tackles and guys like Troy Dye and Junior Colson are hoping to get caught up. In the secondary, LA let Asante Samuel Jr. walk away in free agency, mainly because they might have found a new number one corner in Tarheeb Still. Elijah Molden jumped into the radar out of nowhere last season and got himself a deserving contract extension as a result. That is not even mentioning that they still have one of the best safeties in football with Derwin James leading the unit. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter did a hell of a job leading that defense, and if he keeps this up any longer, he might enter some head coaching discussions.

Even though the Chargers might not be as good as the Rams, there is one historical fact that needs to be considered: the Vikings have not won a Thursday night game on the road in their entire history as a franchise. If JJ McCarthy pans out the way we hope, then that streak could end, but I think the Chargers defense will hold on in what should be a gritty grudge match.

WEEK 9 @ DETROIT LIONS

This game is going to determine what type of team the Vikings will be this year. They have not beaten the Detroit Lions in two and a half years, so if Minnesota can beat them on the road, they are a team to fear in the NFC. However, it might be too soon to say that it is a guarantee. The Lions might have lost both of their coordinators, but as long as Dan Campbell is in charge, then they are the team to beat in the division. For all the flaws that Jared Goff might have as a quarterback, he has still been one of the best the organization ever had. The only worst case scenario is that he turns into a turnover machine again and causes them to slip out of the playoff race, but with the cast around him, it should not be an issue. Detroit still has a one-two punch at running back featuring Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Amon-Ra St. Brown is easily one of the top five receivers in the league and Campbell is hoping that Jameson Williams could emerge as a legitimate number two. Sam LaPorta is always one of the more reliable tight ends in the league and their offensive line is one of the best in the league. We know that this offense will keep Detroit in postseason contention, but what about the other side of the ball?

When the Lions defense was healthy, they were one of the more improved units in the league. But the more guys they lost, the worse it got. If Aidan Hutchinson can successfully bounce back from the gruesome knee injury he suffered against the Cowboys, not only is this group going to get back on track, but he will be in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year. The only issue is that there is not anybody else on the line that can generate consistent pressure. They have a few perennial run stuffers, but the only player that had more than a few sacks in 2024 was Za’Darius Smith, and he is still a free agent. At least the linebacking room is still deep with Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, and Malcolm Rodriguez. But without a pass rush, then that means the secondary is going to be put in a tough place. They lost Carlton Davis in free agency, but they still have a few key playmakers that will at least hold their end of the bargain. Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph are easily one of the best safety tandems in the league, they signed DJ Reed to complement the rising Terrion Arnold, and the additions of both Amik Robertson and Avonte Maddox should keep things stable. However, if this group is not healthy, then this season might turn out even worse than the last two.

Minnesota has plenty of grit and mental toughness, but the Detroit Lions have been the embodiment of that since Campbell took over. For the Vikings to pull off this upset, I will believe it when I actually see it myself.

WEEK 10 vs. BALTIMORE RAVENS

This schedule does not get any easier for the Vikings as they now have to head back home to welcome the Baltimore Ravens. Although they are not always trustworthy in the postseason, there is no doubt that they are well respected when the regular season arrives. Lamar Jackson is a two time MVP for a reason, and if it were not for a certain Josh Allen fellow, then there is no question that he would have won his third. Besides him, the rest of the team has a boatload of talent that should be a championship contender. Derrick Henry proved that not only is he still the King, but he is easily one of the top two running backs in all of football. What I’ve been more impressed with is how well the Ravens opened up the passing game. Zay Flowers has slowly but surely emerged as a number one option and Rashod Bateman has not done too bad as a number two. But now that DeAndre Hopkins has been added to the mix, Lamar will have more than just Mark Andrews or Isaiah Likely to lean on as a security blanket. The biggest win of their offseason, in my opinion, was bringing back Ronnie Stanley. He turned more money down to stay with Baltimore, so as long as he stays healthy, he will be a huge investment that will pay off. The interior still gives me some concern, but with Lamar under center, it should not be too huge of a liability.

Hopefully this time, the defense will stay consistent all season long, rather than just wait until the second half of the season to show up. The pass rush has really come alive in the last two years, led by Nnamdi Madubuike and Kyle Van Noy, but players like Odafe Oweh and Tavius Robinson have really stepped into the fold in a positive way. The Ravens also drafted Mike Green in the second round, who led the FBS in sacks last year, so it will be interesting to see what type of role he can carve out in Zach Orr’s system. In the second level, there is nothing else to say about Roquan Smith besides the fact that he is the best middle linebacker in the league. Trenton Simpson really stepped up as the right-hand man and those two are why Baltimore allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league. What really stepped up in the second half of the season, though, was their secondary. Marlon Humphrey still proved that he was one of the best cover corners in the league, but with Kyle Hamilton as the deep safety, they exploded and took off. If Jaire Alexander can stay healthy, then this group will be even more lethal, especially since Ar’Darius Washington and Nate Wiggins are expected to have bigger roles. To top it off, I think that the safety room will be better with Malaki Starks jumping on as a first round pick.

The only thing weird about this game is that Baltimore will not have Justin Tucker winning the game with a walkoff field goal as he was released earlier in the offseason, but either way, I do not see the Vikings winning unless Lamar Jackson has a stunning three-interception performance. JJ McCarthy is still the X factor so let’s see what he can do against this Ravens defense. If he blossoms, then that will be a huge sign that things are on a better track than expected.

WEEK 11 vs. CHICAGO BEARS

As I said earlier, I don’t see this series being a sweep. If Chicago wins the first game, then Minnesota should win the next, and vice versa. The only way for the Vikings to win both games is if the Bears really prove that things have not changed, regardless of the change at head coach.

WEEK 12 @ GREEN BAY PACKERS

Ok, this should finally be the week where the losing streak ends for the Vikings. I am hoping that things turn out differently, especially after how they performed last year. Fortunately, any time they played the Packers over the last few seasons, Minnesota tends to win the first matchup regardless of the location. But there is a reason why Green Bay made the playoffs. Jordan Love is still their face of the franchise and proved that he is capable of leading this team to glory, but the supporting cast around him might indicate a bit of a down year. The good news is that the Packers still have Josh Jacobs, who ran for over 1300 rushing yards. The bad is that their depth at receiver is still lackluster. At least they drafted Matthew Golden in the first round, somebody that can complement the speedster Jayden Reed. Unfortunately, Christian Watson is expected to miss extended time with a knee injury and Romeo Doubs is a really inconsistent receiver. Dontayvion Wicks has also been really disappointing, and if he cannot have a big training camp, he might be a stunning roster cut. Both Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft cannot be the only security blankets Love will have to lean on, but thank goodness that their offensive line gave up the second fewest sacks in the league, so there should be more time for the receivers to get open.

The Packers defense is always a confusing one for me to analyze. Some days, they are above average. Other times, they get exhausted if they are on the field for too long. On paper, they should be decent. Rashan Gary is still an exceptional pass rusher, the rest of the defensive line has plenty of starpower such as Devonte Wyatt and Kenny Clark, Lukas Van Ness is slowly improving, and there are a few rotational guys that have stepped up as well. The linebacking room lost Eric Wilson in free agency, but they at least still have Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper. However, the secondary is one that I want to keep a close eye on this season now that Jaire Alexander is officially released. Xavier McKinney emerged as one of the top safeties in the league with eight interceptions and Carrington Valentine had his best season yet last year. They shouldn’t be horrible! The problem is that they are too inconsistent.

I doubt this series will be a sweep as it was last year, especially since we still don’t know how to evaluate McCarthy. However, Minnesota always does a great job of throwing the first punch, so I have faith that they can pull off an “upset” in Lambeau Field.

WEEK 13 @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Now this should be a fun matchup as Sam Darnold hopes to prove to Minnesota that they should have kept him around, rather than let him walk away in free agency. Many are hoping that last season was not just a “one year wonder” and that Darnold does not revert back to his Jets form. Myself included. When I look at the supporting cast around him, it is not as great as it was when he was with the Vikings, but it is still manageable. The Seahawks have an underrated running back tandem of Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, two guys that can punish defenders with physicality and acceleration on yards after contact. No more Tyler Lockett or DK Metcalf, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba has emerged as a number one option and he will have a promising right-hand man in Cooper Kupp. Hopefully, the former Super Bowl MVP can stay healthy because he has proven he can still play. You just need him on the field. Seattle also has an emerging tight end in AJ Barner, and there are a couple of depth guys in Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jake Bobo that are hoping to have some role in this offense. However, the state of the offensive line always worries me, from the days of Russell Wilson. One red flag about Darnold’s play is that he tends to hold onto the ball too long, and you cannot have that in Seattle, because he is not going to have a clean pocket most days. They might have drafted Grey Zabel in the first round, but if Charles Cross is the only good lineman they have again, then this team is going to be extremely disappointing to watch.

The main strength of the Seattle Seahawks last year was their defense, despite the fact they missed the playoffs with a ten-win season. They have an incredible amount of playmakers on all three levels and Mike MacDonald did a great job of making sure that this unit cleaned up any issues that they might have had in the past. Leonard Williams is still an absolute beast of a pass rusher and there were plenty more guys that stepped up as well. Boye Mafe and Derick Hall had breakout seasons last year, and now that Demarcus Lawrence is coming on board, this is a defensive line that will have depth. In the linebacking corps, Ernest Jones will hopefully have a full season under his belt with the team, because he is an incredibly versatile player that any team would love to have. The secondary has a plethora of name talent like Riq Woolen, Julian Love, Devon Witherspoon, and Coby Bryant. The hope is that if the offense finds some consistency, the defense will not suffer any setbacks. MacDonald is a hell of a coach, so I am truly hoping for the best.

I definitely see this as an extremely close game, but I have more faith in Minnesota’s offense and I think that they have more playmakers on their defense. Given that this is in Seattle, it can really go either way, but I believe that O’Connell will have this team better prepared for the moment.

WEEK 14 vs. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

Knowing the stakes, I think this will be a trap game… for the Washington Commanders. However, by the time this matchup arrives, my guess is that they will be favored to win. The biggest reason why is that their quarterback has emerged as a superstar that lifted them to the conference championship game, so he is hoping that they get further this time around and have a happier ending. The supporting cast around him did not change drastically from last year. Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler have been a solid running back tandem, Terry McLaurin is easily one of the more underappreciated receivers in football, they just acquired Deebo Samuel as an extra option, and Zach Ertz returned to being the reliable security blanket that everybody wants in their offense. Washington also made sure to address its offensive line by trading for Laremy Tunsil, so let’s hope that he is not one of the more penalized tackles in the league this time around. However, it is a group that allowed the seventh most sacks, so it is not like Washington is going to have an unbelievable offense that cannot be stopped. Fortunately, they drafted Josh Connerly Jr. as a future starter at right tackle, so the Commanders made sure to address the two most important positions on that front.

Their defense is a very unique one run by Dan Quinn. They do not have too many household names, but it is a group that is opportunistic and one you do not want to turn the ball over against. Jonathan Allen is gone, but they still have a franchise cornerstone in Da’Ron Payne along with a quality starter in Dorance Armstrong to lead the pass rush. The Commanders are also expecting Jer’Zhawn Newton to take the next step at defensive tackle and even signed Javon Kinlaw to give him a bigger role. Bobby Wagner is still playing at a high level and Frankie Luvu has been more than an exceptional complement to have in the linebacker room, but the secondary is one that I am hoping shows signs of improvement. Hopefully, Marshon Lattimore can have a full and healthy season to remind us why he is still one of the best corners in football. Mike Sainristil will be in the slot and Jonathan Jones is expected to be another outside defender, which is not the most ideal situation, but you at least have proven starters. However, one player that I have high hopes for is safety Quan Martin. He totaled eighty-seven tackles last year and showed up huge in the playoffs, the type of player that Dan Quinn loves to have on a daily basis.

I see this as a high-scoring affair between two of the most talented offenses in the league, but I think Minnesota can ruffle a few feathers. They have a better pass rush, their offense is more complete, and I think that Brian Flores’ blitzes should throw Jayden Daniels off his game at least a few times. I can absolutely be wrong about this since the Commanders are supposed to be the better team, but for the Vikings to keep their playoff hopes alive, this is a must win affair.

WEEK 15 @ DALLAS COWBOYS

The primetime stage is always a fun one for the Minnesota Vikings, and what makes it even better is that they get to go to JerryWorld to spoil the hopes and dreams of the Dallas Cowboys. So many of their fans think that they will be a lot better than advertised, but I seriously cannot see how. Dak Prescott is coming back, that is always a great sign. CeeDee Lamb is one of the best receivers in the league, that definitely helps. Micah Parsons, given that he gets his contract extension, is absolutely one of the more unstoppable defensive players in the league. But what do these three have around them? Rico Dowdle left in free agency, which means the only running backs are Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. One of them has not been the same since a season ending injury he suffered a few years ago and another was proved to be nothing more than a system back for the Eagles. The passing game was already reliable with Jake Ferguson and Jalen Tolbert, but acquiring George Pickens was definitely a high-risk and high-reward move. He is extremely talented, but the biggest red flag is that he had character and maturity issues in Pittsburgh, so I really do not know if this was the best change of scenery. The potential is there and I think he and CeeDee form a strong duo on paper, but I need to see how they gel together before I can come to a final conclusion. Fortunately, the offensive line is never an aspect I have to worry about. They drafted Tyler Booker in the first round to replace the recently retired Zach Martin and complement Tyler Smith, their tackles Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele are hoping to improve in 2025, and Cooper Beebe had a strong rookie season at center. With Dak under center, I doubt they will be a top ten offense, but they should be a productive unit against certain opponents. But when it comes to top tier teams, they do not always show up, so that needs to change if they truly want this year to be different.

With Matt Eberflus as the new defensive coordinator, I already know what I am going to get. There will be some games where they make tremendous strides, but then others where they are on their heels way too often. Yes they have Micah and Osa Odighizuwa on the defensive line, they brought back Dante Fowler, Marshawn Kneeland is on the rise, and Sam Williams is returning from injury to step in for DeMarvion Overshown. Yet, I am not exactly confident that Kenneth Murray or Jack Sanborn are going to fix a run defense that was below average last year. Trevon Diggs struggled to return from injury and DaRon Bland is essentially the same type of player, so I don’t have the highest faith in those two as the starting corners despite the fact that they have exceptional hands. I don’t need to worry about the safety room because it already has a ton of depth, but when Dallas cannot generate any pressure, then they better make a ton of plays.

I can absolutely see this going either way and I have it going down to the wire, but either one of two things are going to change. Either Justin Jefferson is finally going to get a win against Dallas or Aaron Jones is finally going to lose to the Cowboys. The Vikings have a better roster on paper, but Dallas is never afraid to play spoiler late in the year, so getting a win requires all hands on deck.

WEEK 16 @ NEW YORK GIANTS

Right now, this should be one of the easier wins for the Vikings this season, because the New York Giants are in dire straits at this moment in time. They signed Russell Wilson, then traded up for Jaxson Dart in the first round. They have a promising running back in Tyrone Tracy, but drafted Cam Skattebo. Malik Nabers is a stud at wide receiver, but the next best options are Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson, both inconsistent in their respective positions. At least Andrew Thomas is coming back to stabilize the offensive line, but with the uncertainty at the quarterback position, who knows how many times that group will be set up to fail? One more horrid start and John Mara is cleaning house.

Hopefully, the defense emerges out of the shadows and gives us promising flashes throughout the season. Their pass rush is stacked with the likes of Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence. They added Chauncey Golston and Roy Robertson-Harris to solidify that front, but the run defense has been underwhelming with Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden leading the way. What I am really going to pay attention to is their secondary because the Giants made sure to overhaul it in the offseason. They brought in Paulson Adebo to be their number one corner, signed the best safety in free agency in Jevon Holland to man the deep end, and are hoping for breakout seasons from Andru Phillips and Tyler Nubin. Yet, the biggest disappointment in that group has been Deonte Banks, who has not lived up to the first round pedigree he had as he allowed six touchdowns just last season.

The Vikings are desperate to make a late playoff push, so if they obliterate the Giants, then it sends a message that they are pulling out all the stops to get there. My guess is that Jaxson Dart will be the quarterback by this time, so if this Vikings defense makes him look like clutch Eli Manning, then it is going to be a long day.

WEEK 17 vs. DETROIT LIONS

As I said before, the Lions are the class of the NFC North, and it is going to take more than a Herculean effort from JJ McCarthy for the Vikings to win this game. I am hoping that this series can be a split, but somewhere along the line, Minnesota tends to make that one mistake that swings all the momentum around the other way.

WEEK 18 vs. GREEN BAY PACKERS

My prediction is that this matchup is “win or go home” for both teams. One winner moves on to the playoffs and the other is on their couches in January and February. I already said that the Vikings usually throw the first punch, but it is time for Green Bay to fight back. There is going to be scrapping and clawing for sixty minutes straight, yet this series is too good for it to end with a sweep for the second year in a row.

FINAL RECORD PREDICTION: 10-7