A Quick Synopsis.
We made it…. to the bye week. The 2025 season has been a bumpy one so far for the Minnesota Vikings. Each week has been a proverbial box of chocolates, as we haven’t known what each game was going to look like for this team. We witnessed a stunning 4th quarter comeback in week one that showcased J.J. McCarthy’s killer instinct. Week two’s performance had many questioning if this team was even good. We got diced up by Bijan Robinson and lost in a game that didn’t see a touchdown until late in the 4th quarter. The game against the Falcons never truly seemed out of hand until the very end (unless you count McCarthy getting sacked six times as out of hand, which, I will concede, is a strong argument to the contrary).
Week three was the Isaiah Rodgers show against a Bengals team that we know is bottom of the barrel in 2025. Week four was a tough overseas battle with the Pittsburgh Steelers that was oddly within reach, even though the run defense looked sluggish against a journeyman backup running back making his first start with the Steelers. Minnesota could have squeezed out a win if a couple of things went their way. This past week we saw a gritty 4th quarter comeback and some of KO’s best play calling of the season, when it mattered most. The offense was effectively moving the ball all day, despite losing the turnover battle 0-2. Under head coach Kevin O’Connell, the Vikings are now 5-15 when losing the turnover battle.
Things are looking up.
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about how the Vikings hit “rock bottom.” I stand by my take that it couldn’t get any worse after the week two loss to Atlanta. Here we are, going into a week 6 bye with a 3-2 record, despite the offensive line having four starters in week one and dwindling down to one by the end of week 5. I mean seriously, it is incredibly impressive that the Minnesota offense was effective at all, considering that in the 4th quarter, Will Fries was the only starting offensive lineman out on the field. Having a left tackle on a snap count is one of the most absurd strategies I have seen implemented by an NFL team. I feel like it is rare as offensive linemen tend to stay in for an entire game to ensure continuity. I expect that Darrisaw’s ramp up period will end over the bye week.
The approach to Darrisaw exemplifies the Minnesota Vikings’ philosophy of taking care of their players and being more concerned about the long-term health of the team rather than winning a couple football games. It has been a struggle through five games, but the 2025 Minnesota Vikings are showing strong signs of resiliency. KO talks all the time about overcoming adversity. Well, this season is a chance for him to put the team mantra of more is required into action.
It’s easy to lose sight of the team aspect of football. It’s not all about X’s and O’s, or stats, or rage bait that Diana Russini puts out there. It’s about a group of men banding together to achieve milestones that are bigger than themselves as individuals. Having a winning record with three out of five games started by a backup quarterback is about the most you can ask for. The Vikings left London with a victory while running at, what I would estimate, 75% maximum efficiency.
It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish.
You might think it’s early to talk about playoffs with the four-game gauntlet the Vikings face coming out of the bye. You might think that, but you’d be wrong. If we can continue to win games and keep our record above .500, by the time the end of the season stretch comes around, we can make a serious push for playoff contention. A team can’t be a dark horse if they roll into the playoffs with a 14-3 record. The path forward is still a murky one, especially considering that our starting quarterback hasn’t played in over three weeks. And yes, J.J. McCarthy is the starter over Carson Wentz.
Their play has been comparable through the first five weeks of the season. Both have epic fourth quarter comebacks, both have made some great and poor throws, and both have been sacked a million times. Although Wentz has filled in admirably, he has mostly served as a backup quarterback for a reason. He is already showcasing his maximum potential as a near 10-year veteran. McCarthy, on the other hand, has the propensity to improve week in and week out, thus giving him a much higher ceiling.
Everything this Minnesota Vikings team does is strategic. Call McCarthy’s injury “bogus” all you want. And yes, maybe he wasn’t quite ready to start, even though, again, he led an epic 4th quarter to win over the Chicago Bears in week one. Welcoming a child into the world, especially as a 22-year-old is a life changing event. These games off essentially acted as parental leave for J.J. McCarthy, which I believe he and every new parent deserve. He has had time to bond with his son while sharpening his mental game. I have no doubt that when he comes back in week 7, that he will come back ready to ball out.
Another nugget of enthusiasm is that we have yet to see McCarthy and Jordan Addison on the field at the same time in an NFL regular season game. If you remember the storylines from training camp and the pre-season, you know that McCarthy and Addison were developing a special connection. We will see that start to show up on film as soon as they take the field together.
I’m not giving up. Neither are you!
So, what are the vibes in Minnesota? For me, they are what they have been since free agency started back in March: hopeful. I BELIEVE in this TEAM. The Wilfs have created a world-class organization, the coaching staff has created a culture of winning, and the players trust each other. So far, this is the team’s most intriguing season I have seen since Case Keenum was the starting quarterback. The best is yet to come in 2025 for the Minnesota Vikings. The cautious approach to player health is designed to have the team healthy when it matters most in December and January.
That is the trajectory I envision for this team, one that is healthy and a sneakily dangerous playoff contender. Once the offensive line becomes more stable and cohesive, the only other concern I have for this team is stopping the run. However, I know Brian Flores has had the same thought, so I have no doubt that this team will figure it out.
So, if you’re anxious about what the rest of the season holds, don’t be! We got this. SKOL!!!
Until Next Time.
- Jesse M.
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