It feels like the Minnesota Vikings could have the biggest realistic variance in the range of possible 2025 season outcomes than almost any other NFL franchise.
If JJ McCarthy plays well and exceeds the regular season performance of Sam Darnold – who helped the team to a very impressive 14-3 season last year, it could be game over for the rest of the division.
Yet, if he struggles and is unable to maintain consistency and playing confidence, the team could have one of the biggest comparative downswings in the entire league.
Indeed, some people are already betting on this being a strong possibility, as Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton believes the Vikings will finish last in the NFC North in 2025.
Vikings Predicted To Be The NFC North’s Surprise Cellar Dwellers This Season
“The Minnesota Vikings will go from one of the league’s biggest surprise playoff teams in 2024 to a disappointing squad this year.” Moton predicts, “Though head coach Kevin O’Connell has proved himself to be a quality play-caller, he can’t wave a magic wand to expedite first-year starter J.J. McCarthy’s development.”
Moton points to McCarthy’s need for time to adjust to the pros, coming off his one year layoff after a torn meniscus, as the prime reason for this – despite having a strong offense around him, and quite possibly an improved defense compared to 2024.
“The 22-year-old is coming off a lost rookie year in which he needed multiple surgeries to repair a torn meniscus from last August. He has to get back into playing shape while building a rapport with his teammates.
The Vikings have the supporting cast to help McCarthy’s learning curve with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson in the pass-catching group…The defense may be better than last year’s unit that ranked fifth in scoring and 16th in total yards with Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave on the front line.
However, McCarthy’s inexperience could cost the Vikings some games against formidable opponents. Since he became head coach, O’Connell’s rushing offenses have ranked 19th or worse. Without a complementary ground game, the QB could struggle through the first half of the season before he finds his rhythm.”
How Good Will The Vikings Actually Be This Season?
Moton rounds off his prediction with the claim that Minnesota will “hover around .500 until McCarthy makes significant strides”. And in any other division, this could and would keep the team at least in Wild Card contention for much of the the season.
But in the hyper-competitive 2025 NFC North – words that have been seldom said before last season about the historically; barring the Green Bay Packers; dysfunctional division – that may not be good enough to even get to third.
The Bears feature to be better on both sides of the ball after making substantial additions and upgrades around the entire roster – not least at head coach, where offensive guru; Ben Johnson, has taken over for the inept Matt Eberflus.
The Lions and the Packers remain strong foes with fairly complete rosters, who have quarterbacks that are both battle-tested.
If the Vikings want to make a dent in the North in this upcoming season, they had better make sure McCarthy hits the ground running.
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