After a disappointing end to a spectacular 2024 campaign, the Minnesota Vikings are in uneasy waters going into the 2025 season.
Many doubted the Vikings after they were forced to start Sam Darnold with the J.J. McCarthy injury in the preseason, but Darnold came through quickly. Minnesota finished with a 14-3 record and second place in the NFC North. Tough losses against the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams did not comfort the Vikings going into the offseason.
The team instead spent $300 million in free agency and sided with McCarthy to be in line for the starting quarterback job. While the Vikings on paper have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, there are still questions as to whether this team can live up to expectations and repeat last year's regular season success.
How are the Minnesota Vikings predicted to finish the 2025 season?
NFL Spin Zone.com's Lou Scataglia recently shared a list of the three 2024 playoff teams that will miss the postseason. The Vikings could not avoid this list, but it isn't all because of the questions surrounding McCarthy's readiness to start. It's also about the strength of the NFC.
"The main issue I have with the Minnesota Vikings in the 2025 NFL Season is JJ McCarthy, and I do not say this to say that he can't develop into a high-end starter - we just simply have no idea what he is yet.
Sure, McCarthy could enjoy a de-facto rookie season like Jayden Daniels or Bo Nix did, but the NFC is actually getting a lot stronger, so there just might not be enough room for a nine or 10-win Vikings team in 2025 to make the postseason.
...It would not shock me to see this team missing the postseason."
The NFC North is a prime example of a division that is stacked in the conference. The Lions, Vikings, and Green Bay Packers all made the postseason last year. Good teams like the 10-7 Seattle Seahawks were outside the playoffs because of how many good teams made the postseason.
Many have tried to predict how good McCarthy will be all offseason. Preseason isn't always the best indication of how things will go, but he did throw for 188 yards and two touchdowns to one interception in one game against the Las Vegas Raiders. That should indicate that he's trending in the right direction.
It also helps to be a newly loaded offensive line with Aaron Jones, Justin Jefferson, and Jordan Addison as the playmakers. Minnesota will have no problems competing for the playoffs as long as McCarthy lives up to the franchise's high expectations for him, being a former first-round pick.