Predicting the 12 remaining games on the Vikings schedule following 1-4 start

Week 4 - at Chicago Bears

Justin Jefferson is on injured reserve, so the Vikings are without the best receiver in football for this game. Can Minnesota trust rookie Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn to carry the load? I don't think they can, and more specifically, I don't think Osborn can.

Osborn has struggled mightily in his current role, which has been decreasing as the weeks go on and as Addison continues to develop. The Vikings offense runs through Jefferson, and once he came off the field toward the end of the Chiefs game, Minnesota and quarterback Kirk Cousins seemed lost.

In this game, life will be difficult for Cousins without his No. 1 option. Cousins hasn't played a game without Jefferson since 2019, which will lead to the Bears' defense becoming more flexible in the type of looks and coverages they decide to go with during this game.

In the end, the mobility of Chicago quarterback Justin Fields' will cause Brian Flores' defense major problems, and the Vikings will continue to shoot themselves in the foot.

Could this be the end of Cousins in Minnesota?

Prediction: Vikings lose (1-5)

Week 7 - vs. San Fransisco 49ers (Monday Night Football)

The 49ers don't look beatable right now, and quarterback Brock Purdy is a legitimate MVP candidate, Christian McCaffrey is undoubtedly the best running back in football, and their offense seems to have caught up to their dominant defense.

Cousins' name will be swirling in trade rumors as the deadline gets closer, but he's still under center in this game.

Jefferson still being out means Cousins will, once again, be without his top receiving option against the league's best defense.

This game has "blowout" written all over it, and in the end, it is Kyle Shannahan who ends the Kirk Cousins era in Minnesota.

Prediction: Vikings lose (1-6)