The Minnesota Vikings finished with a 14-3 record last season, and they lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC wild card round. The only reason why Minnesota did not win the NFC North last season was because of the Detroit Lions finished with a 15-2 record.
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Aug 22, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell looks on against the Tennessee Titan during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
There are many conversations about the Vikings potentially regressing in 2025 because of quarterback J.J. McCarthy. There are many questions about him replacing Sam Darnold at quarterback. With this move, there is a good chance that Minnesota takes a major step back in 2025 despite having a Super Bowl caliber roster.
NFL Analyst Predicts the Minnesota Vikings Will Finish In Last Place
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Aug 16, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell looks on during the first quarter against the New England Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Garrett Podell of CBS Sports made five different bold predictions for the upcoming 2025 NFL season. He has an interesting bold prediction for the Vikings entering the 2025 season. Podell said,
“Vikings finish last in NFC North a year after 14-win 2024
The Minnesota Vikings flex the best offensive ecosystem in the NFL. They have 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year wide receiver Justin Jefferson, whose 7,432 career receiving yards are the most in NFL history in a player’s first five seasons all time.
Jefferson is flanked by 2023 first-round pick Jordan Addison (who will serve a three-game suspension to begin the 2025 season), two-time Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson, Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones and coach Kevin O’Connell — the reigning NFL Coach of the Year. All of that offensive talent will be asked to uplift the 2024 10th overall pick J.J. McCarthy. The issue is McCarthy’s draft makeup entering his rookie year was that of a bust.”
One of the things about the NFC North is that it is brutal. The Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Bears, and the Detroit Lions all have better quarterbacks than Minnesota does at the moment. However, everyone thought that the Vikings had the worst quarterback in the NFC North entering last season as well and head coach Kevin O’Connell made him look like a super star.
Even though Podell is counting the Vikings out, never underestimate with O’Connell can do. A lot of questions about Minnesota will potentially be answered after Week 1 against Chicago.
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