MINNESOTA VIKINGS
2025 Record - 9-8-0
Head Coach - Kevin O' Connell
2025 Offensive Rank - 275 YPG (28th); Rushing - 108 YPG (23rd), Passing - 167 YPG (29th) SCORING - 20.2 PPG (26th)
2025 Defensive Rank - 283 YPG (3rd); Rushing - 124 YPG (21st), Passing - 159 YPG (2nd) SCORING - 19.6 PPG (7th)
Key Player Additions - Kyler Murray (QB), Jauan Jennings (WR), Eric Johnson II (DL), Johnny Hekker (P), Ryan Van Demark (OL), James Pierre (DB)
Key Player Losses - Jonathan Greenard (LB), Jonathan Allen (DL), Javon Hargrave (DL), Justin Skule (OL), Harrison Smith (DB), Jalen Nailor (WR)
OFFENSE - The Vikings brought in former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray this year to compete for the starting job with J.J. McCarthy, who missed seven games last year while passing for 1,632 yards with eleven touchdowns and twelve interceptions and scoring four rushing touchdowns. Murray was also injured in 2025, playing in only five games while throwing for 962 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions. Journeyman QB Carson Wentz is in training camp as well. Jordan Mason (758 rushing yards, 4.6 YPC, six TD) and Aaron Jones are the running backs. Jones was banged up last season and had 548 yards (4.2 YPC) and two scores in twelve games. The wide receivers are Justin Jefferson, who made 84 receptions for 1,048 yards and two touchdowns along with Jordan Addison (42, 610, three TD) and Jauan Jennings (55, 436, nine TD with San Francisco). The tight end is T.J. Hockenson, who had 51 receptions for 438 yards and three touchdowns.
DEFENSE - There is plenty of talent here, starting with Dominique Orange, Eric Johnson II, rookie Caleb Banks (Florida) and Jalen Redmond up front. The linebackers include Dallas Turner (eight QB sacks), Andrew Van Ginkel (seven sacks), Eric Wilson (108 tackles, 6 1/2 sacks) and Blake Cashman, who led the team with 144 tackles. The secondary has cornerbacks Isaiah Rodgers, Jr. and Byron Murphy, Jr. (two interceptions) as well as safeties Jay Ward and Josh Metellus, who had two interceptions and made 86 tackles last season. The Vikings amassed 49 sacks and picked off eight passes while ranking third in total defense.
2026 SEASON OUTLOOK - It was a pretty big step back a year ago as the Vikings missed the playoffs after a 14 win season two years ago and Head Coach Kevin O' Connell knows the team can rebound and get back into it this season. The Vikings did finish strong, winning the final five games to avoid a losing record and staying out of the basement in the rugged NFC North division.
The big goal this year is to get the offense back on track after the team let quarterback Sam Darnold leave for Seattle. Second year man J.J. McCarthy was ineffective in 2025 while also missing time with injuries, as he had 14 turnovers in the ten games he started, which resulted in a minus-9 in that area for the team. Kyler Murray has fallen off is recent seasons with the Cardinals, but the coaching staff in Minnesota will look to fix that and hope he can deliver and get the passing attack going again. The Vikings have one of the best wideouts in the NFL with Justin Jefferson and now with Jauan Jennings coming aboard this season, there is potential for a big jump from the 29th place ranking in passing from a year ago. The running game also needs to get going as well and if Jones and Mason can show better results this season, it would be a big boost for the offense, which was 28th overall and averaged 20.2 points, which was near the bottom of the league.
There is always hope in the current NFL for a quick rebound and Minnesota can see that happen as long as the offense plays better. The defense was solid and should continue to play well, but forcing more turnovers would help out. The Vikings open the 2026 season with two division opponents and (on paper) have what appears to be a favorable schedule, but results come from the action on the playing field. This team can contend in the division battle, where all four teams had a winning record. The NFC is stacked with good teams and should the Vikings make the playoffs, it would take a big effort to make a deep run.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - vs. Green Bay
Week Two - at Chicago
Week Three - at Tampa Bay
Week Four - vs. Miami
Week Five - at New Orleans
Week Six - BYE
Week Seven - vs. Indianapolis
Week Eight - at Detroit
Week Nine - vs. Buffalo
Week Ten - at Green Bay
Week Eleven - vs. San Francisco (Mexico City, Mexico)
Week Twelve - vs. Atlanta
Week Thirteen - vs. Carolina
Week Fourteen - at New England
Week Fifteen - vs. Detroit
Week Sixteen - vs. Washington
Week Seventeen - at N.Y. Jets
Week Eighteen - vs. Chicago
No comments:
Post a Comment