Greasy Vikings Prediction Makes the Rounds
The Minnesota Vikings went against the grain in 2024, recording a 14-3 record in a season when Vegas believed the team would finish 6-11 or 7-10.
A national website published a bold — and sort of greasy — Vikings prediction for 2025. The forecast runs counter to prevailing thought in the Twin Cities.
Sam Darnold played the best ball of his career, and Brian Flores’ defense reached new heights. So, when the Vikings’ conducted a fabulous offseason this go-round, most fans have settled on the club performing pretty damn well in 2025.
But don’t tell that to Lou Scatglia from NFL Spin Zone, who picked Minnesota to fire up a losing record and miss the postseason this week.
Vikings Picked to Miss Playoffs, Finish with a Losing Record
Scataglia published bold NFC North predictions last Sunday, and for Minnesota, a losing season and a playoff-less campaign were on the docket.
“Minnesota finishes with a losing record in 2025. Guys, let’s pump the brakes on the Minnesota Vikings a bit. This team is essentially starting a rookie QB in the 2025 NFL Season, and while I understand the hype with JJ McCarthy especially given recent rookie QB success, McCarthy is a different player,” Scatglia explained.
“He’s just 22 years old and does not have the wealth of collegiate experience that Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels have. Nix and Daniels having all of that football under their belts is a huge reason why they found immediate success in the NFL. The Vikings may largely be a decent team, but they’ll finish with a losing record in the 2025 NFL Season and be on the outside looking in.”
Sportsbooks label the Vikings as an eight- or nine-win team, living in the same territory as the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, and Pittsburgh Steelers, among others.
Scataglia added, “That doesn’t mean all is lost, as this roster is quite good and could really hit their stride in the 2026 season when McCarthy gets that crucial first year under his belt. Minnesota will go from 14 wins to at most eight in 2025.”
One Prediction Is Rather Low on the 2025 Vikings
NFL Spin Zone claimed the Vikings would miss the postseason, producing a losing record along the way. Is that close to reality?
Why That May Be Right
If Scataglia’s prediction comes true, it will be for a couple of reasons. Foremost, the Vikings’ schedule is menacing. It ranks fifth-hardest in the NFL, and Kevin O’Connell’s team doesn’t really have “easy games,” unless one considers contests in Dublin and London against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns pieces of cake.
Next, a winning or losing record probably boils down to J.J. McCarthy’s game-readiness. That is — will the 22-year-old play like a green rookie? Or will he emulate C.J. Stroud from 2023 or Jayden Daniels from 2024?
The youngster has shown the utmost poise this offseason, possibly translating to success earlier than most.
Why That May Be Wrong
Suppose Scataglia is wrong, like many of his kind last year.
The Vikings won 14 games last year, beating the odds, and if the franchise could pull that with Sam Darnold, will McCarthy really be that much of a drop-off? Flores’ defense ranked second in the NFL a season ago per efficiency, O’Connell is coming off Coach of the Year recognition, and Justin Jefferson still headlines the organization.
The roster is built for a winning season, and that’s not a controversial take.
J.J. McCarthy as the X-Factor
The 2025 campaign boils down to McCarthy. Plain and simple. He’s the fulcrum. If his rookie campaign gets off to a disastrous start, well, the team will follow Scataglia’s path, chasing .500, which has been all too prevalent during the last half-decade of Vikings football, especially in 2020, 2021, and 2023.
Yet, if McCarthy is at least semi-competent — the coaching staff is banking on it — the Vikings will have no problem staying afloat with the NFC’s best.
High on Bears, Lions
Scataglia was high on the Chicago Bears, however.
He wrote, “Bears win nine or 10 games and earn an NFC Wild Card spot. Roster-wise, this could be the best Chicago Bears roster we have seen in quite some time. It’s clear that GM Ryan Poles knew he had to get more serious about getting better in the trenches, and he did just that.”
“Them hiring Ben Johnson was also a great move, and I truly believe Chicago has built something special for the 2025 NFL Season. Much of this is going to hinge on Caleb Williams being able to take a step forward, but he wasn’t bad in 2024 given the circumstances. You’d ideally love to see him get rid of the ball quicker and just avoid sacks more than he did in 2024.”
Offseason hype for the Bears is an annual tradition.
“It’s a realistic goal for Williams to hit with a Ben Johnson offense. With Chicago likely fielding a top-12 offense and defense in 2025, this team is going to win nine or 10 games in 2025 and earn a Wild Card spot,” Scatglia concluded about Chicago.
On the Lions, he opined, “Detroit wins fewer than 15 games but still win the NFC North in 2025. Jared Goff is the best QB in the NFC North, and the Lions have elite weapons on offense. The defense is also quite talented, and Dan Campbell clearly knows what he’s doing as their head coach. An 11 or 12-win season could be what the Lions muster for this year, but despite their drop in wins from 2024, they’ll still win the division.”
Here’s to hoping Scataglia is off base and Minnesota doesn’t finish the NFC North’s cellar.
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