USA Today Unloads Sweet Vikings Prediction
You have reached the point in the Minnesota Vikings’ offseason when it’s finally responsible to make win-loss predictions.
The folks at USA Today evidently believe in the purple team, picking a fancy record for their Vikings prediction.
The team conducted a once-in-a-decade free agency, spending money left and right on interior offensive and defensive linemen while adding another trenchman, Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson, from the 2025 NFL Draft.
On paper, the Vikings roster looks pretty nifty, so USA Today wasn’t shy this week about dishing out a sweet win-loss prediction for the purple team.
That publication forecasts an 11-6 record for Minnesota in 2025.
USA Today Says 11-6 for the Vikings
With organized team activities (OTAs) on the way at the end of the month, USA Today‘s Jacob Camenker predicted an 11-6 record for Minnesota in 2025, the first in charge for quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
He explained, “The Vikings should compete for the NFC North title once again. That said, they may log fewer wins this season as the whole division faces a much tougher schedule. Minnesota has the fifth-hardest projected schedule in 2025, per Sharp Football Analysis.”
“That’s not only because of the strength of the NFC North; it’s also because the division is set to play the AFC North and NFC East, two of the league’s toughest divisions, as part of the NFL’s rotating schedule. That will be a daunting test for the Vikings, especially McCarthy.”
Oddsmakers believe Minnesota will win eight or nine games in 2025.
Camenker added, “He will be tasked with quickly acclimating himself to the NFL and finding ways to immediately beat top-tier teams. The Vikings have the talent needed to support McCarthy in his quest to become a strong starter. That should allow Minnesota to remain a winning team, especially considering the work the Vikings have done to bolster the trenches on both sides of the ball.”
“Still, there will likely be some growing pains with McCarthy, especially if Minnesota gets an unfavorable schedule draw to start the season. That could cause the Vikings to start slower than expected and limit the team’s overall ceiling in 2025.”
While other predictions will assuredly surface in the next few months, this one might end up as one of the most optimistic.
Freshly Released but Unofficial Schedule
And the Vikings will attempt to make USA Today‘s 11-6 record come true against this schedule:
Week 1: at CHI (MNF)
Week 2: vs. ATL (SNF)
Week 3: vs. CIN
Week 4: at PIT (I)
Week 5: at CLE (E)
Week 6: BYE
Week 7: vs. PHI
Week 8: at LAC (TNF)
Week 9: at DET
Week 10: vs. BAL
Week 11: vs. CHI
Week 12: at GB
Week 13: at SEA
Week 14: vs. WAS
Week 15: at DAL
Week 16: at NYG
Week 17: vs. DET (TNF)
Week 18: vs. GB
Amassing 11 wins against that schedule won’t be easy.
USA Today Prediction Would Be Glorious for J.J. McCarthy’s Trajectory
The Vikings haven’t showcased a rookie quarterback — McCarthy isn’t technically a rookie, but you get it — since 2014 with Teddy Bridgewater. Any winning record with a rookie quarterback would be desirable, and 11 wins with McCarthy at the controls would bode extremely well for the future.
Eight-and-a-half wins from sportsbooks feel closer to reality than Camenker’s 11, but let’s face it, Minnesota won 14 games in 2024 with Sam Darnold flinging the rock. If Darnold can do it, McCarthy can engineer 11, or so goes the working theory.
Contrarian Angle
The flip side? While fans expect McCarthy to play like the real deal, he’s still never taken an NFL snap, and until that occurs, it’s best-laid plans.
Minnesota could quite easily finish 7-10 or 8-9 versus the schedule above, and nobody would be shocked. Kevin O’Connell’s team doesn’t really have “easy games” this season, and with a rookie quarterback battling a murderous schedule, a severe regression from last year’s 14-3 mark wouldn’t come out of left field.
In reality, Minnesota will probably check in somewhere between Vegas’ 8.5-win forecast and USA Today‘s 11-6 prognostication.
Other Predictions
SportsNaut‘s Andrew Buller-Russ picked Minnesota to finish second in the NFC North, earn a Wildcard playoff spot, beat the Los Angeles Rams in Round 1, and lose to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round.
He wrote about the NFC North after the draft: “The Detroit Lions lost their offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator, plus several other coaches. Will that cause a drop-off in wins too? The truth is, it’s very hard to maintain success, especially when there are so many changes afoot. Yet, we believe Dan Campbell has built a strong enough foundation for the Lions to repeat as NFC North champions.”
“Will the Minnesota Vikings be worse without Sam Darnold? While J.J. McCarthy is technically entering his second season, he’s never played an NFL snap in a regular season game. Yet, once again, the overall strength of the roster is better than last season, so if Kevin O’Connell has his young QB ready, the Vikings should at least be able to return to the Wild Card.”
Minnesota hasn’t reached the Divisional Round since 2020.
Buller-Russ concluded, “The Green Bay Packers get better and better every year, but will it be enough to catch up to the stiff competition in the North? Matthew Golden provides the extra juice that will be missing from the lineup with Christian Watson’s injury. Will Jaire Alexander stick around?”
Vikings OTAs get underway in two weeks.
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