Vikings Picked to Be On the Outside Looking In
Minnesota Vikings fans are infinitely excited for the 2025 regular season, the first campaign with a (sort of) rookie quarterback looming to start on the roster since 2014.
One notable batch of NFL predictions was unfavorable to the Vikings this week, courtesy of Pro Football Network.
Teddy Bridgewater was the last example 11 years ago, and his stay in the Twin Cities only lasted two seasons of actual game time.
So, with J.J. McCarthy in the saddle, Vikings faithful will hope for more prosperity. But Pro Football Network does not envision that for Minnesota, at least not in 2025.
PFN predicted playoff participants for 2025 this week, and Minnesota was left out. Too bad, so sad.
PFN Excludes Vikings from Playoff Prediction
PFN’s Jacob Infante rattled off NFL playoff predictions this week, and in the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles (No. 1 seed), Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Commanders, Green Bay Packers, and Arizona Cardinals (No. 7 seed) made the cut. No mention of the purple team.
Infante explained his NFC playoff field: “The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the NFC South favorite, but don’t overlook the Falcons — they started 2024 at 6-3 before Kirk Cousins struggled late. With Michael Penix Jr. under center, they sneak into the postseason, yet the Commanders are just too talented to fall to. The Rams lost by just six to the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles last postseason.”
“They arguably have a better roster in 2025, which gives them the edge over the Packers in this Wild Card matchup. With a PFSN playoff probability of 43.3%, the Cardinals are my NFC sleeper. They finished 8-9 in 2024, and their defense got better on paper. Still, Arizona’s roster doesn’t stack up to the Lions just yet.”
In the AFC, Infante rolled with the Buffalo Bills (No. 1 seed), Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, and Cincinnati Bengals (No. 7 seed).
Why the Vikings Will Make the Playoffs
Of course, Infante could be wrong.
Minnesota won 14 games last year. At this time on the calendar one year ago, Minnesota was forecasted for 6.5 wins.
This offseason, Kevin O’Connell’s team has improved the offensive line, added two premier defensive tackles in Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, and promoted McCarthy to the big job. If the Vikings prove Infante wrong, it will be because the defense is still pretty damn stellar and McCarthy matured just enough to help the club achieve 10 wins or more.
The Vikings’ roster, in short, is fantastic.
Why They Won’t
Assume Infante is on to something, and the Vikings don’t play meaningful January football. It will have meant that injuries ruined the party — or that McCarthy played like a woefully unprepared first-time starter. McCarthy missed all of the 2024 season with a busted meniscus, and this season is basically a redshirt rookie season.
The working theory suggests the Vikings should be able to win nine or 10 games with McCarthy if they won 14 with Darnold.
No Back-to-Back Postseason Appearances in Eons
Suppose Infante is incorrect. A Vikings playoff appearance in 2025 would represent the first playoff trips in back-to-back seasons since 2008 and 2009.
Minnesota never makes the postseason tournament consecutively, always alternating exciting seasons with mediocre or poor ones.
At some point, Minnesota must break through and reach the playoffs consistently.
PFN’s Super Bowl Prediction
Infante ended his batch of predictions with a Super Bowl call — the Chiefs over the Eagles.
He noted, “Only once in Super Bowl history has the same matchup happened in back-to-back years. That was in 1992 and 1993, when the Dallas Cowboys beat the Bills both times. Yet, in these 2025-26 playoff predictions, the Eagles and Chiefs meet again after Philadelphia won Super Bowl 59. Both teams have the staying power to be perennial contenders.”
“The Chiefs improved their biggest weakness from 2024 — offensive tackle. Whether Josh Conerly Jr. or Jaylon Moore starts at left tackle, the protection should be better for Mahomes. The Eagles, meanwhile, still have a strong defensive front, but they lost Milton Williams, Brandon Graham, Josh Sweat, and Bryce Huff.”
Oddsmakers believe the Bills or Ravens could finally return to the Super Bowl.
Infante concluded, “In the end, a Chiefs win would redeem last season’s loss. Additionally, a fourth ring would only strengthen the legacies of Mahomes and Andy Reid in the GOAT conversation.”
The Vikings have the league’s 10th-best odds to win in the Super Bowl, +2200 — the same as the Packers. The New Orleans Saints are the least likely team to win the chip (+4000), per sportsbooks.
Surprise Rocks Vikings Minicamp
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