Vikings Must Win in the Division to Keep Season Alive
The Minnesota Vikings head into their Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions on the back of a crushing loss against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football. The Vikings will play their second divisional game of the season, and it will be the second one on the road. If Minnesota hopes to keep its season alive, it will need to win in the division.
The Vikings enter Week 9 against the Lions needing a divisional win to keep playoff hopes alive, aiming to end a long losing streak in Detroit.
With more losses than they had in 2024 already, and all of them outside the division, Minnesota faces an uphill task to stay competitive with all the other teams in the NFC North. All three divisional opponents are currently sitting on winning records.
The Vikings Must Find Dubs in Division Games
Humiliation in LA last Thursday night has the team’s confidence at a low ebb. The good news for those of a positive persuasion is that the divisional games give the team a chance to catch up and also hold essential tiebreakers. Having already beaten the Bears in Chicago, the Vikings head to Detroit this Sunday. Another win on the road in the division, and suddenly things look much rosier.
The bad news is that the Vikings are on a five-game losing streak to the Lions, who have been the dominant team in the division over the last couple of seasons. You have to go back to 2021 for the last time Minnesota won a game in Detroit—pre Kevin O’Connell. Detroit also comes into this game off a bye and should be fresh.
The Vikings have had serious trouble defending the run this season and will face Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in Detroit—more bad news. Gibbs was the main difference when the two teams met at Ford Field at the end of last season, when he had a huge day with four total touchdowns.
Minnesota will hope for good news on the injury front this week, especially their beat-up offensive line, with Aidan Hutchinson lining up on the other side of the field. Keeping the QB upright has been a problem for the Vikings this season. JJ McCarthy’s return at the home of one of the league’s premier pass-rushers feels ominous, especially with fitness issues hanging over both of the team’s starting offensive tackles.
5 More Games in the Division
This week’s game in Detroit is the first of five division games left this season.
- Week 9 at Detroit
- Week 11 vs Chicago
- Week 12 at Green Bay
- Week 17 vs Detroit
- Week 18 vs Green Bay
The two road games will be difficult and will require much better performances than we’ve seen so far this season. With players of the caliber of Justin Jefferson on your team, there’s always a chance. The home games will be important, and Minnesota will need to win them. Wins in the division could be the difference between 6 or 7 wins or 9 or 10 wins and the possibility of playoff football in January.
Winning all of the divisional games would be nice, but probably unrealistic. However, if the Vikings could win the home games and go 4-2, the same divisional record they had last season, would put the team in a much stronger position than looks probable right now. Even if the team does lose on Sunday, that scenario is still possible.
So there’s no need for immediate panic or writing off the season – even if recovery from where the team currently finds itself looks difficult.
In truth, we are at the point where McCarthy’s development is the most important thing over the rest of the season. For the team moving forward and for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s job security in particular. Whether McCarthy at least shows potential to be “the guy” will have huge ramifications on what happens in Minnesota going into 2026.
Wins in the division will keep the team competitive and should inspire some confidence in the young quarterback moving forward.
It might seem like a long shot, but a win this Sunday would be a huge shot in the arm for this team.
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