Can the Vikings End a Certain Playoff Drought in 2025?
The Minnesota Vikings once again had a very busy offseason. This will also be one of their most important and interesting seasons in quite some time, too, given they will have a first-year quarterback starting.
They need to start winning more in the playoffs, though, even with an unproven quarterback. Since advancing to the NFC Championship Game in 2009, they have won only two playoff games (2017 and 2019). That is not acceptable and needs to change this season and beyond.
Can the Vikings finally end their NFC title game drought in 2025? A new QB, rising stars, and a loaded offense may give them their best chance in years.
When was the last time Minnesota won more than one playoff game in a season, by the way?
It was in 1987. An underdog 8-7 team that was known for having a ferocious defensive line featuring Keith Millard, Henry Thomas, Doug Martin, and Chris Doleman. Other defenders on the roster included Scott Studwell, Joey Browner, and Carl Lee.
The offense had some stars too, including Gary Zimmerman, Steve Jordan, and Anthony Carter.
That season, Minnesota won both playoff games on the road, including at San Francisco against the number one-seeded 49ers.
The Vikings Are Starved for an NFC Championship Appearance
Fans are still hoping not only to see their team back in the Super Bowl, but also to win it. Well, first things first, they need to win more than one playoff game in a season to do that.
The 1987 team may have made it there if Darrin Nelson caught that pass from Wade Wilson in the NFC Championship Game at Washington. The 1998 and 2009 teams no doubt should have made it to the big game. Both losses still sting for fans and very good reasons, of course.
Can this year’s team break that drought? They very well could. The biggest question, of course, is J.J. McCarthy. This will be his first year as the starting quarterback after he missed all of last season due to a knee injury. A good thing, though, is that with Minnesota’s roster currently being stacked, he does not need to be exactly a top-10 quarterback this year. If he is, of course, it would be a very big bonus for this team.
If he even throws 20-25 touchdowns and does not turn the ball over much, that could very well be enough for Minnesota to get to the NFC Championship Game or perhaps the Super Bowl. He has plenty of weapons around him and a head coach in Kevin O’Connell, who has shown to be very good with quarterbacks. Having Josh McCown as his position coach will also be beneficial.
His weapons on the field will, of course, help as well in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, and an offensive line that could end up being one of the best in the league. Rondale Moore could end up being an underrated addition.
Minnesota’s defense will also be better, barring any major injuries. This will be year three for Brian Flores as the team’s defensive coordinator, and they also added Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Allen, and Isaiah Rodgers via free agency.
It is doubtful that McCarthy will play as well as Sam Darnold did for them last season, but the rest of the team has been upgraded. The offense also added some pieces, including Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, and Mason. Rookie first-rounder Donovan Jackson is obviously unproven, but he should, without a doubt, benefit from having both Kelly and Christian Darrisaw on each side. He very likely could be an upgrade over Blake Brandel.
One of the biggest keys to winning in sports, of course, is staying healthy. Injuries occur in football more frequently than in any other sport, which makes it tougher for teams to win and contributes to the unpredictability of this league every year.
Injuries are always going to happen, but if Minnesota, for the most part, can stay healthy, they have a shot of at least going to the NFC Championship Game. If they do not, though, should it be considered a disappointing season?
Not necessarily.
If they are one-and-done in the playoffs again, then yes, it should be considered a disappointment, even with a first-year quarterback.
If they win one playoff game (first round or second round), it will still extend the drought of not winning more than one in a season since 1987, but on the bright side, they can use that as a step in the right direction with McCarthy. Yes. It would still be disappointing if they do not win more than one, but it would still be a step in the right direction and give the organization and fans some more hope going forward with the new guy under center.
This season will be the fourth year under O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Yes, those two have brought a new culture to the organization and have done some positive things that are giving fans reasons for optimism for both this year and beyond, but it is time to start winning in the playoffs. This roster certainly has the talent to do so.
Yes, the NFC includes the Detroit Lions, Washington Commanders, and the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, but it is not crazy to think that Minnesota can at least challenge those teams.
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