12 Quick Reactions to the Vikings Disaster in Green Bay
The Minnesota Vikings authored one of their worst games in decades on Sunday, keeping the contest close through 2.5 quarters before entirely vaporizing in a must-win situation.
The Vikings attempted to keep their fledgling season afloat on Sunday at Lambeau Field, needing a win to stave off irrelevance against the Packers.
Kevin O’Connell’s squad flopped at Lambeau Field, losing 23-6 in an outing that is sure to shift the fan base’s overall opinion of quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Reactions to Packers-Vikings at Lambeau
Kneejerk takeaways to yet another must-win game that turned into a horror show.
1. It is officially mock draft season for the Vikings. The season is not salvageable. Minnesota lost almost all hope last weekend when it lost to the Chicago Bears at home; Week 12 was the exclamation point. The Vikings would need to go undefeated the rest of the way, and that’s absurd to contemplate after watching the 2nd Half of the game at Lambeau Field. The team is done.
2. Sadly, almost inevitably now, Minnesota’s front office must formally entertain the idea of a different quarterback for the roster in 2026. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah doesn’t have to trade or release J.J. McCarthy, but he will need another startable quarterback with upside in the offseason. McCarthy is not showing the customary growth of a quarterback who may turn out to be productive. Therefore, whether it’s a trade for Kyler Murray, a high-round draft selection of a quarterback, or signing a reclamation candidate like Will Levis or Anthony Richardson, the Vikings probably need another guy in the quarterback room in 2026.
3. If McCarthy continues to show limited or no growth in Week 13 or Week 14, Minnesota may be forced to give Max Brosmer a look — if it considers a viable QB1 of the future. The coaching staff may not feel that way about Brosmer, but if it does, we are probably 1-2 games’ worth of McCarthy’s ineptitude for that scenario.
4. The Vikings’ 2nd Half production, especially on offense, had to be one of their worst showings ever. No exaggeration. The game was there for the taking, relatively speaking, but they did absolutely nothing to seize the day. Lifeless.
5. The game unofficially ended because of special teams, when Myles Price caused the fumble recovery in the 3rd Quarter. It’s the second consecutive week that a game has flipped from a potential win into a loss due to special teams.
6. Speaking of special teams, Will Reichard is a god. For his sake, it’s a shame that he’s on a rudderless squad. He’s kicking at an All-Pro level.
7. Minnesota was 2 for 9 on 3rd Down. Heading into Week 12, it ranked second-worst in the NFL in 3rd Down conversion percentage. Nothing changed. In fact, the 3rd Down offense regressed.
8. Brian Flores can somehow come up with solutions to tame running backs like Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry, but his defenses could not stop Kenneth Gainwell in Dublin, Kimai Vidal on Thursday Night Football, or Emanuel Wilson on Sunday. Wilson is a quintessential RB2 or RB3, and Flores made him look like a Pro Bowler.
9. In addition to the final six games as a referendum on McCarthy — if he makes it that long — Mark and Zygi Wilf must decide the future of the freshly-extended general manager and head coach. Can the duo be trusted to spend another 1st-Round pick on a quarterback? Will the Wilfs even allow Adofo-Mensah to trade for Kyler Murray, for example? This particular coaching staff was supposed to contend for a Super Bowl; instead, they’re 4-7. It could be mind-boggling to trust the duo heading into another offseason.
10. Dallas Turner banked another head-turning game. A silver lining that doesn’t even feel like it matters.
11. McCarthy recorded an ESPN QBR of 4.3. He somehow regressed at Green Bay. He played better in the Week 2 home debacle against the Atlanta Falcons. This is total Twilight Zone stuff.
12. In short, you tuned into Week 12 to watch McCarthy take the next step in his maturation. He took a step back. It is befuddling to scour the annals of Vikings history and find the franchise just cannot draft a quarterback outside of 5.5 years of Daunte Culpepper. Feels like a hex. These exact moments are how the team ends up with Kirk Cousinses, Jeff Georges, Case Keenums, and Sam Darnolds, and various retreads.
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