4 Signs the Vikings Can Still Turn It Around
The Minnesota Vikings haven’t necessarily hit rock bottom so far in 2025, but when one looks back in a few months, there’s a decent chance that post-Week 2 will be viewed as the low point.
The Vikings still have time to turn things around. Here are four reasons Minnesota can rebound this season and keep playoff hopes alive despite early woes.
The club embarks on three winnable games in the next three weeks, and along with that “easy” portion of the schedule, these are four signs Minnesota can right the ship.
Reasons for Optimism Regarding the Vikings
At .500, hope is not lost.
1. The Defense Will Return to Form
Pro Football Focus unbelievably has the Vikings’ defense ranked 32nd in the league through two games, mainly because the tackling has been so poor, and PFF’s system involves smashing together all individual players’ performances.
To the eye test, though, Brian Flores’ defense hasn’t played terribly, and in fact, the unit kept Minnesota in both games so far in 2025 against the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons.
Minnesota’s defense won’t be kept down for too much longer, and it could explode in the next three games versus offenses that are not too deadly. The personnel are there; so is the coach.
Not for nothing — the defense ranks eighth per EPA/Play anyway, so PFF might be a little weird.
2. The QB Performance Will Stabilize
One of two things — or both — will happen in the next couple of months:
- Carson Wentz will continue the long and rich history of the Vikings’ backup quarterback stepping into the lineup and bursting into prosperity. This is the Viking way.
- J.J. McCarthy won’t play like “Week 2 McCarthy” forever; when he returns, his development will resume, and the good will outweigh the bad.
In any event, the Vikings’ quarterback performance probably hit a low point against the Falcons.
There’s also a chance, albeit small, that rookie Max Brosmer gets in on the action somehow.
3. The Offensive Line Will Improve with Christian Darrisaw’s Return
Minnesota used free agency and the draft to improve the offensive line, and so far, the return hasn’t echoed folks’ expectations.
The talent is there, though, and eventually, Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, and Brian O’Neill will be the complete fivesome. Some weekend rumblings suggest that Darrisaw could be back on Sunday against the Bengals, which would assuredly point the group in the right direction.
There’s just no way that an offensive line with this much talent stays down for too long. The group will figure it out, particularly when Darrisaw returns. He’s the tone-setter.
The Viking Age‘s Brad Berreman wrote about the possibility of a Darrisaw-less offensive line on Sunday: “Walter Rouse played 12 snaps in place of Skule against the Falcons. He committed a holding penalty on his first play, then he allowed one pressure on nine pass blocking snaps, according to PFF. Rouse played left tackle throughout his college career. During his season at Stanford (2023), he did not allow a single sack, and PFF gave him the highest pass blocking efficiency among FBS offensive tackles with at least 317 pass blocking snaps that season (99.3).”
“For as good as Rouse was at left tackle during his final college season, he has almost zero experience as an NFL left tackle with Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson coming to town on Sunday. The Vikings are right not to rush Darrisaw back into action, and maybe there’s something we don’t know regarding the end of his recovery. But the poor performance of the offensive line has roots in having an overwhelmed left tackle, and Lewis thinks that nightmare will continue for at least one more week.”
4. Jordan Addison Is Back in One Week
Drumroll …
The Vikings’ offense needs an injection, and thanks to an expiring suspension, Jordan Addison will provide precisely that in seven days.
In Dublin, Ireland, against a suspect Pittsburgh Steelers passing defense, Addison will triumphantly return to Minnesota’s starting lineup, likely receiving passes from Carson Wentz. And then Addison is here to stay; his suspension will be over.
The man is a sight for sore eyes, and he’ll be back in a week.
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