3 Post-Bye Predictions for the Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings have about a 30% chance of reaching the postseason, according to sportsbooks, showcasing a 3-2 record exiting the club’s Week 6 bye. And to get you thinking about the rest of the campaign, these are bold predictions for the season’s remainder.
The Vikings’ bye week is in the rearview, and while the season isn’t halfway over, let’s lock in some post-bye predictions to hold ourselves accountable.
Kevin O’Connell and Co. face a brutal four-game stretch in the coming weeks, taking on the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers, Detroit Lions, and Baltimore Ravens.
Prognostications for the Vikings after the Bye
The main predictions from here on out for the purple team.
1. J.J. McCarthy Returns to QB1 in Week 9, and the Poor Week 2 Performance Turns Out to Just a Bad Game
While the internet has been abuzz with theories that McCarthy has been benched in a conspiratorial manner, folks with common sense realize that high ankle sprain recoveries typically take four to six weeks. McCarthy is in the middle of Recovery Week 4.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell insists that McCarthy must log a full week of pristine health and practice before returning to the lineup, and the most appropriate time for the criteria is in Week 9, leading up to a road game against the Detroit Lions.
McCarthy will return to the lineup in Week 9, play well, continue his development, and put all the cockamie theories about his stupid bench assignment to rest. He’ll also remain healthy for the rest of 2025, giving fans a positive momentum for 2026 and beyond.
Because McCarthy played like trash in Week 2, some are convinced that this is his ceiling and that he’ll always perform like that. It simply isn’t true.
McCarthy will be back in two weeks, and all your summer theories about his upside and maturation will play out in living color.
2. The Vikings Finish 9-8
Here’s the schedule the rest of the way:
- Week 7: Philadelphia Eagles
- Week 8: at Los Angeles Chargers (TNF)
- Week 9: at Detroit Lions
- Week 10: vs. Baltimore Ravens
- Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears
- Week 12: at Green Bay Packers
- Week 13: at Seattle Seahawks
- Week 14: vs. Washington Commanders
- Week 15: at Dallas Cowboys (TNF)
- Week 16: at New York Giants
- Week 17: vs. Detroit Lions (TNF, XMas)
- Week 18: vs. Green Bay Packers
Minnesota will find a way to split these games evenly, tallying a 6-6 mark from now until early January. Yes, the Vikings will do a familiar thing — chase a winning record, while straddling .500 and hoping specific teams lose just to achieve the NFC’s No. 7 seed.
3. Center Ryan Kelly Never Returns
Ryan Kelly has suffered five concussions in his NFL career — those that are on record — including two in three games with the Vikings. He’s currently on injured reserve, with no definite timetable to return.
Unfortunately, Minnesota will eventually announce that Kelly is done for the season — and perhaps his career. He’s produced a marvelous showing in the NFL, spanning 10 seasons, and there’s no shame in hanging it up now because of a concussion or otherwise.
The Viking will lean into the Blake Brandel experience, with second-year center Michael Jurgens in the chamber. If Brandel has staying power at center — great. The purple team will have stumbled into a serendipitous situation, which is rare for Minnesota with offensive line solutions.
VikingsWire‘s Andrew Harbaugh on Brandel: “The Minnesota Vikings made a lot of changes along their offensive line this offseason. Only a couple of players survived the changes, both starting tackles in Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw, and backup guard Blake Brandel. The latter has proven to be the Swiss Army Knife of the offensive line unit, as he has helped make players missing time less impactful on the line.”
“In Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns and their talented defensive front, it was Brandel who filled in for starter Ryan Kelly at center to fend off their attack. What he ended up doing was potentially finding his new forever home in terms of position, according to offensive coordinator Wes Phillips. The Browns’ defensive front was contained in their pass rush and in stopping the run. Carson Wentz was able to find several of his receivers for big-time plays that ended up breaking the game open for them down the stretch. A lot of that was due in part to his play and blocking.”
If Brandel is poor or mediocre, center will move up the list for 2026 offseason needs.
But Kelly won’t be back.
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