Ali Siddiqui’s Prediction for Vikings-Commanders
The 4-8 Minnesota Vikings and 3-9 Washington Commanders will face off Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Minnesota leads the all-time series 15-13 and has won the past three meetings.
This has been a very disappointing season for both teams after both made the playoffs last season. Minnesota has lost four games in a row, with the latest one being a 26-0 drubbing at Seattle last week in Max Brosmer’s first NFL start.
Ali Siddiqui offers his score prediction and key takeaways for Vikings-Commanders, highlighting matchups, urgency, and whether Minnesota can finally rebound.
Washington lost 27-26 in overtime at home last week to the Denver Broncos, making it their seventh consecutive loss. These two teams last faced each other in 2022 at FedEx Field.
Siddiqui’s Look-Back and Prediction for Commanders at Vikings
Kirk Cousins went 22/40 for 265 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Justin Jefferson caught seven passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. T.J. Hockenson caught nine passes for 70 yards.
On defense, Jordan Hicks recorded a game-high 12 tackles. Danielle Hunter recorded two sacks. For Washington, Taylor Heinicke went 15/28 for 149 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Curtis Samuel caught three passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. Terry McLaurin caught five passes for 56 yards.
On defense, Kamren Curl recorded a team-high 11 tackles.
Minnesota won 20-17 to improve to 7-1 on the season. They finished at 13-4 in Kevin O’Connell’s first season as the team’s head coach. They won the NFC North for the first time since 2017, but fell to the New York Giants at home in the first round of the playoffs. Washington fell to 4-5 on the season and finished at 8-8-1. It was the sixth time in seven seasons they missed the playoffs.
“A win is a win,” safety Camryn Bynum said. “We’ve got to know that we’re not playing our best ball yet, but it’s coming.”
Minnesota has a very good chance of winning this game. Out of all the games left in the rest of the season, this could very possibly be their least difficult game. If not this game, the road game against the Giants could very likely be the one.
To say this season has been a disappointment would be a massive understatement. While J.J. McCarthy was certainly a question mark, this team still had most of its key players returning and a very active offseason. The quarterback play has been very disappointing, and most of their big free agent signings have not panned out.
While it is still too early to say that McCarthy will be a bust, if he continues to struggle the rest of the way, it will increase the chances that, in fact, it becomes the case. How he plays the rest of the way is without a doubt the most critical factor for this team.
If he can finish the season strong, it will give the fans and organization some hope heading into the offseason and some optimism that he may end up being the guy for years to come.
One positive for this team lately has been Dallas Turner‘s play. He has recorded four sacks in the past three games. Like McCarthy, he was a first-round pick for the team in 2024. While McCarthy is the most important player for this team for the rest of 2025, Turner is vital too and will also be counted on to keep improving and help this team for years to come, and get back on track next season.
This team will not make the playoffs, and perhaps at best finish the season at 6-11. These remaining five games are still crucial for the future of this team and how they approach the offseason.
Prediction: Minnesota wins 27-17.
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