Our Staff Prediction for Commanders at Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings have posted a lousy 1-4 record at home through 13 weeks of 2025, hoping to right the ship on Sunday against the Washington Commanders. As every week, our staff has individual predictions for the contest, in addition to a collective forecast.
Our staff prediction for Commanders at Vikings breaks down who wins, why, and what must go right for Minnesota to avoid another December collapse.
The point spread flipped to the Commanders’ favor (1.5 points for WAS) on Friday after Washington announced that quarterback Jayden Daniels would return from an elbow injury. Here’s the verdict from our writers.
VikingsTerritory Vikings-Commanders Predictions
In the middle of a four-game losing skid.
What Our Writers Say Individually
Minnesota is in a very awkward spot, seeking to win some games for dignity and respect, along with appeasing wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who has appeared visibly frustrated through the losing streak.
Here’s how our writers think this week will go down:
Dustin Baker: WAS Wins, 23-20
Sean Borman: MIN Wins, 24-23
Janik Eckardt: MIN Wins, 20-19
Josh Frey: MIN Wins, 24-21
Henrique Gucciardi: MIN Wins, 28-25
Wesley Johnson: MIN Wins, 20-13
Kyle Joudry: MIN Wins, 24-21
Adam New: MIN Wins, 23-20
Tony Schultz: WAS Wins, 20-17
Ted Schwerzler: MIN Wins, 21-17
Ali Siddiqui: MIN Wins, 27-17
Cole Smith: MIN Wins, 12-8
Last weekend, for the debacle at Lumen Field, Tony Schultz most accurately forecasted the outcome, picking Minnesota to lose by 25. It lost by 26. Schultz chose Washington this week by a field goal. Not a good omen.
Season Standings
And, as always, here’s the running tabulation of our win-loss predictions in the form of a record:
Sean Borman: 7-5
Janik Eckardt: 7-5
Ted Schwerzler: 7-5
Ali Siddiqui: 7-5
Dustin Baker: 6-6
Kyle Joudry: 6-6
Cole Smith: 6-6
Adam New: 5-7
Josh Frey: 5-7
Tony Schultz: 5-7
Wes Johnson: 5-7
Henrique Gucciardi: 4-8
This group really struggled until the last couple of weeks, holding out hope that Minnesota could turn it around after owning a .500 record about a month ago. But with the Vikings showing their true colors, our writers have picked them to lose against good teams, and some of our panel have popped over .500.
It’s also worth noting that the Commanders are not a very formidable opponent in Week 14.
Score from One Voice
With no further adieu, our writers have tabbed the Vikings for their fifth win of the season. The collective score forecast for Week 14 is Minnesota over Washington by a score of 22-19. A squeaker.
Kevin O’Connell’s team hasn’t won the turnover battle in a game since Week 3 — when it won by 37 points over Cincinnati — so perhaps that will finally happen against Washington.
Thoughts from Others
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis noted on the Vikings’ most interesting storyline: “How are the Vikings going to finish in their remaining home games? They’ve only won one home game thus far. That was more than two months ago, in the Week 3 matinee versus the Bengals and Jake Browning. Three home games are left. Two of them are against NFC North opponents, the Lions on Christmas and the Packers in early January.”
“It’s not so much that winning these games would mean anything in the standings, but the performances will unquestionably play a role in how the end of this season will feel. Vikings ownership doesn’t act irrationally. It typically takes the long-term view. Getting embarrassed at U.S. Bank Stadium, though, will make it harder to stand pat and refrain from the hardest of questions. Lose to the Commanders, and it’ll be an uphill battle to generate a home win for the rest of the season.”
He also picked Minnesota to lose by three.
Jon Krawczynski at the same website predicted the Vikings to win by one point: “I’m sure I’m going to be wrong here, but Washington has lost seven in a row. That skid includes blowout losses to the Chiefs, Lions, Seahawks and Cowboys.
“Both of these teams are really bad. If the Vikings are going to win one game the rest of the season, I think they do it here on the leg of Will the Thrill. If it goes as poorly as it has gone for the last month, heaven help everyone over there.”
Minnesota embarks on a basically meaningless Week 14 game (per playoff stakes) for the first time in 12 years. O’Connell’s team would have to win five straight while hoping Green Bay loses its next five to reach the postseason.
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