Sunday’s Vikings Game Could Change Everything
The Minnesota Vikings are at a crossroads in 2025 — and perhaps for the long term. The club fell overwhelmingly in Week 8 on Thursday Night Football, igniting for the first time whispers about the team’s leadership and whether the Vikings had the right general manager and head coach for the future.
It’s go-time for the 2025 Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, and the contest at Ford Field against the Lions could have tremendous long-term implications.
Ten days later, those two men, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell, will seek to rebound at a murderous venue as of late, Ford Field, against the Detroit Lions.
And the game has mammoth long-term implications.
At Lions Could Be the Biggest Vikings Regular Season Game in Years
Saddle up, because it’s a meaty one.
A Team That Needs a Hero
The Vikings were supposed to have a Super Bowl-caliber roster — as recently as two months ago — just needing the quarterback to “not mess up.” That mission statement has changed.
The club now nears a hero — probably the quarterback — to reverse the errs of the last seven games. Put plainly, quarterback play has cost Minnesota dearly and may be the separating factor between a losing and winning record.
Injured players are returning to full health, and among them, the team needs a hero. Yes, that’s probably J.J. McCarthy. Sunday will be the first glimpse of the McCarthy-led Vikings since September 14th. Someone must answer the call in Detroit.
Back-to-Back Beatdowns Would Raise Absolutely Alarming Red Flags
Imagine if the Week 8 game at Los Angeles directly transferred to Week 9. That is — there is no improvement, and the 27-point beatdown by the Chargers is just the new normal. Let’s face it: if any team could do that, it’s probably the Lions.
The purple fan base would rage with resentment, calling for the heads of Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell. Hell, some are already doing that after a single bad loss. Minnesota must play competently and show that Week 8 was an outlier. A blowout loss would hint at more systemic problems — ones that could require remedy in the offseason, including an examination of the general manager and head coach’s job security.
The game must stay close for fans’ sanity. Or somewhat competitive.
Our Cole Smith wrote about the Vikings’ defense after the TNF beatdown: “The offense, especially on the line, has been dealing with so many injuries this season that they should be given a little grace for some of these performances. But outside of Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman, the Vikings’ defense has been relatively healthy this season.”
“Minnesota got Cashman back before the Eagles game in Week 7, but allowed Jalen Hurts to throw for 326 yards and three touchdowns en route to a perfect passer rating. Justin Herbert was almost just as effective on Thursday. He was 18-of-25 passing for 225 yards, throwing three touchdowns.”
Minnesota’s defense should be damn near full health at the Lions.
“Herbert also torched the Vikings when he ran, rushing seven times for 62 yards. Overall, the Chargers ran 43 times for 207 yards. That’s despite them being down Najee Harris, Omarion Hampton, and Hassan Haskins at running back. The Vikings now rank 14th in total defense and are tied for 9th-worst in EPA allowed per rush,” Smith added.
“Veteran acquisitions Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen haven’t lived up to the team’s expectations heading into the season. The secondary as a whole looks a step slow. They need to figure it out quickly with the Lions, Ravens, Bears, and Packers on the horizon.”
A Little Brother to the Little Brother
Detroit has notched five straight wins over Minnesota. This rivalry didn’t previously fit the billing of a rivalry because the Vikings beat the Lions so routinely.
Now, the Vikings are the little brother to a team that used to be their little brother.
Minnesota can’t simply continue losing to Detroit. It’s not allowable. Sunday’s game is the latest chance to stop the madness of Detroit dominating Minnesota.
All Eyes — All of Them — on McCarthy
Carson Wentz has season-ending shoulder surgery this week, and truth be told, he played mediocre before the injury. Heading into 2025, McCarthy was supposedly the missing piece for a Super Bowl-ready roster; all he had to do was drive the car. The gasoline was already purchased.
Now, the team has a 3-4 record and feels like it needs a savior, a lot more than fans asked of McCarthy two months ago.
He played poorly in Week 2 after winning the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award in his first-ever start. His Week 2 performance was so bad that some fans said something to the effect of, “Looks like the Vikings drafted a bust.”
Of course, that was wildly premature and childish to say this soon, but McCarthy must not repeat the silly Week 2 experience. He must play well and trend in the right direction.
His bounceback game will command all the eyes, and McCarthy is no longer just a quarterback who’s developing in real time. The team needs him to play well enough to salvage the season. In theory, if McCarthy played like complete rubbish, panic would spread, questioning the long-term sustainability of the general manager, head coach, and quarterback.
Implications galore for a single regular season game in early November.
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