Three Things Still Matter in the Vikings Finale
This Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers will embark on arguably their most meaningless regular season game with each other in the rivalry’s history. The Packers are locked into the NFC’s No. 7 seed, and that cannot be changed. The Vikings are eliminated from playoff contention, and that cannot be changed. Still, there are a handful of reasons to tune in, believe it or not.
Seeding may be dead, but Minnesota still has more tape to build: a farewell watch, a yardage target, and QB reps at home in Week 18.
The game will occur at U.S. Bank Stadium, with the Vikings possibly reaching a winning record in 2025 against all odds.
Three Stakes Inside the Vikings Finale
Why to care about Vikings-Packers in Week 18.
1. Possibly Harrison Smith’s Last Ride
This could be it for Smith; it really could be.
After the Christmas win over the Detroit Lions, Smith sounded like a man who knew the end was near. He’ll turn 37 in about six weeks, and most NFLers retire long before that. Of course, the beloved Viking is never very committal about his future, but retirement is looming no matter what. Vikings fans are virtually required to watch Vikings-Packers because if they don’t, missing Smith’s final game is a real fear.
Smith opened the season under a mysterious injury cloud, dealing with a lingering, poorly defined ailment that limited his availability and effectiveness. From Weeks 10 through 12, his Pro Football Focus marks dipped below 60.0, a stretch that matched what the tape suggested: an age-related dip.
Yet, that version hasn’t shown up lately. Smith posted a 90.0 grade against Washington and later followed it with a 79.7 at home against Detroit, looking far closer to the player the Vikings have relied on for more than a decade. He also won the NFC Defensive Player of the Week honor on Wednesday. How’s that for a guy who might retire?
Earlier in the year, the downturn felt real enough to raise legitimate retirement questions. Right now, the conversation has changed just a bit. Smith is playing like a functional starting safety again, and the timing couldn’t be better if he wants to push this into 2026. The performance is still there.
So, yes, Smith has created a whodunit in his retirement, and you have to watch Week 18 just in case it’s his last hurrah.
2. Justin Jefferson’s Pursuit of 1,000 Yards
Fifty-three. You got a pen? Jot that down. 53 yards.
Jefferson needs that total from his young quarterback to keep the streak alive. In NFL history, Randy Moss and Mike Evans are the only wide receivers to start their careers with six consecutive seasons of 1,000+ yards. Jefferson’s streak is in serious jeopardy.
In a typical environment, Jefferson could haul in 53 yards in one quarter. But the 2025 season is not a typical environment. Nearly all Vikings quarterbacks have struggled to get Jefferson the rock, and suddenly, tabulating 53 yards through the air feels like a chore.
Hell, Minnesota accounted for 3 net passing yards altogether on Christmas when it somehow beat the Detroit Lions by 13.
You should watch Week 18 to ensure — hope and pray? — that Jefferson banks 53 yards to keep his streak alive. NFL Hall of Fame voters love nice, clean numbers.
3. The Development of the Young Quarterback
J.J. McCarthy may or may not play on Sunday. This week’s injury reports will provide greater detail, as the 22-year-old injury-prone passer recovers from a hairline hand fracture. If he does not see the field, the aforementioned Brosmer will presumably get the nod.
This third reason on the list is mainly about McCarthy. If the Vikings knew his season was cooked after the hand injury at New York, they would’ve tossed him on injured reserve. They didn’t do that. He has a real chance to play and finish the season on a high note against a Packers team that will rest some or all starters.
And McCarthy needs the growth, reps, and momentum. It’s also worth mentioning that he’s a fun guy to watch when he’s not playing like JaMarcus Russell, Christian Ponder, or Spergon Wynn.
On Brosmer, well, if one assumes that he’ll cross over into a decent QB2 type down the line, he has to turn the corner at some point. It will be hard to register 3 net passing yards two weeks in a row.
Down the stretch of the Kirk Cousins era, many Vikings fans begged, screamed, and yearned for a young quarterback. You got it. You got two. Watch one of them try to mature on the fly against the Vikings’ most-hated rival.
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