The Twists That Matter Most in Commanders at Vikings
For the first time in 12 years, the Minnesota Vikings will embark on a rather meaningless Week 14 game, about 99.5% eliminated from postseason contention. The club will play the Washington Commanders, nevertheless, and here’s what to know about the contest.
The twists that matter most in Commanders at Minnesota Vikings revolve around J.J. McCarthy’s performance and the draft-order stakes that follow.
The clubs are basically playing for pride right after Thanksgiving, a fall from grace for both franchises after playoff showings 11 months ago.
Vikings-Commanders Storylines
What to know in Week 14.
1. Finally Some Improvement for J.J. McCarthy?
It’s put up or shut up time for Minnesota’s would-be franchise quarterback. McCarthy missed his rookie season with a torn meniscus, immediately putting him behind schedule. Most expected him to enter 2025 more prepared than the average 22-year-old after sitting and absorbing the scheme for a full year.
Instead, the 2025 season hit, and he looked less prepared than the average 22-year-old. What a world.
McCarthy is already approaching the midpoint of his rookie deal, assuming Minnesota won’t trigger the fifth-year option. That means there’s no runway left. He has to perform down the stretch. Hee cannot stagger to the finish in 2025 and expect Minnesota to hand him the unquestioned QB1 role in 2026.
His first six starts were about 95% disastrous. McCarthy must avoid disastrous showings in the season’s final five games. He must turn the corner.
2. The Jayden Daniels Return
Daniels has been out with an elbow injury for over a month. He’s back just in time for the Vikings — because of course he is.
CBS Sports‘ Zachary Pereles wrote Friday, “Jayden Daniels will start for the Washington Commanders in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings, coach Dan Quinn said during his media availability Friday. It will be Daniels’ first action since he dislocated his left (non-throwing) elbow in Week 9 against the Seattle Seahawks.
“Daniels returned to practice in a limited fashion last week but was not a full participant until Thursday. He followed that up by fully participating in Friday’s session. From there, he was cleared to play for Sunday, Quinn said. Quinn said Daniels had a ‘great week’ of practice to get ready.”
Minnesota will get its first-ever look at the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Yerar.
“Daniels, 24, has played in just six of the Commanders’ 13 games this season. He suffered a knee sprain against the Green Bay Packers in Week 2 and missed two games, and in Week 7, he suffered a hamstring injury against the Dallas Cowboys. He missed one game due to that injury before returning against Seattle, when he suffered his latest setback,” Pereles added.
Neither team is playing for much of anything, but Daniels is back nonetheless.
3. Draft Order a Priority for Fans
Here’s a cold, hard truth: a handful of Vikings fans want the purple team to lose on Sunday. Why? Well, this season is cooked, and winning only ruins the 2026 1st-Round draft pick. Comically, the theory also applies to the Commanders.
Whichever team tunnels its way to a dub will have a bittersweet outcome. The winner will save face and maintain some dignity. The loser will climb the draftboard for April.
Therefore, if Minnesota loses in Week 14, fans will probably get over it rather quickly. A better draft pick will be on the menu.
That logic will apply to all remaining games.
SI.com‘s Joe Nelson opined this week on the draft stakes, “With the playoffs out of the picture, the best long-term scenario for the Vikings is getting the highest pick possible while seeing some development from J.J. McCarthy to generate some confidence at quarterback ahead of next season. According to The Athletic’s playoff and draft predictor, the Vikings have an 80% chance to land a top-10 pick, and a 15% chance to be picking in the top five.”
“What will Minnesota’s final record be? The Athletic’s machine has its highest odds at 6-11 (a 35% chance). There’s a 32% chance the Vikings finish 5-12, and an 11% chance they lose out to finish 4-13. On the flip side, a 7-10 record has been given a 17% chance, while the odds of Minnesota finishing 8-9 or 9-8 are 4% and 1%, respectively.
The draft is about 20 weeks away.
Nelson continued, “The last time Minnesota had a pick in the top 10 was 2014, when they selected linebacker Anthony Barr ninth overall. The last time they picked in the top five was 2012, when they took offensive tackle Matt Kalil with the No. 4 pick.”
4. Justin Jefferson’s Emotions
Visibly frustrated last week after losing a shutout at the Seattle Seahawks, Jefferson bounced back this week like a professional, acknowledging that bad seasons happen and his team was undergoing one. He’s actually had to endure four pretty trashy losses in a row, often with circumstances where the Vikings don’t even bother using him on offense.
It’s fantastic that Jefferson has acted like a pro’s pro — but what’s the breaking point? If Minnesota is shut out this weekend, will Jefferson snap?
The Vikings need a productive offensive game, if only to keep Jefferson happy and optimistic about the future.
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