Here Are the Vikings Biggest Threats in 2025
The Minnesota Vikings have training camp, the preseason, and roster cuts in the books.
Consider these the Vikings’ most significant threats in 2025, ranging from division rivals to internal challenges that could hinder Minnesota’s pursuit of a playoff run.
Now, it’s time for the regular season, which is about a week away.
Of course, certain items could derail Minnesota’s playoff dreams, especially after stunning the general public with an unforeseen 14-3 record last year.
Consider the following a list of threats to Minnesota, ranked from bottom to top (No. = Vikings’ top threat).
Most Serious Threats Facing the Vikings in 2025
Here’s what could derail the whole damn thing.
5. The Schedule
Minnesota has the NFL’s fifth-toughest schedule. Have a peek here, here, and here.
There is not a single strength of schedule metric anywhere that shines favorably on the Vikings. They have an inescapable tough gauntlet this season. The “easy” games might be overseas against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns.
Kevin Seifert wrote about Minnesota’s schedule in May: “We’ve known since January that the Vikings’ 2025 opponents would make for a tough season. And indeed, a first glance through the schedule hammers that home. But there are some subtle spots where the Vikings caught a break.”
“The big one is avoiding trips to Pittsburgh and Cleveland, instead getting to play them at neutral sites in Europe. But they’ll also get a bye before arguably their most difficult game, at home against the Eagles in Week 7. And they’ll get a mini-bye before the first of their two games against the Lions, thanks to a Thursday night game that precedes it.”
4. J.J. McCarthy’s Inexperience
Fans have ridden a spring and summer wave of momentum, excited about Minnesota’s future trajectory. Rightfully so — Minnesota hasn’t hit on a quarterback draft pick in 25 years. The last guy was Daunte Culpepper … in 1999.
Still, J.J. McCarthy’s youth may be a detriment at times because Minnesota possesses an otherwise Super Bowl-worthy roster. If he’s not totally ready to play consistently 85% of the time, he would, in theory, drag down a roster ready for a deep playoff push.
3. Menial Rushing Offense Improvement
In the offseason of 2023, head coach Kevin O’Connell vowed to improve the rushing offense.
In the offseason of 2024, head coach Kevin O’Connell vowed to improve the rushing offense.
In the offseason of 2025, head coach Kevin O’Connell has vowed to improve the rushing offense.
From 2022 to 2023, the rushing efficiency did not improve; it regressed with Alexander Mattison in charge. In 2024, Aaron Jones helped Minnesota take baby steps toward fixing its rushing woes. O’Connell has all the fixes in place this go-round — an improved offensive line, Aaron Jones re-signed, and Jordan Mason added — but if rushing offense doesn’t get better when the rubber hits the road, it will be a long year for McCarthy.
2. A Ruthless Division
The Detroit Lions are virtually guaranteed to be good; a decent Lions team at 9-8 is a worst-case scenario. The Green Bay Packers traded for Micah Parsons this week; he’ll solidify the Packers’ defense for the next eight-plus years.
And then the Chicago Bears finally hired a competent head coach in Ben Johnson to mentor Caleb Williams, the first overall pick in 2024, with talent pouring out his ears.
Not just “the Lions” or the foremost rival, Green Bay — the whole damn division is stocked with upper-echelon teams. Even if the Vikings were above average in 2025, they could end up with an 8-9 record due to the ruthless division.
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis explained how the Micah Parsons trade affected the Vikings this week.
He noted, “Parsons’ inclusion should prevent the Packers cornerbacks from having to run with Jefferson and Addison for too long, but if the Vikings can block up front, what are the odds Carrington Valentine, Nate Hobbs and Keisean Nixon can keep the Vikings’ explosiveness in check?”
“Kenny Clark’s absence should also be noted here. Clark gave the Vikings problems as an interior defender for years. Youngsters Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks are intriguing, but neither is as proven as Clark. This isn’t to mitigate what Parsons’ presence will mean, but it will be a welcome sight for Minnesota’s offensive staff not to have to ponder ways to work around Clark moving forward.”
1. The CB Room
The Vikings decided to keep just four cornerbacks on the 53-man roster: Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Jeff Okudah, and Dwight McGlothern.
Purple fans have decided that Murphy Jr., Rodgers, and Okudah will probably do the trick, but for those who dislike the Vikings, they point to the CB room and call it a flabbergasting weakness.
Don’t be surprised if the Vikings realize their cornerback group lacks juice in October and subsequently trade for a better corner before the deadline.
On paper, cornerbacks are Minnesota’s most glaring weakness and a threat to its Super Bowl aspirations.
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