VikingsTerritory Predicts the Vikings’ 2025 Record
Annually, right about this time on the calendar, we ask our writers to opine with their win-loss predictions for the Minnesota Vikings.
VikingsTerritory predicts the Vikings’ 2025 record, breaking down the schedule, games, and what to expect from Kevin O’Connell’s squad.
Last year — embarrassingly — we settled on 8-9, as the group did not fully believe in Sam Darnold’s QB1 upside.
He proved every wrong — until the season’s final two games when it mattered the most.
Here’s what our staff has to say for 2025.
Our Prediction for the Vikings’ Record in 2025
Writers from VikingsTerritory forecast wins and losses for the purple team.
Tony Schultz: 14-3
Many things can happen in a season to impact a team’s performance. A suspension, injury, or even the addition of a new player can alter a season’s entire course. The season hinges on the play of J.J. McCarthy and whether a revamped running game and upgraded defense will improve on last season’s 14 wins.
I see the Vikings coming out 5-0 into the bye, but then stumbling over the next couple of weeks with losses against the Eagles, Lions, and Ravens. They get things back on track against the Bears and finish up 14-3. I’m usually pretty realistic when I look at these things, but it’s hard to think this team will take a huge step back.
Henrique Gucciardi: 12-5
The Vikings need two things to have a good season: to stay healthy and for J.J. McCarthy not to be turnover-prone.
The young QB won’t have to be a star or savior in his first season, as Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell build an amazing roster around the first-year starter. He can rely on his stellar supporting cast while he adjusts to the NFL game.
Ted Schwerzler: 12-5
Two fewer wins, but it’s a better team that makes it to the NFC Championship game. The division is tightly contested, which will allow Minnesota to be well-prepared for the playoffs.
Ali Siddiqui: 12-5
Going 14-3 again is very unlikely. The schedule is challenging again. They absolutely can win the division this time, though, with all the additions they’ve made, including bringing Adam Thielen back earlier this week.
The biggest question, of course, is J.J. McCarthy. He should do enough for the Vikings to contend for the division title. Will he be good enough for the Vikings to go far in the playoffs? That remains to be seen.
Kyle Joudry: 11-6
Let’s go with 11-5 (even if my internal pessimism tells me to go lower). Loaded roster, and I do believe Mr. McCarthy is going to be good. A Wildcard spot in the final destination.
Cole Smith: 11-6
I predict the Vikings will go 11-6 in 2025. The record won’t be as good as last year, but the overall strength will be better, with a more reliable running game and an improved interior pass rush that can flip games that were hopeless in 2024. J.J. McCarthy’s maturity gives fans hope for the future.
Janik Eckardt: 10-7
The Vikings have reinforced the trenches in the offseason and have a fantastic team on paper. It all depends on J.J. McCarthy’s development, but it’s far-fetched to expect elite numbers from a first-year starter. Kevin O’Connell’s squad will be good, but not great.
Wesley Johnson: 10-7
The Vikings will need to start the season hot, as the early-season schedule before the bye week is the most favorable. They must come out of the gates no worse than 4-1 if they’d like to be in the mix to punch a playoff ticket in a wide-open NFC.
Josh Frey: 10-7
The Vikings may get off to a bit of a slow start with Jordan Addison’s suspension. But with a defense that could very well be Top 5 in the NFL, an improved running game, and Adam Thielen returning as extra insurance in the wide receiver room, the Vikings should be a playoff team as long as J.J. McCarthy doesn’t experience major growing pains during his first season as a starter.
Dustin Baker: 10-7
Picking Minnesota to flirt with 14 wins again would be utterly fantastic. However, the NFC North is an evil place right now, and the rest of the Vikings’ schedule is just as naughty.
Perhaps if the division still had the caliber of strength from the 2022 season — the Green Packers stunk by their standards, the Detroit Lions began the year 1-6, and the Chicago Bears were hideous — predicting higher than 10 wins would be on the menu.
The division just isn’t like that anymore.
Mix in the murderous schedule with a [basically] rookie quarterback, and 10 wins feels just right.
Collective VT Prediction: 11-6
Ranging from 14-3 (Tony Schultz) to 10-7 (four writers), it’s an 11-6 overall projection for the 2025 club.
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