Predicting the Vikings 2025 Season Game-by-Game as Team Enters Training Camp
Most predictions on NFL teams’ regular season records are done closer to the September opener. I like to step out early with my predictions as teams enter training camp because as long as no major injuries hit in camp, little should change between now and the September 8 opener in Chicago.
The Vikings 2025 Season Prediction
I was an optimist about the Vikings last season and was one of the very few local or national analysts to pick the team to have a winning season (albeit I said 9-8, far shy of their 14 wins; however, I did have the Vikings making the playoffs and losing in the wild card round which was the case).
Despite playing in the NFL’s best division with a tough schedule and a first-time starting QB in J.J. McCarthy, I believe the Vikings have a better team than last year, especially in the trenches on both sides of the ball with key free agent signings and the drafting of projected starting left guard Donovan Jackson. I do have concerns about the corners beyond Pro Bowler Byron Murphy so we’ll have to see how that plays out and if the team brings in another quality vet corner during camp. But if the pass rush is excellent, as I project it to be, that should certainly help the corners.
I also see McCarthy having greater upside than Sam Darnold, considering McCarthy’s talent and supporting cast with the improved interior O-line a key factor (if they stay healthy). The key questions on McCarthy: how quickly will he develop into a quality, winning NFL QB and will he stay healthy?
I don’t see 14 wins this season but after last year, it wouldn’t shock me. The most important thing will be to make the playoffs (preferably as a division champ) and advance this time around.
Here’s my post free agency/draft pre-training camp picks game-by-game.
The Weekly Picks
September 8—At Chicago: WIN…It’s an exciting opener on Monday night against a division rival who the Vikings swept last season. The Vikings have won the last five games in Chicago. It won’t be easy against a Bears team that has spent a lot of free agent capital to improve the offensive line and better protect Caleb Williams. I still see the Vikings D pressuring Williams into sacks and turnovers and McCarthy doing enough in his starting debut with Justin Jefferson shining on the national stage.
September 14—Home vs. Atlanta: WIN…No Kirk Cousins to face this year and I see the Vikings handling Michael Penix and Company in the Sunday night national TV home opener after whipping the Falcons 42-21 last season. Jefferson and Jordan Addison tore up the Atlanta secondary last time (265 receiving yards and five TDs combined) but will Addison be active or facing an early season league suspension?
September 21—Home vs. Cincinnati: WIN…This is a scary game against one of the league’s top offenses led by QB Joe Burrow and his elite WRs Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. It will be the first test for the Vikings secondary against a Pro Bowler and former Super Bowl QB. The Bengals defense was their downfall last season and their best pass rusher Trey Hendrickson could be a camp holdout. I like the Vikings to win a high scoring game and remain unbeaten at home given the team’s history against Cincy.
September 28—vs. Pittsburgh in Dublin: WIN…After beating Aaron Rodgers last season in London when he was a Jet, the Vikings face Rodgers in the first-ever game in Ireland. The Vikings have a perfect 4-0 record in regular season international games (plus 4-0 in pre-season internationally back in my years with the team). This should be a tight contest between two playoff-caliber teams and I pick the Vikings to emerge victorious.
October 5—vs. Cleveland in London: WIN…After remaining overseas for another week and avoiding a trip to Cleveland (thus having the advantage of two neutral site games vs. two true road games), the Vikings will face the more jet-lagged Browns. Who will be the QB in Week 5 for Cleveland—Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco or one of two draftees—Dillon Gabriel or the controversial Shedeur Sanders? We know it won’t be Browns-bust Deshaun Watson, who is injured. The Purple should be able to beat a 3-win Browns team from last year without too much difficulty and improve to 5-0 for the second straight season.
October 19—Home vs. Philadelphia: LOSS…Now the schedule toughens with four straight games against 2024 playoff teams beginning with the defending Super Bowl champs. Here’s where McCarthy is likely to have his first loss as he faces last season’s No. 1 defense and a prolific offense led by QB Jalen Hurts and RB Saquon Barkley. But it should be a great atmosphere at U.S. Bank Stadium for this game that should be in prime time or at least a doubleheader game and not a noon start.
October 23—At Los Angeles Chargers: LOSS…What is it with the league sending the Vikings to L.A. for a mid-season Thursday night game? This time is against Jim Harbaugh, Justin Herbert, and the Chargers after the Vikings fell to the Rams last time in a similar situation (following a tough home loss to Detroit). This is a tough one to call but I’ll say the Chargers win a close one.
November 2—At Detroit: LOSS…McCarthy returns to his college stomping grounds where he won a national title at Michigan so he’ll be a little extra amped up for this game. The Lions swept the Vikings in winning the division last year and have won four straight at home over the Vikings. Despite the turnover on their previously dominant offensive line, I think the Lions will beat the Vikings in Motown. This loss drops the Vikings to 5-3 with a third straight loss after a hot start.
November 9—Home vs. Baltimore: WIN…Returning home is what the Vikings need to get back on the winning track against two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and his solid team that is the defending AFC North champion. This should be another tight game that comes down to the final drive with Will Reichard booting a walk-off field goal for the win.
November 16—Home vs. Chicago: WIN…I hesitate a bit before picking the Vikings to sweep the Bears for the second straight season but I don’t see the Purple losing this game at home. The home crowd will rattle Williams and help the defense lead the way with six sacks and a couple turnovers. The Vikings are back on track at 7-3 and in the division race with the Lions and Packers.
November 23—At Green Bay: LOSS…Last year’s game at Lambeau was a thriller when the Vikings jumped out 28-0 and had to hold off a big Jordan Love-led comeback to win 31-29. The Vikings swept the Packers last season for the first time since 2017. The two teams split their matchups in the four seasons prior to 2024. Aaron Jones would love to win his third straight against the team that dumped him but I see a split this season between two talented teams and it’s more likely the Pack win at home.
November 30—At Seattle: WIN…Darnold threw a late TD pass to beat the Seahawks last December. Now Darnold is the Seattle QB with his $100 million contract but he’ll have a tough day against the Vikings pass rush. Seattle was a house of horrors for the Vikings during the Russell Wilson and Legion of Boom era until the Vikings broke a five-game losing streak at Seattle last year. I think they make it two in a row there.
December 7—Home vs. Washington: WIN…In the continuation of a terrific home schedule, the Vikings host the Commanders and their outstanding second-year QB Jayden Daniels who led his team to the NFC title game last season. This is another test for the Vikings D and they’ll need strong performances from McCarthy, Jefferson, Addison, Hockenson, Jones, and the offense to win this game, which I think they’ll do before the raucous home crowd.
December 14—At Dallas: WIN…In the fourth prime-time game of the season, the Vikings will knock off Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons, and the Cowboys who are coming off a 7-10 season that was derailed as Prescott missed nine games with a major hamstring injury. The Dallas defense isn’t good enough to hold off a balanced Vikings offense and the Minnesota D will put the heat on Prescott as the Vikings get their 10th win of the season.
December 21—At New York Giants: WIN…This is a possible trap game between the national TV date in Dallas and a huge Christmas Day home game against Detroit. Kevin O’Connell will make sure the Vikings don’t overlook the G-Men and Brian Flores will unleash his pass rushers to pressure Russell Wilson. The Vikings rushing attack with Jones and Jordan Mason running behind an excellent O-line and McCarthy adding some timely scrambles will have a big day against the Giants, who ranked 27th against the run in 2024.
December 25—Home vs. Detroit: WIN…I see the Vikings and Lions both entering this pivotal game tied for the NFC North lead at 11-4 (as was the case in the season finale last January when both teams were 14-2 but Darnold and the O-line unraveled). This time it’s in Minnesota on a short travel week for the Lions for a Thursday game on Christmas Day. Here’s where the Vikings will end the Lions five-game winning streak in the series and set themselves up to win the division. The Vikings defense will pressure Goff into sacks and turnovers while Jefferson once again torches the Detroit secondary.
Week 18—Date TBD—Home vs. Green Bay: WIN…The Vikings win the rivalry rematch at home to finish 13-4 and on a six-game winning streak. They clinch the NFC North and earn the NFC’s No. 2 seed behind the Eagles with an impressive performance in all three phases as they beat the Packers who finish at 11-6 for the second straight year.
Postseason—The NFL is obviously bigger than college football but McCarthy has winning playoff experience at playoff time from his excellent play in Michigan’s national championship season. That will help him entering his first NFL postseason.
McCarthy and O’Connell get their first playoff win in the wild card round which will be a rematch of the Week 14 game against Washington. They follow it up with a divisional playoff victory over the Rams to avenge last season’s playoff loss. But the hopes of reaching the team’s first Super Bowl in 49 years fall one game short in a familiar, unfriendly spot—Philly–in the NFC title game.
Perhaps 2026—50 years after the last Vikings visit to the big game–will be the Super Bowl season as McCarthy will have an excellent first season as the starter to build on.
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