When and Where: Week 7 at the Minnesota Bird Death Machine
Last season: Rode the Sam Darnold train for 16 games, then rode the Sam Darnold derailment for 2.
Added: Ryan Kelly, Eric Wilson, Isaiah Rodgers, Will Fries, Jonathan Allen
Lost: Sam Darnold, Cam Robinson, Cam Bynum, Stephon Gilmore, Jonathan Bullard, Shaquill Griffin, Dalton Risner, Jihad Ward
Players added or lost in order of snaps played last season.
Top draft picks: Donovan Jackson was their only draft pick in the top 100 picks.
Biggest question facing this team: Is JJ McCarthy it?
Perhaps no team illustrates how the NFL is all about the QB than the Vikings. They have a Super Bowl caliber trio of pass catchers in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson. They have a Super Bowl caliber defense. They have a Super Bowl caliber coaching staff.
None of it matters if JJ McCarthy can’t play football.
McCarthy was a polarizing prospect when the Vikings drafted him 10th overall. He suffered a season ending injury in his first preseason game, robbing him of an entire year of needed development time. Whatever doubts one had about McCarthy, he couldn’t do anything to put any to rest.
This is a really good, well coached roster that just won 14 games with Sam Darnold at QB. Their defense is going to give QBs problems. Their pass catchers will stress any secondary, and open up the run game. The coaching staff got a winning performance out of a QB who was so new to the team he didn’t know anyone’s name.
The Vikings are ready to win now, though it’s not Super Bowl or bust for them this season. They were right to move on from Sam Darnold, who isn’t it. It would be unfair to make judgement on JJ McCarthy after half a season. But by the time the Eagles roll into town in the middle of the season, we should have some idea if the 2025 Vikings are ready for the big stage.
The Vikings should be too good for this to be a “trap game” but this could be tougher than it seems. The Vikings will be at home and coming off their bye after back to back international games, while the Eagles will be going on their bye after this game.