Coming off a much-needed bye week, your Detroit Lions are back in action. They’re 5-2 and second in the NFC North, a half a game behind the leading Green Bay Packers. For the first time this year, they
take on the Minnesota Vikings, who are in last place in the division at 3-4. The Vikings appear to be getting their starting quarterback back this week, though I’m not sure that can fix all of their woes.
Minnesota is coming off its impressive 14-3 2024 season, just one game short of winning the division after the Lions defeated them in the season finale. Changes were made, mostly at quarterback, and so far, they haven’t been able to recapture what they’ve been in years past.
Despite their early-season struggles and injuries, this is a divisional game, so all bets are off. Let me give you a breakdown of the Minnesota Vikings’ season so far in my Week 9 scouting report.
Minnesota Vikings
2025 season thus far (3-4)
Week 1: Defeated the Chicago Bears 27-24
Week 2: Lost to the Atlanta Falcons 22-6
Week 3: Defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 48-10
Week 4: Lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21
Week 5: Defeated the Cleveland Browns 21-17
Week 6: BYE
Week 7: Lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 28-22
Week 8: Lost to the Los Angeles Chargers 37-10
Stats:
- 18th in points scored, 19th in points allowed
- 26th in DVOA
- 29th in offensive DVOA (26th in pass DVOA, 23rd in run DVOA)
- 19th in defensive DVOA (25th pass DVOA, 15th in run DVOA)
- 12th in special teams DVOA
Heading into the year, there were questions about whether the Vikings could still be a contender after losing quarterback Sam Darnold to free agency and sticking with second-year quarterback and former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, who came off a knee injury last season. McCarthy struggled in his regular-season debut, but had an electric fourth quarter to put the Vikings on top of the Bears to start the year 1-0.
Next week against the Atlanta Falcons, though, McCarthy played poorly again, and afterwards moved to the bench after suffering an ankle injury. This had the team move to backup Carson Wentz, and Wentz showed signs that he was a serviceable backup, throwing for 1,216 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions in his five starts, but last week was a clear sign the team needed to make a change. Against the Los Angeles Chargers, Wentz was clearly playing through his shoulder injury, and a few days later, the team announced Wentz would be out for the season. I believe even if Wentz wasn’t hurt, McCarthy would retake the job this week, as it appears he will return against the Lions.
Outside of the quarterback room, the offense isn’t as explosive as it once was. Running back Aaron Jones has only played in three games as he was on IR earlier this year, leading the way for backup Jordan Mason to start in four games, getting 88 carries for 383 yards and four touchdowns. No matter who has been under center for the Vikings, they’ve loved throwing the ball to superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson, as he has 41 catches for 602 yards, but only one touchdown. Fellow receiver Jordan Addison, who has only played in four games after missing two due to a suspension, is the biggest threat lately with 21 catches for 309 yards and two touchdowns.
When it comes to the defense, defensive lineman Jalen Redmond has come out of nowhere. The second-year player leads the team in sacks with three, and can use his hands, getting two pass deflections and forcing a fumble. Safety Josh Metellus continues to make plays for the secondary, getting 41 tackles and leading the team in pass deflections (four) and interceptions (two).
The Vikings have struggled to put wins together in back-to-back weeks this season. After McCarthy went down, the Vikings blew out the Bengals by 38, and their two-week trip overseas was similar in both games, getting a close defeat and a close victory over two AFC North teams. After the bye, they almost were able to upset and complete the comeback against the Philadelphia Eagles, but their last loss to the Chargers just looked poor at every spot on the team. For the past few years, the Vikings were known for winning close games and having some crazy comebacks, but so far this year, they are 2-2 in those one-score games.
Injury notes
Key players ruled out: C Ryan Kelly (IR), WR Rondale Moore (IR), QB Carson Wentz (IR)
Key players to monitor: FB C.J. Ham (Hand), RT Brian O’Neill (knee), QB J.J. McCarthy (ankle), LB Andrew Van Ginkel (neck), LT Christian Darrisaw (knee)
So far this season, the Vikings are missing some key pieces for their team. Center Ryan Kelly is on IR with a concussion, and he’s eligible to return next week. Losing a weapon in wide receiver Rondale Moore in the preseason was hurtful to the team, as they had to trade for wide receiver Adam Thielen to give their quarterbacks more support.
While most teams in the NFL nowadays don’t have a fullback, the Vikings do, and C.J. Ham is important for this team. He missed last week’s game with a hand injury, and despite the lack of love for the position, he’s a key figure on that offense. Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel is dealing with a neck injury, and if he can suit up, that would help the Vikings out greatly with their pass rush.
The biggest injuries, though, are with the offensive tackles, Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw. O’Neill missed last week due to a knee injury, and Darrisaw appears to be limited in play after returning to action in Week 3—he played in just nine snaps on Thursday. If the Vikings are down both starting tackles and their center, McCarthy is in trouble.
Biggest strength: Receiving options
When you have arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, your strength will be giving them the ball, no matter who is at quarterback. Jefferson continues to have a solid season and be a focal point in the offense for the Vikings, as he’s fifth in the NFL in yards, but his lack of finding the end zone is a little odd.
Addison has been a boost for the offense in his return, as he has just half of the yards as Jefferson in only four games. Tight end T.J. Hockenson continues to be a threat for opposing linebackers and safeties, snagging 27 catches for 222 yards and a touchdown. While Thielen hasn’t contributed as much as people expected, wide receiver Jalen Nailor continues to shine for the team, getting 13 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown.
Right there, you have a solid wide receiver duo and a starting tight end, and someone who is carving themselves as the third option you can’t ignore. What has hurt these players from doing even better is the rotation at quarterback due to injuries and the poor play by the offensive line. While it’s the team’s strength, it could be even better than what it is if things can be cleaned up elsewhere.
Biggest weakness: Offensive line
It’s hard for any quarterback to look good when he’s on his back all the time. The Vikings’ offensive line has struggled massively this year, causing the offense to take a step back, players to get hurt, and is becoming a liability for the team. Currently, the Vikings have allowed 28 sacks, fourth most in the NFL, and have a 62 pass blocking rating according to PFF. While that rating is middle of the road, the play on the field shows otherwise.
First, the offensive line isn’t at full strength. Darrisaw returned from his torn ACL and MCL back in Week 3, and it appeared that maybe he was back at full capacity, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. In Week 4, he played every snap at left tackle, but in Week 5, Darrishaw played 41 snaps at left tackle with the backup, Justin Skule, playing 23. In Week 7, Darrisaw played every snap, but against the Chargers in Week 8, he logged only nine snaps with Skule finishing out the game.
Darrisaw isn’t the only tackle banged up, either, as O’Neill is battling a knee injury as well. He missed Week 5 and Week 8. The offensive line has only had two games with both starting tackles together. You also can’t ignore Kelly being out at center, giving them problems on the interior. According to PFF’s stats, those three starters are miles ahead of the backups.
Christian Darrishaw, Brian O’Neill, and Ryan Kelly
- Sacks allowed – 1
- Pressures allowed – 13
- QB hits allowed – 1
- Penalties – 3
- Average pass blocking grade – 72.1
- Average run blocking grade – 66.8
Walter Rouse, Justin Skule, Blake Brandel, Michael Jurgens
- Sacks allowed – 13
- Pressures allowed – 43
- QB hits allowed – 7
- Penalties – 10
- Average pass blocking grade – 57.6
- Average run blocking grade – 56.7
The running game has also taken a hit due to the offensive line’s lack of success. The Vikings have rushed for 657 yards, the third fewest in the NFL, and have only one run for 20+ yards, going for 24. Jones’ missing time doesn‘t help either, but Mason is a serviceable back who did well last year with the San Francisco 49ers. With these starters out, this offense is a mess simply because their replacements can’t give the running backs lanes to run through, and quarterbacks time to throw to give the ball to their star players like Jefferson, Addison, and Hockenson.
Key matchup: Lions’ secondary vs.. Vikings’ wide receivers
Week 7 was a shocking performance by the Lions’ secondary, a group people are calling the “Legion of Whom,” as practice-squad players and backups stepped up to shut down the passing game of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now, to be fair, that matchup was easier for them as the Bucs were down one of the starting wide receivers in Chris Godwin, and their other main starter, Mike Evans, left early due to injury, giving them just rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka to mainly focus on.
This week, the Lions will get some help back on defense. Safety Brian Branch is back from his suspension, and there is a possibility that perhaps safety Kerby Joseph returns, as well as cornerback Terrion Arnold. If not, this team is fine with rolling out the same players they did in their last game, but this challenge will be a lot tougher.
Going up against Jefferson and Addison will be difficult, even if the Vikings’ offensive line is Swiss cheese. The Lions’ secondary will have to win their battles, as the front seven can focus on stopping the running backs and containing McCarthy. Last year over two games, the Lions held Jefferson to 10 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown, Addison to four catches for 66 yards, and Hockenson to two catches for nine yards. Detroit can slow down the receivers, but that was with their starters last year. If Joseph and Arnold can’t go, it could be a different story on Sunday.
Vegas line for Sunday: Lions favored by 8.5
