Predicting Vikings 2025 Wins by Schedule
- Zak Drapeau
- 8 minutes ago
- 7 min read
by Zak Drapeau 8/19/2025 Sportz Nation
Team Overview
The Vikings are coming off their amazing 2024 season where 1-year rental Sam Darnold carried this team to a 14-3 record. Now the team shifts to their original plan of starting #12 draft pick in 2024 J.J. McCarthy for the 2025 season and have done a good job of surrounding him with a pretty good offense as well.
The Vikings off season has brought a brand new IOL just like the Bears did with large spending of cash and draft picks. Ryan Kelly, Will Fries and Donovan Jackson make for a VERY strong-run blocking line along with Tackle Brian O'Neil and having Christian Darrisaw as one of the best pass blocking LTs in the league when healthy. They would also add 49ers runner Jordan Mason to pair with Aaron Jones for what should be a very dynamic running attack. Time will tell if JJ McCarthy can live up to Darnold's 2024 in passing the ball but as long as Justin Jefferson is in town he should be fine.
On defense the Vikings would double down from last year on their strengths and unfortunately their weaknesses too. Their strength was most definitely their pass rush finishing tied for 4th in the league with 49 sacks. Adding to their front-7 is Pro Bowl D-Ends Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Alongside Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard this front-7 has a beautiful blend of run stuffing and pass rushing that will terrify O-lines all year.
And they better because the secondary will need all the help they can get. The Vikings would allow the 5th most passing yards in the league last season and wouldn't do much to fix the problem over the off season. Signing Jeff Okudah and Isaiah Rodgers should only add low-potential DBs to a room already full of them and losing Cam Bynum in Free Agency leaves the Safety position to Harrison Smith who is about 3 years past his prime.
The Vikings are betting their entire season on the Front-7's ability to get to the Quarterback and an unproven 22-year old Quarterback coming off a torn meniscus. They have a great roster in some areas and a terrible one in other. Will they accentuate the positives and play to their strengths or will this become a rebuilding year as the team builds around its' new identity. Lets find out, game-by-game.
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Week 1: @ Bears (MNF)
A shootout on Monday night should be a fun way to start the season for fans but definitely doesn't favor the Vikings. If the Bears' new O-line can keep Caleb upright even half the time, the new offense in Chicago will make it a long day for the Vikings.
Prediction: Bears 35-31
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Week 2: vs Falcons (SNF)
Back-to-back primetime games and the Vikings have their home opener against the Falcons here. Having the opposite-build defense as Minnesota, the Falcons are very susceptible to a rush attack like the Vikings. This is the play action game the Vikings want to run and they'll win because of it.
Prediction: Vikings 27-23
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Week 3: vs Bengals
Another shootout is sure to happen here with Jettas meeting his old LSU buddies on the Bengals. Unfortunately for Jettas and the Vikings, the Bengals offense is much better built for a shootout and it will definitely be close but the Bengals should steal this one.
Prediction: Bengals 31-27
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Week 4: vs Steelers (NFL Europe Game)
The Vikings are the only team in the league this season to have two international games and will make their first in Dublin, Ireland this week. The Steelers will be a very tough matchup for them with as stacked of a defense as you'll find this season and should give the Vikings all they can ask for as they win a close one.
Prediction: Steelers 24-17
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Week 5: vs Browns (NFL Europe Game)
From Dublin to London, the Vikings travel will be harsh but so will the Browns. Perhaps already being in Europe will give them a slight edge and their roster definitely will. The pass rush will be the biggest factor for the Vikings as they get a big win right before their BYE.
Prediction: Vikings 26-17
___________________________________ Week 6: BYE Week
An early BYE Week is never ideal but with the stretch of schedule the Vikings have over the next 6-8 weeks they'll need it. Sitting at 2-3 while all other NFC North teams are 3-2, the Vikings will need to play out of their minds to still be in contention by Thanksgiving.
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Week 7: vs Eagles
After an extra week of prep and staying at home, I actually like the Vikings here. One of the rare teams that can compete or even beat the Eagles on both lines of scrimmage, the Vikings send a huge message in their hunt for NFC supremacy.
Prediction: Vikings 28-23
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Week 8: @ Chargers (TNF)
A short week and a travel to the West Coast is extremely tough. However, controlling the lines of scrimmage again and attacking the weak secondary of the Chargers with Justin Jefferson should give them an edge in this one and extend their win streak to 3.
Prediction: Vikings 28-24
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Week 9: @ Lions
For their first matchup with the reigning NFC North champs, the Vikings will have to travel to Detroit. With a ton of momentum, the Vikings will look to slay the giants but even without Ben Johnson the Lions passing attack will be way too much for them to handle.
Prediction: Lions 31-21
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Week 10: vs Ravens
Eagles, Lions and now Ravens all in 4 weeks is a crazy schedule but at least this one is back at home for Minnesota. Unfortunately for Minnesota, the Ravens are just too good and Lamar's ability to escape the pass rush means the Ravens will win this one pretty easily.
Prediction: Ravens 28-17
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Week 11: vs Bears
After losing the season opener in Chicago, the Vikings are a much more battle-tested team now and will put up a much better fight. If the fron-t7 can dominate they way they have over the last month, I'll take the home team to get some revenge here.
Prediction: Vikings 28-24
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Week 12: @ Packers
In a late-first time matchup with the Packers, the Vikings will need to throw the ball like they did against Los Angeles earlier in the year to stand a chance. A very well-built roster besides the Cornerbacks, the Packers are able to contain the Vikings offense and pass rush as they take the W at home.
Prediction: Packers 28-23
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Week 13: @ Seahawks
This game is a trap for J.J. McCarthy who will be rushed often and see a blanket down the field. If McCarthy has a turnover or two which is likely in Seattle, this team will take advantage and get an easy win.
Prediction: Seahawks 26-17
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Week 14: vs Commanders
I've been vocal about my reservation for the Commanders this season and the Vikings are a team that could really challenge them this year. With two weak secondaries and two very-high potential passing games, this one will come down to which team can make a big play on defense and I'll take the Vikings pass rush to be that unit that wins it for their team.
Prediction: Vikings 38-31
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Week 15: @ Cowboys (SNF)
A third primetime game is pretty rare for the Vikings and travelling to Dallas may be the hardest of them all. In a pretty clean matchup, the Cowboys have an advantage in offense but the Vikings might have a slight advantage in defense. End of the day, I trust the Cowboys to make a few extra plays while at home to win this one.
Prediction: Cowboys 28-27
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Week 16: @ Giants
The Giants are 1-6 against the Vikings in the past decade but this current New York team may have the best defense in that time. Rushing J.J. McCarthy and having multiple playmakers in the secondary has turnovers written all over it and for that I have to take the G-men.
Prediction: Giants 28-27
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Week 17: vs Lions
At 6-9 the Vikings are eliminated form the playoffs at this point but the Lions are competing for the division title. In a replica of their matchup from Week 9, the Lions passing attack is too much and the Vikings crumble to a bad loss.
Prediction: Lions 28-19
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Week 18: vs Packers (TBD)
With their season at an end but with one final chance to save their pride in front of their fans, this will be the best game the Vikings have had in over a month. Unfortunately for them they're playing a Packers team that is not only better but has more to play for and they will come up just short.
Prediction: Packers 34-31
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The Vikings end this exercise with a 6-11 record including a 4-3 record at home and a 1-5 record in the NFC North.
A 1-6 stretch in the final two months was the undoing for the Vikings amid one of the toughest schedules in the league. J.J. McCarthy played well at times but showed that he still has a long way to go to be worthy of the #12 pick. On the other end the defense was impressive and the pass rush more than made up for the secondary's woes but wasn't able to carry the team every game.
The Vikings lack of a secondary was the biggest problem and they lost 3 or 4 very close games that could have easily gone the other way. Kevin O'Connell and his staff will be back next off season with clear targets in the back end that should make this defense very legit. Couple that with another season and off season of J.J. McCarthy building chemistry with Jettas and the rest of this offense and the Vikings could be my candidate for "biggest jumpers" in 2026.
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-Z.D.