3 Main Reasons Why the Vikings Will Make the Playoffs
Coming off a 14-3 season, a frisky free agency, and a 2025 NFL Draft that completed the offensive line, the Vikings will make every effort over the coming months to get back into the postseason.
Safe to say, though, that earning a spot in the final tournament is far from a guarantee. The simple fact that the Vikings are starting an unproven passer from within (arguably) the NFL’s toughest division makes things look a bit dicey. Toss in a tough schedule more broadly and then some concerns about the secondary. Can the optimistic onlooker still scrounge up reasons for projecting a playoff appearance?
The Vikings Will Make the Playoffs: 3 Reasons
Reason #1 — Excellent Coaching
Kevin O’Connell has become a very good NFL head coach. Brian Flores has proven to be an excellent defensive coordinator. Can those two combine to push the team a decent bit higher?
Keep in mind, as well, that the staff more broadly has promising coaches. One thinks of Chris Kuper, the offensive line coach who has been pushing Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill to new heights. Quarterbacks coach Josh McCown helped Sam Darnold to have an excellent 2024 and is now working with J.J. McCarthy. Defensive backs coach Daronte Jones helped Byron Murphy Jr. become a Pro Bowler; Keenan McCardell has been helping the receivers for a little while, shepherding Justin Jefferson through a historically-great initial five seasons.
These coaches can continue being very good. That will be part of the mix. Somehow finding a way to be even better, though, could be a sneaky way of improving.
Reason #2 — Abundant Skill
Just hard to see too many teams around the NFL with as much skill as the Vikings. Mr. McCarthy has the tremendous luxury of working with nothing short of an elite collection of skill players.
Justin Jefferson is probably the league’s best receiver. Behind him is Jordan Addison — who could end up getting suspended — alongside several other promising receivers: Jalen Nailor, Rondale Moore, Tai Felton, and others. At tight end is an imposing tandem in T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver, one of the best TE pairs in the league.
Even the backfield got some help. Sure, Aaron Jones is back, but he now has Jordan Mason to support him instead of a Cam Akers/Ty Chandler combo. There’s no longer any excuse to have a subpar rushing attack, in large part due to the final point.
Reason #3 — Reinforced Trenches
The trenches, it turns out, are still important to football. Neither the Chiefs nor the Eagles get to the Super Bowl back in February without having excellent talent along each of their d-lines and o-lines.
Minnesota didn’t have a total zero in these categories. O’Neill and Darrisaw have been great for a while. Defensively, Harrison Phillips plays rugged run defense and then Jonathan Greenard plus Andrew Van Ginkel are a nice pair along the edge.
What’s promising for the Vikings is that the iOL has been totally remade with the additions of Donovan Jackson (LG), Ryan Kelly (C), and Will Fries (RG). Meanwhile, Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen are stepping into huge holes at defensive tackle, being leaned on to get after the passer early and often.
If these bets prove to have been worthwhile, the Vikings could overcome some long odds to prove to be one of the NFC’s most potent teams.
