Vikings Get Some Salt Poured in the Wound
The Vikings getting some salt poured in the wound isn’t an altogether unfamiliar experience, though it’s notable enough when it arrives when Minnesota doesn’t play.
On Sunday Night Football, Aaron Rodgers could have done Minnesota a favor by overcoming his former team. Instead, the former team overcame his Steelers. Jordan Love’s Packers pulled off the win by a score of 35-25, further solidifying their position atop the NFC North.
Vikings Get Some Salt Poured in the Wound
Maybe the good news is that the Bears are still the Bears.
Going up against a Ravens team without Lamar Jackson, the Bears stumbled to a 30-16 defeat. As a result, Ben Johnson’s team has dropped down to 4-3, a step ahead of Minnesota but a step closer to being at even par.
Detroit, the reigning NFC North champions, entered a bye in Week 8, meaning their 5-2 record remains untouched.
At 5-1-1, the Packers are the current leaders in the division. Toppling Pittsburgh meant getting a huge performance from Jordan Love. The Rodgers replacement finished off his day having gone 29/37 for 360 yards and 3 touchdowns. Sizzling stuff.
Do note, as well, that the Vikings lost to the Steelers not too long ago, dropping a Dublin game by a score of 24-21.
The focus in the Twin Cities now rests on the best path forward. There’s growing chatter about trading out talent rather than bringing in talent (at least partially due to cap purposes).
Goodness, there has even been some consideration of a Kirk Cousins move, one aimed at resurrecting the quarterback spot midseason. He, too, is leading a 3-4 football team. The difference there is they just lost to the hapless Dolphins, getting throttled 34-10. In fact, Cousins got the start in that one, but he ended up going 21/31 for 173 yards and zero touchdowns.
Hovering above all of this is the impending J.J. McCarthy move.
The Vikings getting the QB1 back onto the field is good news. The issue, of course, is that it’s hard to know how he’ll play. He’s a mystery box, meaning he could be a brand new car or a pile of … not good football.
Carson Wentz — God bless him for his grit, compete, and toughness — isn’t good enough to be a weekly starter. J.J. McCarthy is no guarantee, but at least there’s upside and potential in his 22-year-old arm.
First up for the sophomore is a Week 9 road battle versus the Lions. Climbing up the NFC North, no matter how unlikely it appears at present, becomes a whole lot more plausible if Minnesota can start winning the head-to-head games.
So, no time like the present. Get up to 4-4 while dropping Detroit down to 5-3.
The Bears visit U.S. Bank Stadium in Week 11. The Week 16 game features the Lions coming to the Bank.
And then there’s the Packers. Overcoming the Packers a pair of times would be a huge boost for Kevin O’Connell, J.J. McCarthy, and the rest of the crew. The first chance arrives in Week 12 at Lambeau. To finish off the season, there’s the Week 18 Packers showdown in Minnesota.
Much to look forward to even if things have been proceeding poorly. Maybe, just maybe, the kid QB has some magic in him. Until we can determine if that’s the case, try not to get too discouraged by the poor 2025 season.
