5 Quick Takeaways from the Vikings’ Season Finale
The Minnesota Vikings secured their fifth consecutive win to close the season. The final scoreboard in the meaningless Week 18 contest against the Green Bay Packers showed 16-3. While the game had no playoff implications, it offered clarity on several key storylines heading into the offseason.
1. Justin Jefferson Keeps Streak Alive
Standout receiver Justin Jefferson needed 53 yards to become the third player in NFL history to start his career with six straight 1,000-yard seasons, joining Mike Evans and Randy Moss. Given the struggles in the passing game all year, that was not an easy goal to reach.
J.J. McCarthy targeted him early and often, and the franchise player finished with eight catches for 101 yards — His first 100-yard day since the two games in Europe.
It’s a shame it took this long. Next year, barring a complete organizational failure or injury, Jefferson should reach that milestone with several games to go, regardless of the passer’s identity.
2. Dallas Turner Continues Emergence
It was another fantastic game for Dallas Turner, who really came along in the second half of the season. The sophomore added two sacks, six tackles, and a forced fumble to his season totals.
A first-rounder a year ago, by many already labeled as a bust, Turner has put together a strong second campaign with eight sacks, 62 tackles, four forced fumbles, and 11 tackles for loss. All it took was for him to turn 22 and get about one-and-a-half seasons under his belt.
As he’s looking like a cornerstone of the defense moving forward, Turner is a good reminder that patience is required.
3. J.J. McCarthy’s Season in a Nutshell
Speaking of patience, J.J. McCarthy’s tenth start pretty much encapsulated everything he went through this season. Early in the game, McCarthy was sharp, completing multiple passes and keeping the offense moving. He looked comfortable under center. After a run with unnecessary (but fun) contact after a scramble, he was called for a taunting penalty that pretty much ended the drive.
Maybe that moment impacted him, as he was beginning to sail passes and revert back to his excessive use of laser passes instead of putting some air under the ball. And finally, he seemed to re-injure his hand and left the game early in the second half.
His final numbers show 14 of 23 passes completed for 182 yards and another seven yards on two runs. Some good, some bad, and an injury. That’s what his entire season looked like, and it once again leaves more questions than it answered.
4. Missed Opportunity
The Vikings have a winning record, sitting on 9-8 after completing the 17-game slate. Brian Flores’ defense was absolutely playoff worthy, but the offense is undoubtedly among the worst in the league. The result of having one bad and one great unit is an average football team.
Perhaps handling a couple of positions differently in the offseason — or even during the season — could’ve been enough to reach the postseason. With an offense like the one they fielded in 2025, however, that would’ve been a quick exit anyway. Kevin O’Connell and his staff have to go to the drawing board and make some changes because nobody in the building would survive a second offensive disaster like that.
5. Goodbyes
Entering the game, it seemed as if C.J. Ham and Harrison Smith would be suiting up for a final time, and that feeling didn’t change all day. Smith received standing ovations when he was introduced and when he was subbed off late in the fourth quarter. Ham scored a touchdown as a potential parting gift drawn up by O’Connell.
Both long-time captains were emotional on the sidelines and after the game in the locker room, and it would be a surprise to see either wearing the purple (or another) uniform next season.
Brian Flores’ future, meanwhile, is undecided. His contract is up, and he is a head coaching candidate, but it’s far from guaranteed that he’ll get one of those coveted spots. His future will be the first major domino in the Vikings’ offseason.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.