All Things 2025 Minnesota Vikings In-Season Thread

[Ogie Ogilthorpe]

Brandel at Center. I mean, he's probably better than Jurgens?

 

[Spaulding!No!]

Here’s some depressing snippets for non-happy hour regarding our porous run D frim Alec Lewis’ article yesterday. If it still sux after we get Cash and Gink back, then yikes-

Veterans Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Allen must do more for Vikings defense to excel

The two free agent defensive tackles have excelled at rushing the passer, but the Vikings expect more of them against the run.

www.nytimes.com

Statistically speaking, their production is difficult to parse. They have combined for two sacks through five games, but their pressure metrics are starkly better than those of the players they replaced: Harrison Phillips and Jonathan Bullard. Run defense is an entirely different conversation. The Vikings have already allowed 15 explosive runs, according to TruMedia, which is 12 more than they’d given up through five games last season.


Minnesota’s run defense ranks 23rd in the NFL in DVOA, a mark that accounts for strength of schedule. Here is where the team stacks up versus the previous two seasons under Flores:

Vikings run game per year

2023	5.4	58.6%	3.8
2024	12.2	62.8%	4.1
2025	0.5	55.1%	4.3

Few defenses are going to excel against Bijan Robinson, who shredded the Vikings for 143 yards in Week 2. More concerning was Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell’s 99-yard outing in Dublin.

When it comes to the assessments of Hargrave and Allen, their influence on opposing quarterbacks is undeniable. They have combined for 24 pressures through five games; Phillips and Bullard totaled 22 in all of last season. Minnesota’s average time to pressure is significant, too. The Vikings rank No. 1 in the NFL in quickest time to pressure at 2.33 seconds, which explains why their previous two opponents designed game plans to get rid of the ball more quickly.

I remember when I was the only gink in the wilderness. Happy to have you onboard.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I remember when I was the only gink in the wilderness. Happy to have you onboard.

Aye aye, El Captain

 

[GopherGrit]

Understood, but whether it was directed at me or not your comments appeared as quite a non sequitur as I do not recall anyone at anytime indicating remotely that the Vikes win against the Bengals did not count.

Additionally, any negative critiques on KOC have been rather few and far between. Maybe there's a zealot here or there during the game making a comment which is usually easily dismissed.

There were posts in this thread about any QB could have won against the Bengals -- obviously proven not true now -- as well as that KOC was calling bad plays and that's why McCarthy did so poorly.

 

[GopherGrit]

just a general comment, the bengals are, statistically, the worst defensive team in football (DVOA).

Part of box score looking is it also entirely ignores the game flow and what's happening on a down by down standpoint. The Steelers ran the ball for 7.4 yards/carry (despite only a long of 37) and averaged more yards a run than yards per passing attempt (which is challenging to do in modern football with all the protections for the passing game). The first pick entirely changed how the game went (and was a completely boneheaded choice and terrible throw into double coverage). 2nd one is a great interception. But both of the picks you go from leading and having the ball to now you're down 7 and the other team gets the ball coming out of the half.

it was an awful team loss from the steelers to a bad bengals team. Over the last 25 years, 65% of games are decided by 13 or less. Losing by 13 where you scored with 3 min left in garbage time really means nothing. They were down 28-3 going into the 4th quarter and have also lost by 38 and 25 this year.

In any regard, don't think the Bengals or the Steelers are very good and would take the Vikes to beat them both with each team having their full roster. If the Vikes miss the playoffs, that Steelers game with basically no one on the OL was a killer.

Rodgers won the game in the 2nd half for the Steelers. Looked quite good. Their D lost the game. I don't think anyone can deny that.

Well anyway, carry on

 

[GopherGrit]

Brandel at Center. I mean, he's probably better than Jurgens?

I don't see why Brandel shouldn't be the starting center the rest of the season, with Kelly obviously out the rest of the year and needing to retire.

He started for us last year. Just got beat out at guard, but I like him at center better than Jurgens

 

[Just Gopher It!!]

I don't see why Brandel shouldn't be the starting center the rest of the season, with Kelly obviously out the rest of the year and needing to retire.

He started for us last year. Just got beat out at guard, but I like him at center better than Jurgens

One of the articles I read, said they always thought he could be a good center and that he’s performed well at center thus far.

 

[Ope3]

There were posts in this thread about any QB could have won against the Bengals -- obviously proven not true now -- as well as that KOC was calling bad plays and that's why McCarthy did so poorly.

You're right, ARodg couldn't beat the Bengals.

 

[Slim Tubby]

Cashman was removed from IR and expected to start tomorrow.

 

[howeda7]

McCarthy Out till November?

The logic in the article from Heavy makes sense to me FWIW-

——————-

Vikings, JJ McCarthy Injury Update Pushes Return to Next Month

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy's injury timeline took another hit as it appears he is unlikely to be cleared for several more weeks.

heavy.com

The goalposts continue to move for J.J. McCarthy‘s return for the Minnesota Vikings.

Coming off the bye week, McCarthy made his return to practice after missing three games due to a high ankle sprain he suffered in Week 2. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has maintained that McCarthy must practice for a full week before he returns to action.

McCarthy’s participation in practice hasn’t offered much optimism. McCarthy has been listed as limited in practice while Carson Wentz, ailing from a shoulder injury he sustained in Week 5, has been a full participant.

All signs point to Wentz playing this week against the Philadelphia Eagles, but it’s continuing to trend that waiting for McCarthy could stretch into November.

KSTP’s Darren Wolfson reported on October 16 that he “can’t imagine” McCarthy plays on a short week of practice for a matchup against the Los Angeles Chargerson “Thursday Night Football” next week by virtue of O’Connell wanting McCarthy to get a full week of practice to prepare for his return.

If that’s the case, McCarthy’s return would be pushed back to a November 2 matchup with the Detroit Lions — seven weeks removed from when he injured his ankle.

McCarthy said in his Wednesday news conference that he received second opinions on the ankle injury, and his ankle would require four to six weeks to fully heal.

“It’s getting there, I wouldn’t say it’s 100% but we’re striving every day to get there as fast as possible,” McCarthy said in his Wednesday news conference.

I'm surprised they didn't go with "Former 1st round pick gets devastating news"....