All Things 2025 Minnesota Vikings In-Season Thread

The folks who want to butcher the FO for a few mid-round draft picks that haven't developed as fast as they want don't seem to want to give any credit for pickups like I. Rodgers, Eric Wilson; or finds like Jalen Redmond.
This is where you lose me, Ogee. Good GM's use the Draft as their primary source for replenishing young, proven, inexpensive talent on the roster and then go out and supplement that by hopefully identifying a handful of UDFA's to help fill in the cracks.

I'm not going to ignore the fact that KAM has shit the bed in the Draft and wasted/traded away picks just because he found some undrafted gems. Every single team has UDFA's that contribute.

We both ridiculed the Bears for their hiring of Ryan Poles and let's face the facts, his overall results have been FAR better than KAM's and that even includes a QB that neither of us still believe will ever be a Top 10 guy in the NFL.
 

Please provide the source for the $30 million in 2025. Even if correct, a $24 million haircut is rather substantial.
I've done the math before. You don't agree. Fine. The Twins are on almost all the same regular TV services in 2025 that they were in 2023 and 2024. They didn't give it away for free.

$24 million is still a lot of revenue to lose. It justifies a $15 million or so cut in payroll. It doesn't justify the $60 million under 2023 they are currently at and looking to go even lower.

The Pohlad's might currently be the worst owners in all of sports and putting them on par with the Wilf's is laughable.
 
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This is where you lose me, Ogee. Good GM's use the Draft as their primary source for replenishing young, proven, inexpensive talent on the roster and then go out and supplement that by hopefully identifying a handful of UDFA's to help fill in the cracks.

I'm not going to ignore the fact that KAM has shit the bed in the Draft and wasted/traded away picks just because he found some undrafted gems. Every single team has UDFA's that contribute.

The last several first round picks were Jordan Addison, Dallas Turner, JJM, and Donovan Jackson. Turner and Jackson are clearly going to be solid players, foundational players and we don't know about JJM yet. I can point to a number of teams that have missed on far more draft picks, particularly 1st rounders.

We both ridiculed the Bears for their hiring of Ryan Poles and let's face the facts, his overall results have been FAR better than KAM's and that even includes a QB that neither of us still believe will ever be a Top 10 guy in the NFL.

This is just ridiculous. The Bears have been the cellar of the NFC North for Poles' entire time in Chicago, outside of the last two months. You want to christen Poles for a good two months but 2 out of 4 seasons the Vikings won 13 games? You can't be serious.

Poles is a dumpster fire, still is. He hit on what is turning out to be more than likely a great coach. Poles ending up with the #1 overall pick for Williams was pure dumbass luck, in that the Panthers picked Bryce Young #1 and had a horribly shitty year, handing the Bears that #1 pick. If the Bears had the Texans pick rather than the Bears (it was #1 and #2), they would have drafted 27th instead of #1 overall.

Poles trading serious capital for players like Claypool and Montez Sweat was just plain egregious. GM malpractice. He botched the Justin Fields situation, where he could have likely gotten much more in value by moving on from Fields earlier. Giving up the #9 pick in 2023 (where the Eagles drafted Jalen Carter) to move down to pick OT Darnell Wright, who has been marginal at best.
 

Speaking of Fields, if the next 6 games don't go better, can/should the Vikings trade JJ for like a 3rd round pick if they still can?
 

The last several first round picks were Jordan Addison, Dallas Turner, JJM, and Donovan Jackson. Turner and Jackson are clearly going to be solid players, foundational players and we don't know about JJM yet. I can point to a number of teams that have missed on far more draft picks, particularly 1st rounders.



This is just ridiculous. The Bears have been the cellar of the NFC North for Poles' entire time in Chicago, outside of the last two months. You want to christen Poles for a good two months but 2 out of 4 seasons the Vikings won 13 games? You can't be serious.

Poles is a dumpster fire, still is. He hit on what is turning out to be more than likely a great coach. Poles ending up with the #1 overall pick for Williams was pure dumbass luck, in that the Panthers picked Bryce Young #1 and had a horribly shitty year, handing the Bears that #1 pick. If the Bears had the Texans pick rather than the Bears (it was #1 and #2), they would have drafted 27th instead of #1 overall.

Poles trading serious capital for players like Claypool and Montez Sweat was just plain egregious. GM malpractice. He botched the Justin Fields situation, where he could have likely gotten much more in value by moving on from Fields earlier. Giving up the #9 pick in 2023 (where the Eagles drafted Jalen Carter) to move down to pick OT Darnell Wright, who has been marginal at best.
I agree on the recent 1st rounders but great teams, that can sustain, are built on hitting those 3rd, 4th and 5th rounders. While I agree that Kwesi isn't going to be fired, his overall record on mid round picks is so so at best.
 



The last several first round picks were Jordan Addison, Dallas Turner, JJM, and Donovan Jackson. Turner and Jackson are clearly going to be solid players, foundational players and we don't know about JJM yet. I can point to a number of teams that have missed on far more draft picks, particularly 1st rounders.



This is just ridiculous. The Bears have been the cellar of the NFC North for Poles' entire time in Chicago, outside of the last two months. You want to christen Poles for a good two months but 2 out of 4 seasons the Vikings won 13 games? You can't be serious.

Poles is a dumpster fire, still is. He hit on what is turning out to be more than likely a great coach. Poles ending up with the #1 overall pick for Williams was pure dumbass luck, in that the Panthers picked Bryce Young #1 and had a horribly shitty year, handing the Bears that #1 pick. If the Bears had the Texans pick rather than the Bears (it was #1 and #2), they would have drafted 27th instead of #1 overall.

Poles trading serious capital for players like Claypool and Montez Sweat was just plain egregious. GM malpractice. He botched the Justin Fields situation, where he could have likely gotten much more in value by moving on from Fields earlier. Giving up the #9 pick in 2023 (where the Eagles drafted Jalen Carter) to move down to pick OT Darnell Wright, who has been marginal at best.
Let's compare the last few Drafts for the Vikings and Bears:

Chicago Bears

2025

Colston Loveland (TE) - Starter
Luther Burden (WR) - Starter
Ozzy Trapilo (LT) - Starter
Ruben Hyppolite (LB) - Starter
Kyle Monangai (RB) - Starter
Zah Frazier (CB) - IR
Shemar Turner (DL) - IR

2024
Caleb Williams (QB) - Starter
Rome Odunze (WR) - Starter
Kiran Amegadjie (OG) - Starter
Tory Taylor (P) - Starter
Austin Booker (DE) - Starter

Minnesota Vikings

2025

Donovan Jackson (OG) - Starter
Tai Felton (WR) - Reserve
Tyrion Ingram- Dawkins (DL) - Reserve
Kobe King (LB) - Waived
Gavin Bartholomew (TE) - Waived

2024
JJ McCarthy (QB) - Starter
Dallas Turner (Edge) - Starter
Khyree Jackson (CB) - Waived
Walter Rouse (OT) - Reserve
Will Reichard (K) - Starter
Michael Jurgens (C) - Reserve
Levi Drake-Rodriguez (DT) - Reserve

2023
Jordan Addison (WR) - Starter
Mekhi Blackmon (CB) - Traded for 6th
Jay Ward (S) - Reserve
Jaquelin Roy (DT) - Waived
Jaren Hall (QB) - Waived
DeWayne McBride (RB) - Waived

2022
Lewis Cine (S) - Waived
Andrew Booth (CB) - Waived
Ed Ingram (OG) - Traded for 6th
Brian Asamoah (LB) - Waived
Jalen Nailor (WR) - Reserve
Nick Muse (TE) - Waived
Esezi Otomewo (DT) - Waived
Ty Chandler (RB) - Reserve
Verdarion Lowe (OG) - Waived

In the last two (2) years, the Bears have drafted 10 Starters on their current roster. In the last four (4) years, the Vikings have drafted a total of five (5) Starters including what appears to be a bust "franchise" QB.

You can try to spin this or deny the results as much as you want. There simply is no denying that Poles has the Bears in much better shape for 2025 and beyond compared to the disaster that's been our very own KAM.

Will KAM get fired after the season? No clue. Should he get fired based on merit? Undeniably so.
 
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Let's compare the last few Drafts for the Vikings and Bears:

Chicago Bears

2025

Colstan Loveland (TE) - Starter
Luther Burden (WR) - Starter
Ozzy Trapilo (LT) - Starter
Ruben Hyppolite (LB) - Starter
Kyle Monangai (RB) - Starter
Zah Frazier (CB) - IR
Shemar Turner (DL) - IR

2024
Caleb Williams (QB) - Starter
Rome Odunze (WR) - Starter
Kiran Amegadjie (OG) - Starter
Tory Taylor (P) - Starter
Austin Booker (DE) - Starter

Minnesota Vikings

2025

Donovan Jackson (OG) - Starter
Tai Felton (WR) - Reserve
Tyrion Ingram- Dawkins (DL) - Reserve
Kobe King (LB) - Waived
Gavin Bartholomew (TE) - Waived

2024
JJ McCarthy (QB) - Starter
Dallas Turner (Edge) - Starter
Khyree Jackson (CB) - Waived
Walter Rouse (OT) - Reserve
Will Reichard (K) - Starter
Michael Jurgens (C) - Reserve
Levi Drake-Rodriguez (DT) - Reserve

2023
Jordan Addison (WR) - Starter
Mekhi Blackmon (CB) - Traded for 6th
Jay Ward (S) - Reserve
Jaquelin Roy (DT) - Waived
Jaren Hall (QB) - Waived
DeWayne McBride (RB) - Waived

2022
Lewis Cine (S) - Waived
Andrew Booth (CB) - Waived
Ed Ingram (OG) - Traded for 6th
Brian Asamoah (LB) - Waived
Jalen Nailor (WR) - Reserve
Nick Muse (TE) - Waived
Esezi Otomewo (DT) - Waived
Ty Chandler (RB) - Reserve
Verdarion Lowe (OG) - Waived

In the last two (2) years, the Bears have drafted 10 Starters on their current roster. In the last four (4) years, the Vikings have drafted a total of five (5) Starters including what appears to be a bust "franchise" QB.

You can try to spin this or deny the results as much as you want. There simply is no denying that Poles has the Bears in much better shape for 2025 and beyond compared to the disaster that's been our very own KAM.

Will KAM get fired after the season? No clue. Should he get fired based on merit? Undeniably so.
I think KAM needs to go. I can't even think of a reasonable argument that he has done an adequate job.
 

I was always hopeful for Bryce Young. I'm still not certain that he can be a top 10 QB, but he's certainly shown he can win games.
Yup, gad he’s succeeding and seems like a good dude.

Do we just need JJ to be serviceable and not a Top 10 guy to have a chance?

As has been discussed correctly, we need to be a consistent running team and can’t just bail on it because the first 6 attempts only yielded 12 yards.

I was yelling to run the ball on 4 & 1, and if you really want to pass it do a play action and slip Oliver behind a LB; giving Max a run pass option on the edge is crazy, when speed isn’t his game.

Good on him for playing some good football. I had the Panthers on a futures bet for Over 7.5 Wins and the big win last Sunday gave them 7 Sunday. I'm feeling better about that now!!
Good bet- hope it cashes
The next 3 games are against teams with NOT good defenses. They should be get-right games,
That’s what I’m hoping for and that JJ get enough yardage to have the record for most receiving yards in the first six seasons- take the sting out a little.

although Dallas is really playing well lately and is looking at a real possibility of making the playoffs.
Hope not, my buddy from Dallas won’t shut up then.
I know one thing; with Darrisaw, D. Jackson, R. Kelly, and Brandel all still on the Injury Report, nothing good is likely to happen for this QB and this offense without getting some combination of those guys back on the field.
I wonder how our OL injuries we’ve had, games missed thus far, compare to an average season for a team - that’s a good column for Lewis.
 



I think KAM needs to go. I can't even think of a reasonable argument that he has done an adequate job.
It's mind-blowing to me that anyone would want KAM to be in charge of yet another Draft where we have a potential Top 10 pick and four (4) total selections in the first three (3) Rounds (currently 11, 41, 72 & 97).

The projected 2026 Salary Cap has the Vikings at -$35M which is 30th in the league ahead of only KC and DAL. Significant cuts will need to be made just to get below the Cap. The 2026 Draft will be crucial for the Vikings because adding talent in FA will be impossible.

And we still have no franchise QB.
 


Let's compare the last few Drafts for the Vikings and Bears:

Chicago Bears

2025

Colston Loveland (TE) - Starter
Luther Burden (WR) - Starter
Ozzy Trapilo (LT) - Starter
Ruben Hyppolite (LB) - Starter
Kyle Monangai (RB) - Starter
Zah Frazier (CB) - IR
Shemar Turner (DL) - IR

2024
Caleb Williams (QB) - Starter
Rome Odunze (WR) - Starter
Kiran Amegadjie (OG) - Starter
Tory Taylor (P) - Starter
Austin Booker (DE) - Starter

Minnesota Vikings

2025

Donovan Jackson (OG) - Starter
Tai Felton (WR) - Reserve
Tyrion Ingram- Dawkins (DL) - Reserve
Kobe King (LB) - Waived
Gavin Bartholomew (TE) - Waived

2024
JJ McCarthy (QB) - Starter
Dallas Turner (Edge) - Starter
Khyree Jackson (CB) - Waived
Walter Rouse (OT) - Reserve
Will Reichard (K) - Starter
Michael Jurgens (C) - Reserve
Levi Drake-Rodriguez (DT) - Reserve

2023
Jordan Addison (WR) - Starter
Mekhi Blackmon (CB) - Traded for 6th
Jay Ward (S) - Reserve
Jaquelin Roy (DT) - Waived
Jaren Hall (QB) - Waived
DeWayne McBride (RB) - Waived

2022
Lewis Cine (S) - Waived
Andrew Booth (CB) - Waived
Ed Ingram (OG) - Traded for 6th
Brian Asamoah (LB) - Waived
Jalen Nailor (WR) - Reserve
Nick Muse (TE) - Waived
Esezi Otomewo (DT) - Waived
Ty Chandler (RB) - Reserve
Verdarion Lowe (OG) - Waived

In the last two (2) years, the Bears have drafted 10 Starters on their current roster. In the last four (4) years, the Vikings have drafted a total of five (5) Starters including what appears to be a bust "franchise" QB.

You can try to spin this or deny the results as much as you want. There simply is no denying that Poles has the Bears in much better shape for 2025 and beyond compared to the disaster that's been our very own KAM.

Will KAM get fired after the season? No clue. Should he get fired based on merit? Undeniably so.

I get your point but you're not exactly talking about an apples to apples comparison. The Vikings in two of those years were coming off 12+ win seasons, not a shitload of holes to fill. All those Bears picks, almost all of them, were significantly higher than the Vikings picks, and they were starters out of necessity.

It's not Ingram-Dawkins fault he's playing behind a couple of major FA signings; it's not Tai Felton's fault he's playing behind JJ, Addison and Nailor; it's not Rouse's fault he's playing behind two really good OT starters in O'Neill and Darrisaw.

But for argument's sake, I'll concede that KAM has not drafted well. In light of that, the draft is not the only job of the GM. His job is to assemble a competitive roster within the confines of the cap. His first job, mandated by EVERYONE, was to get the Vikings free of Cousins and that dead weight contract. He did that, and they still won 14 games with a resurrection QB.

They had to ditch a lot of other big dollar bad contracts left over by the Spielman regime as well. The roster cleaning they had to do was extensive.

You can say Poles drafted well, but he's been a dumpster fire in other areas where KAM has been better. KAM didn't give up the 32nd pick in the draft for a WR that barely played for the team (Claypool); KAM didn't give up the 33rd (I think?) pick in the draft for a pass rusher in Montez Sweat that they could have just signed in Free Agency for nothing, and then gave him $100M for a guy who can't notch double digit sacks.

The Vikings' record this year is largely because Kelly, Fries, Jackson, O'Neill, and Darrisaw can't manage to get on the field together at the same time. It's not much more complicated than that.
 

It's mind-blowing to me that anyone would want KAM to be in charge of yet another Draft where we have a potential Top 10 pick and four (4) total selections in the first three (3) Rounds (currently 11, 41, 72 & 97).

The projected 2026 Salary Cap has the Vikings at -$35M which is 30th in the league ahead of only KC and DAL. Significant cuts will need to be made just to get below the Cap. The 2026 Draft will be crucial for the Vikings because adding talent in FA will be impossible.

And we still have no franchise QB.

I do have to throw this question out there; at what point do we have to ask why the coaching staff isn't developing players? It's entirely the GM's fault for a player that is drafted and doesn't actually develop and improve?

Shouldn't we be asking those questions?
 



I do have to throw this question out there; at what point do we have to ask why the coaching staff isn't developing players? It's entirely the GM's fault for a player that is drafted and doesn't actually develop and improve?

Shouldn't we be asking those questions?
It's a very fair question. Ingram, Bradbury and Lowe have all been more productive players since getting dumped by the Vikings.

Like I mentioned before, I'm not giving a free pass to anyone involved with our 2025 season and our dismal prospects for next season. We could very easily be in the NFC North basement for the next 3-4 years.
 

Speaking of Fields, if the next 6 games don't go better, can/should the Vikings trade JJ for like a 3rd round pick if they still can?
I would say no. I think it's stupid to give up on him that quickly no matter how bad he has looked. Unless there's things behind the scenes that are also concerning.
 

I would say no. I think it's stupid to give up on him that quickly no matter how bad he has looked. Unless there's things behind the scenes that are also concerning.

Hopefully JJM plays all of the remaining 5 games. Play well in even 2 of them and most reasonable people will have some hope moving into next season. I think he'll show enough between now and the end of the season to do that.

But it's not happening if he's playing the rest of the season behind an OL consisting of the likes of Jurgens, Skule, et al. The guys that are getting paid to play need to play. Period.
 

I would say no. I think it's stupid to give up on him that quickly no matter how bad he has looked. Unless there's things behind the scenes that are also concerning.
Agreed. I'd be stunned if they got better than a 5th Round Pick for JJM at this point. We're better off holding on to him in hopes of a miracle that something eventually clicks for him.
 

Agreed. I'd be stunned if they got better than a 5th Round Pick for JJM at this point. We're better off holding on to him in hopes of a miracle that something eventually clicks for him.
We have to remember he is still only 22 years old. Obviously this year is concerning but it's not uncommon for QBs to struggle initially.
 

We have to remember he is still only 22 years old. Obviously this year is concerning but it's not uncommon for QBs to struggle initially.

The change in his mechanics, particularly the footwork, is clearly not where they wanted it to be by now. I'm sure it's taking more to coach the old habits out of him than anyone expected.

It's like working on swing changes on the range. My old buddy and sometimes golf teacher used to always say, "But can you take it to the course?". Clearly, whatever they are working on in practice and is going well on Wed and Thur, isn't always being taken to the field on Sunday.
 

Agreed. I'd be stunned if they got better than a 5th Round Pick for JJM at this point. We're better off holding on to him in hopes of a miracle that something eventually clicks for him.
If that's all he can net, probably. But struggling is one thing. Struggling worse than anyone in 25 years not named JaMarcus Russel is another.
 


I get your point but you're not exactly talking about an apples to apples comparison. The Vikings in two of those years were coming off 12+ win seasons, not a shitload of holes to fill. All those Bears picks, almost all of them, were significantly higher than the Vikings picks, and they were starters out of necessity.

It's not Ingram-Dawkins fault he's playing behind a couple of major FA signings; it's not Tai Felton's fault he's playing behind JJ, Addison and Nailor; it's not Rouse's fault he's playing behind two really good OT starters in O'Neill and Darrisaw.

But for argument's sake, I'll concede that KAM has not drafted well. In light of that, the draft is not the only job of the GM. His job is to assemble a competitive roster within the confines of the cap. His first job, mandated by EVERYONE, was to get the Vikings free of Cousins and that dead weight contract. He did that, and they still won 14 games with a resurrection QB.

They had to ditch a lot of other big dollar bad contracts left over by the Spielman regime as well. The roster cleaning they had to do was extensive.

You can say Poles drafted well, but he's been a dumpster fire in other areas where KAM has been better. KAM didn't give up the 32nd pick in the draft for a WR that barely played for the team (Claypool); KAM didn't give up the 33rd (I think?) pick in the draft for a pass rusher in Montez Sweat that they could have just signed in Free Agency for nothing, and then gave him $100M for a guy who can't notch double digit sacks.

The Vikings' record this year is largely because Kelly, Fries, Jackson, O'Neill, and Darrisaw can't manage to get on the field together at the same time. It's not much more complicated than that.
Just a random point on guys not starting but… then why the fuck did you draft those guys when we have glaringly obvious holes and lack of depth? The Felton pick is super mind boggling to me when you’re supposedly a win now team to take a developmental wr to play as the at very best 3rd wr and then they doubly made it worse trading to get Thielen

KAM has had some good hits but some major major misses. Whether the choice to let Darnold and jones walk was him or he took advice from whoever, it’s his call to only have what we did on the roster and is on him for not addressing the OL with depth behind injury prone players and guy coming off a major knee injury.

I don’t think he gets canned, but it would be reasonable to do so and that’s really all that matters, comparison to Poles notwithstanding
 

It's a very fair question. Ingram, Bradbury and Lowe have all been more productive players since getting dumped by the Vikings.

Like I mentioned before, I'm not giving a free pass to anyone involved with our 2025 season and our dismal prospects for next season. We could very easily be in the NFC North basement for the next 3-4 years.

Just as the Bears are currently reaping the rewards of a last place NFC North schedule, the Vikings will enjoy that advantage next year.

No reason that with a healthy OL and improved QB play (currently ranked #32 combined) that they can not contend for a Wild Card berth in 2026.
 



I get your point but you're not exactly talking about an apples to apples comparison. The Vikings in two of those years were coming off 12+ win seasons, not a shitload of holes to fill. All those Bears picks, almost all of them, were significantly higher than the Vikings picks, and they were starters out of necessity.

It's not Ingram-Dawkins fault he's playing behind a couple of major FA signings; it's not Tai Felton's fault he's playing behind JJ, Addison and Nailor; it's not Rouse's fault he's playing behind two really good OT starters in O'Neill and Darrisaw.

But for argument's sake, I'll concede that KAM has not drafted well. In light of that, the draft is not the only job of the GM. His job is to assemble a competitive roster within the confines of the cap. His first job, mandated by EVERYONE, was to get the Vikings free of Cousins and that dead weight contract. He did that, and they still won 14 games with a resurrection QB.

They had to ditch a lot of other big dollar bad contracts left over by the Spielman regime as well. The roster cleaning they had to do was extensive.

You can say Poles drafted well, but he's been a dumpster fire in other areas where KAM has been better. KAM didn't give up the 32nd pick in the draft for a WR that barely played for the team (Claypool); KAM didn't give up the 33rd (I think?) pick in the draft for a pass rusher in Montez Sweat that they could have just signed in Free Agency for nothing, and then gave him $100M for a guy who can't notch double digit sacks.

The Vikings' record this year is largely because Kelly, Fries, Jackson, O'Neill, and Darrisaw can't manage to get on the field together at the same time. It's not much more complicated than that.

I don't get your completely irrational hate for Poles. He has the Bears in a much better position to compete long term than KAM has ever had the Vikings. You're also failing to account for that KAM inherited a much better roster than Poles did.

KAM did a good job of ridding the Vikings of the bad Spielman contracts. Then he just replaced them with a bunch of bad contracts. The Vikings are currently 24 million over the cap for next season. The Bears are 12 million under.

You complain about the Claypool but ignore that the Vikings spent 3rd, 4th and 5th round draft picks on Tai Felton and Adam Theilen. Sweat has 7.5 sacks this season, yet Allen and Hargrave have 5.5 combined for 81 million. The Bears can also cut Sweat in the offseason and save 17 million.

Poles also passed on Bryce Young and received 5 starters in return, 4 of those were draft picks. Kwesi has drafted 4 starters total in 4 years on this team, a kicker, a 2nd and 3rd string WR, and a QB who has looked terrible.

Just yesterday you mentioned how the Bears help Williams by actually running the ball. Just last year you were ripping the Swift signing. Swift is a better, cheaper, and younger option than Jones, and they drafted Monangai in the 7th round who is a cheaper and better option than Mason.

Pinning all of the Vikings issues on the OL is also nonsense. They knew Darrisaw was coming off of a significant knee issue. The 2 starters they let go are starters and playing well for winning teams. The two starters they brought in, Indianapolis let them walk because of injury issues, and they still have one of the best OL's in the league.

Unless McCarthy shows a pulse the rest of the way, the Vikings currently have no future for several years. The Bears have a bright future. Poles has run circles around KAM as a GM.
 

Kfan is enjoying grinding the mn fans but they could hit a tipping point. So much IU chat and Chicago/Detroit chat.
 
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Just as the Bears are currently reaping the rewards of a last place NFC North schedule, the Vikings will enjoy that advantage next year.

No reason that with a healthy OL and improved QB play (currently ranked #32 combined) that they can not contend for a Wild Card berth in 2026.
The 4th place schedule is overrated. There are 3 non-division games that are different. The 4th place teams from the 2 divisions that we don’t play, and the AFC crossover.
 

I don't get your completely irrational hate for Poles. He has the Bears in a much better position to compete long term than KAM has ever had the Vikings.

This just isn't true. The Bears have been riding a serious luck factor, and until just a few days ago, they had a negative point differential; a historically negative point differential for a team with 9 wins, something like the first time in 20+ years, something I had heard like that. The Vikings have won 13 games twice already under KAM; this Bears roster isn't doing that anytime soon.
Poles also passed on Bryce Young and received 5 starters in return, 4 of those were draft picks. Kwesi has drafted 4 starters total in 4 years on this team, a kicker, a 2nd and 3rd string WR, and a QB who has looked terrible.

They passed on Bryce Young, and CJ Stroud, because they still thought Justin Fields could be a viable NFL franchise QB; not because it was some astute evaluation on Young (or Stroud). Their handling of trying to squeeze some value out of Fields was a laughable exercise, they embarrassed themselves.

Pinning all of the Vikings issues on the OL is also nonsense. They knew Darrisaw was coming off of a significant knee issue. The 2 starters they let go are starters and playing well for winning teams. The two starters they brought in, Indianapolis let them walk because of injury issues, and they still have one of the best OL's in the league.

The two starters let go and playing well elsewhere is pretty much exactly an affirmation of what I said earlier; why isn't there being more attention given to the fact that the players that have been brought in haven't been developed and improved by the coaching staff?

I'll definitely grant you, the gamble on bringing in Fries and Kelly was a massive fail, even though every couch fan in Vikingsland was screaming for them to replace Bradbury and Ingram. Yes, this was a big fail on their part. But again, why hasn't this staff developed people like Ingram, Rouse, Jurgens, and a laundry list of other OL that have been through the building in the last handful of years?

Unless McCarthy shows a pulse the rest of the way, the Vikings currently have no future for several years.

Of course their jobs are probably hinging on how JJM does. That is 100%, and it's true of basically every NFL Front Office that has been in that situation. If the QB any Front Office fails, that usually means everyone is looking for a job. The way it's always been, and it's the way it will be with this regime.

The Bears have a bright future. Poles has run circles around KAM as a GM.

The bold is one of the dumbest things I've seen on this board in a while. If the Bears succeed, it will be because they landed one of the most highly sought after Head Coaching candidates in a long time. Poles has been a f*cking moron, almost every step of the way
 

AT leaving and the line coach not traveling to Seattle. There might be some lockerroom issues beyond towel snapping.
 




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