All Things 2025 Minnesota Vikings Off-Season Thread

[Ogie Ogilthorpe]

Some interesting schedule nuances I heard today while listening to one of the gambling podcasts I listen to sometimes. Most of these are NFC North related, but the first one is not and pretty jarring really;

Cincinnati plays a road game at Baltimore, on a Thursday night, for the third straight year. Baltimore has gone to Cincinnati ONE time in the last 19 years to play a Thursday night. And to top that off, Baltimore is 9-0 in recent Thursday night HOME games but they are 2-7 in Thursday night ROAD games over that span. Ridiculous

Detroit, who I would have been down on a Lot this year after losing both OC and DC, gets some ridiculous scheduling advantages compared to other NFC North teams.

Detroit has EIGHT games this season where they have a Rest advantage over their opponents. That has never happened in NFL history, no team has ever had more than SIX games with a rest advantage. And they play only ONE game where they have a rest Disadvantage; meaning they have a net +7 games with a rest advantage.

Detroit also plays FIVE games against opponents coming off a MNF game short week.

This is in stark contrast against all 3 other NFC North teams. No other team in the division has more than FOUR games with a rest edge. The Bears only have TWO game with a rest advantage, while they have FIVE games with a rest disadvantage. That's a TEN GAME differential between the Bears and Lions. Outside of the Lions net +7 differential in games with a rest advantage, no other NFC North team has better than a net ZERO

 

[GopherGrit]

You're not alone, GII. The current format greatly devalues the importance of a team's performance outside their Division. Replace CHI with LAR in the NFC North and the Rams finish last in our Division IMO.

I understand the need to acknowledge a Division winner. I get it...but it also undermines the relevancy of performing well throughout the entire regular season while completely disregarding the strength of each Division.

Nothing wrong with anything you said here.

I still disagree. I like having each division winner get you something. Otherwise, there's no point in having divisions at all (other than as scheduling pods).

 

[Slim Tubby]

I disagree with this. The Vikings, Lions & Packers in 2024 it can be argued bolstered their overall record because their Cross Over Divisions (AFC East & NFC South) were really weak.

Plus the Bears stunk, going 1-5 Intra-Division.

Or maybe the AFC East and NFC South had weaker records because they had to play the NFC North.

It's an interesting discussion for both sides of the argument.

 

[Ope3]

Or maybe the AFC East and NFC South had weaker records because they had to play the NFC North.

It's an interesting discussion for both sides of the argument.

That is possible.

On the other hand the NFC North went 0-3 in the Playoffs losing at Home, on the Road and in a Neutral Site Game.

I lean towards the NFC North having been Paper Tigers.

 

[Ope3]

Or maybe the AFC East and NFC South had weaker records because they had to play the NFC North.

It's an interesting discussion for both sides of the argument.

Also I updated my original comment. NFC North played the AFC South not the AFC East, as I originally posted. I mixed it up because the extra game the Vikings played the Jets and Lions played the Bills.

Apologies.

However, that Division was even worse.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Nothing wrong with anything you said here.

I still disagree. I like having each division winner get you something. Otherwise, there's no point in having divisions at all (other than as scheduling pods).

Winning the division still would get you into the playoffs automatically. Probably doesn’t come into play as much with so many playoff teams though. It has happened in the past where a team only made the playoffs because they won their division.

 

[Slim Tubby]

Also I updated my original comment. NFC North played the AFC South not the AFC East, as I originally posted. I mixed it up because the extra game the Vikings played the Jets and Lions played the Bill.

Apologies.

However, that Division was even worse.

I didn't recall us playing the Bills last year. That's the last time I trust your content.

 

[Ope3]

I didn't recall us playing the Bills last year. That's the last time I trust your content.

I blame the 17 Game schedule! Though I claim partial credit, every team in the NFC North did play 1 game against the AFC East.

 

[GopherGrit]

Winning the division still would get you into the playoffs automatically. Probably doesn’t come into play as much with so many playoff teams though. It has happened in the past where a team only made the playoffs because they won their division.

That's fair.

I guess I look at it like this (admittedly a very small and biased viewpoint):
- Vikings in 2022 won the division at 13-4, hosted the 9-7-1 Giants, and biffed it
- Vikings in 2024 did not win the division at 14-3, did not get to host, had to go out to 10-7 LA Rams, and biffed it.

So, all in all, I still prefer that division winners get to host.


While completely unrelated, I saw today that the College CFP will get rid of the top 4 seeds having to be conf champs and will just do straight seeding (ie. whomever the best 4 teams in college football this fall are, will be the four 2nd round hosts as the top four seeds).

 

[Ope3]

While completely unrelated, I saw today that the College CFP will get rid of the top 4 seeds having to be conf champs and will just do straight seeding (ie. whomever the best 4 teams in college football this fall are, will be the four 2nd round hosts as the top four seeds).

You sure? Won't the Top 4 get Byes and go straight to NYD Bowls/Quarters (which is the 2nd Round).

 

[GopherGrit]

You sure? Won't the Top 4 get Byes and go straight to NYD Bowls/Quarters (which is the 2nd Round).

Your wording is much more accurate. Not sure why I used the word host. As you said the quarters/2nd round are at bowl games. So yes, just the first round byes will go to the best four teams in the CFP rankings rather than the four highest ranked conference champions.

 

[gophersfan]

 

[GophersInIowa]

NFC North news

 

[Slim Tubby]

NFC North news

Whoa...that's a big and unexpected loss for them.

 

[Ogie Ogilthorpe]

NFC North news

Whoa...that's a big and unexpected loss for them.

Holy shit. That is not a small blow. Between losing both OC and DC, losing both Ragnow and Zeitler from the Interior OL, losing Z'Darious Smith and Carlton Davis from defense, those are some major holes to fill. Despite winning the division last year, Detroit actually has a fairly favorable schedule, which is my only hesitation.

I like the Vikings number to win the division; I got it at +475 about a month ago, I'm now seeing it at +450. I'm tempted to hit it again.

Right now, I'm seeing:

Detroit - +120
Packers - +275
Chicago - +450
Vikings - +450

Yes, there is no sure thing about JJM, but I think considering the other 10 players starting on offense, the Vikings have the strongest unit in the division. And I think the upgrades on defense for the Vikings are substantial.

 

[Spaulding!No!]

P.A. Is off the rails saying Gink. I feel bad for mentioning it to him