Minnesota Vikings vast receiver Justin Jefferson factors throughout the sphere after a play towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers throughout Week 18 motion at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 4, 2026, as Jefferson reacted throughout recreation highlights from the 2025 NFL season finale between the longtime NFC North rivals in a late regular-season showdown. Obligatory Credit score: YouTube.
Sportsbooks count on the Minnesota Vikings to complete in final place contained in the NFC North this season, however ESPN got here alongside this week and threw a wrench into that plan, claiming Minnesota will high the Detroit Lions, Inexperienced Bay Packers, and Chicago Bears to win the divison.
It got here as a part of a bunch of “bold predictions” from Benjamin Solak, with Minnesota profitable the NFC North for the primary time in 4 years.
Brian Flores Provides Vikings Cleanest Likelihood to Win the NFC North
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson (55) celebrates after a defensive play towards the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sep. 14, 2025, energizing the house crowd after a key first-half cease as Minnesota’s protection labored to manage tempo throughout early-season NFC motion beneath Brian Flores’ path that afternoon. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photographs.
Solak’s Daring Take
Solak unveiled 10 daring predictions on Wednesday, and the Vikings have been represented. He wrote, “The Vikings will win the NFC North. If the Vikings’ defense remains a needle-moving unit, then a functional offense could return them to their 2024 status under QB Sam Darnold. Minnesota went 14-3 that year, losing the division in Week 17 to the Lions.”
“It’s unreasonable to expect another 14 wins in a division this tough, but Kyler Murray easily has the requisite talent to improve on Minnesota’s 9-8 season in 2025. Kevin O’Connell’s aptitude for adjusting his offense to his quarterback remains one of the league’s more impressive skills. It wasn’t just the Darnold year. He did it for Joshua Dobbs as a midseason trade acquisition in 2023.”
Minnesota stumbled into Murray in March for $1.3 million when the Arizona Cardinals launched him.
“He did it for McCarthy last season, giving him far more out-breaking routes than he had given other passers. I have questions about the Vikings’ offensive line and running game, and Murray’s inconsistencies might prove too much for the offense to be truly trustworthy,” Solak continued.
“However I’m assured O’Connell will set him up for achievement, and Murray has large incomes potential on the free agent market in 2027. He’ll be motivated to carry out.’
How It Might Occur
Right here’s the simple technique to agree with Solak’s take:
The Vikings’ protection ranks second-best within the NFL since Flores arrived in 2023. The protection will probably be there, and it will likely be good. Even when the group regressed a bit with out Jonathan Greenard, who was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in April, it seemingly received’t fall out of the Prime 10.
Minnesota has the weapons: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones, and Jordan Mason. Most groups don’t have weapons of that caliber.
Final season, the Vikings wanted competent quarterback productiveness. They didn’t get it. However they nonetheless completed with a 9-8 document. A reliable Murray can drive the win complete from 9 to a minimum of 11.
And there’s O’Connell. He enters 12 months No. 5 as a head coach with zero playoff wins. To a level, he should win now or danger being placed on the recent seat.
Why It Could Not
What if Solak’s daring prognosication is fallacious, and the Vikings end nearer to the NFC North basement than the top? It is going to imply that Murray didn’t take off in Minnesota, and his teammate, J.J. McCarthy, didn’t do a lot of something, both.
The Athletic’s Senior NFL Insider Dianna Russini interviews Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell for an unique dialog in Eagan, Minnesota, on Aug. 15, 2025, discussing his Coach of the 12 months season and Minnesota’s subsequent steps as coaching camp carried heavy deal with the group’s quarterback plan beneath a nationwide highlight that summer time. Obligatory Credit score: YouTube.
The protection, too, must drop off additional than most envision. Maybe All-Professional kicker Will Reichard would lose a few of his magic on this doomsday situation.
Lacking the playoffs would principally really feel like a redo of final yr — a aggressive NFC North too robust to crack and an offense that by no means hit a groove.
That’s actually the one blueprint for non-success.
At Least Attain the Postseason
Since his arrival in 2022, O’Connell’s profitable proportion ranks among the many league’s finest. He even secured the NFL Coach of the 12 months award in 2024, and beneath his management, the Vikings have invariably carried out as a legit contender.
Minnesota has performed disciplined soccer beneath O’Connell, complemented by Flores’ powerhouse protection. In contrast to groups influenced by poor teaching, the Vikings have performed at a excessive stage.
Nevertheless, the subsequent problem is obvious: O’Connell wants a playoff win. Whereas he has confirmed able to constructing a profitable group from September to January, the benchmark has shifted to sustaining that success into January soccer.
Minnesota Vikings operating again Aaron Jones (33) fights by contact as Chicago Bears defender Dominique Robinson (90) brings him down at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Dec. 16, 2024, throughout third-quarter motion whereas Jones dealt with a heavy late-season workload and Minnesota evaluated its backfield plans for an additional pivotal offseason. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photographs.
Past that, expectations will evolve additional. Can Minnesota defeat a formidable opponent just like the Los Angeles Rams? Can O’Connell’s offense ship on such a grand stage? These questions set the stage for a compelling 2026 season. O’Connell has earned belief, however he has reached a degree the place that belief requires a January payoff.
Ought to the Vikings fail to qualify for the postseason, followers will undoubtedly be scrutinizing Black Monday for potential modifications, together with O’Connell. It’s the character of the beast.
However in response to Solak, they’ll win the division, and that’ll be that.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
