NFL 2025 Week 10: Minnesota Vikings Seek to Roll Through Ravens
After 8 weeks of wishy-washy football, the Minnesota Vikings made a statement win in Week 9.
As a fan, I’m ecstatic about the upset win against the Detroit Lions on the road. In quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s first start since his ankle injury in Week 2, the Vikings did everything that I thought they needed to do headed into this matchup. Their win showed that this team won’t go out quietly, no matter their circumstances. This roster’s aim has always been something more than just a “developmental” season for J.J. McCarthy, and their victory on Sunday showed the talking heads that this team still has real Super Bowl aspirations.
But, as the late great Kobe Bryant once said, “Job’s not finished.” At 4-4, the Vikings have a long way to go to secure a playoff spot. In Week 10, they’ll seek to channel their inner Mamba mentality in a home matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Here’s what to watch for when the Vikings go for glory on Sunday.
Keys to the Game for KOC’s Crew:
Can McCarthy Keep His Momentum?
Second-year QB J.J. McCarthy continues to be this team’s biggest story in 2025, and this week is no different. Questions were rising heading into Week 9 about how good he was, but he shut out the noise in Week 9 with a stellar performance. He had two passing TDs (which were both incredible throws and catches) and a rushing TD. He is the engine that drives the offense, for better or worse. For a man who still has little NFL experience, how he continues to handle the pressure of do-or-die games for the Vikings is certainly something to keep an eye on.
Can the Defense Handle a Daunting Rush Attack?
Even though they allowed 24 points, the Vikings' defense had one of its better performances of the season in Week 9. They tallied five sacks, forced a fumble, and blocked a field goal to keep the Lions at bay. Best of all, they seemed to play a complete game on both fronts–they allowed only 240 passing yards and bottled up the dynamic Lions’ backfield to allow just 65 rushing yards.
But if anyone has a scarier backfield than Detroit, it’s the Ravens. Former MVP QB Lamar Jackson is back from injury, and RB Derrick Henry is still a beast ready to burst through arm tackles. The Ravens are 3-5, but they’re still dangerous. The Vikings will have to commit to the run more than ever this week against a team that’s 28th in passing yards per game but 6th in rushing yards per game. A QB spy is a must in almost any package they put into play, and Brian Flores will need to preach quality tackling form to keep Jackson and Henry from breaking in another highlight reel.
Time to Cage the Ravens
The NFC North Division is back within reach. A win against the Ravens can keep the Vikings from dipping back under .500, and getting another win will build momentum headed into plenty of tough divisional matchups that lie ahead. The Vikings found a way to give me and other fans hope again. If they’re going to maintain that hope, though, they must win this matchup at home.
The good news? ESPN gives the Vikings just a 38.4% chance to beat the Ravens, placing the Vikings in the same underdog spot they had in Week 9. That’s right where they want to be. If this team stays hungry, they’ll feed on each other’s energy and grab more unlikely wins. Let’s see if they can prove the doubters wrong once again this Sunday.