NFL 2025: Where Do the Vikings Go After a Tale of Two Weeks?
We all knew deep down the Minnesota Vikings couldn’t keep getting away with this.
Their struggling offense couldn’t keep faltering, and they still hoped to win football games. On Sunday Night Football against the Atlanta Falcons, they did anything but win. The Vikings failed to score a TD, had three turnovers, and generally looked like a mess. Every time they got momentum, they swiftly sent it off a cliff.
But just last week, that same wobbly offense hiked itself up by its bootstraps and scored 21 points in the 4th quarter to defeat the Chicago Bears. So what’s the real story here? Who or what is to blame?
That’s what Vikings fans are wondering after two weeks of regular-season football. Here’s what those two weeks can tell us about what’s to come.
What went wrong in Week 2?
Short answer: the offense. Longer answer: the pass protection.
The offensive line allowed six sacks. McCarthy threw two INTs, neither of which were pretty, but he was getting hounded all night. Sure, he could speed up his internal clock, but he’s inexperienced. He needs time to breathe, and the Vikings must find that time.
It’s hard to give him that, of course, when your offensive line is rotating players like they’re speed dating. Offensive tackle Justin Skule, who was already replacing star offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw, left the game in the third quarter with a concussion (not before the Falcons’ pass rush torched him multiple times, of course). Starting center Ryan Kelly also left with a concussion in the first half. That meant two players who had never taken starting reps, tackle Walter Rouse and center Michael Jurgens, blocking for a quarterback trying desperately to find a score. As you can guess, that didn’t work.
McCarthy himself did give cause for concern. His performance was far from elite. It didn’t even warrant a “game manager” label. 158 yards, no TDs, and 2 INTs isn’t enough in the NFL. He needed to flip a switch, but couldn’t seem to find it.
The defense also wasn’t elite. The “bend-don’t-break” mentality helped them hold the Falcons to only FGs up until the 4th quarter, but they allowed Bijan Robinson to batter them with 178 all-purpose yards. Missing three quality starters (Andrew Van Ginkel, Harrison Smith, and Blake Cashman) hurt them badly.
What was different about Week 1?
Week 1 looked like it would be a similar story until J.J. McCarthy’s late-game heroics. He led the Vikings offense to 21 unanswered points in the 4th quarter and earned himself the NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
The main difference was McCarthy’s demeanor in Week 1. Even when the game turned, he kept his head up. He kept talking to his teammates. He still looked locked in. That’s the J.J. McCarthy the Vikings wanted when they drafted him.
What now?
After two weeks, it’s hard to predict how the Vikings will perform over the next few weeks. They have two straight games overseas after another home game against Cincinnati next week. Clearly, they have to focus on getting healthy and getting McCarthy back in sync.
Fans aren’t ready to give up just yet. We’re used to pain from our favorite purple people. The best thing to do is rest, reset, and let Head Coach Kevin O’Connell put the fire back in these guys’ bellies. This is still an incredible roster–they just have to show it on the field. Until then, Skol nation will wait in the shadows with cautious optimism. We’re down, but we’re not out.
In KOC we trust. Skol Vikes.