Daily Norseman
We’re finally here! Competitive Vikings football. With the first preseason game in the books, that means it’s time for some overreactions and panic (or not?!?). My love of the NFL dates to the mid-1980s. Over the past 40 years, I’ve even picked up some things. Shocking. Two thoughts come to mind.
First, championships aren’t won in March. Free agency moves can often create a mirage and serve as an all-you-can-eat buffet for fans’ starving bias – one that constantly needs to be satiated. For every home-run 2024 class, there are a dozen that don’t move the needle as much as hoped.
Second, the preseason record (obviously) has no bearing on regular-season success. See: 2008 Detroit Lions. That goes without saying. However, in terms of the roster and accompanying depth chart, while surprises happen, it’s often quite challenging to dislodge established veteran depth, let alone starters. This is due to a variety of factors: experience, draft position, financial commitment, etc. Youmust earn it. Let’s call it Kyle Sloter Syndrome. You can get enamored with the preseason game “wow factor,” often against vanilla defenses, but that doesn’t mean it’s translating into practice reps, the film room, playbook knowledge, schematic nuances, blocking calls/assignments, special teams considerations (if any), etc. Again, it occurs (more on that momentarily), but the excitement is often found in seeing who we can sneak onto the practice squad for ongoing in-house development.
The Vikings are in a unique situation with a Top 10-drafted QBOTF in J.J. McCarthy as a first-time starter. There is an enormous amount of anticipation that comes with such a situation. Comparisons to 2000 and Daunte Culpepper come naturally: similar overall draft positions (#10 vs #11), sat out his rookie year, offensive-minded head coach, had the best WR in football, handed the keys to a playoff team, etc. Culpepper took the reins and was lights-out: 3,937 yards, 33 pass TDs, 16 INTs on the way to an 11-5 record and an NFC Championship Game birth. What happened in that game is a bit blurry (sarcasm my own). Can McCarthy replicate those numbers? Technically. Does he have to? Absolutely not. IMO, the 2025 Vikings roster is top-to-bottom better than the 2000 version – particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Their points against ranked 24th, for example. If our defense doesn’t fall comfortably in the Top 10 this year, I’d be floored. So…how did McCarthy do in his first competitive snaps of the 2025 season?
He did…just fine.
He showed the flashes you expected to see, particularly on the nice 18-yard out-route to Jordan Addison and the 4th down conversion on the ground. The miserabs/detractors/Colin Cowherd types will point to the 3rd and 4 miss to Lucky Jackson. It was the correct read (which is what you want to see), and I’m not sure Justin Jefferson doesn’t pull that in. It didn’t look as bad on replay as it did initially. It was a missed opportunity for sure, but that is what the preseason is for....
