Daily Norseman
First and foremost, Happy New Year to everyone in the DN family. I hope 2026 brings health, happiness, and less collective agita from our shared passion: the Minnesota Vikings.
THAT’S A WRAP
The curtain closes on the 2025 season against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. The fact that this team has shown a lot of heart and fight over the last month and can actually finish with a winning record is important and noteworthy, but, like all things Vikings, the experience is tinged with a tangible degree of frustration over what could have been.
An improving J.J. McCarthy, supported by Brian Flores’ dominant defense, peaking at precisely the right time. Who knows what could have happened – especially this season. This will be the most wide-open tournament in both conferences that I can remember. I mean, would a Jaguars vs. Seahawks Super Bowl shock anyone?
I’ve been over the “what-ifs” with this team so many times this season that there’s no point in getting into it again. Better luck with injuries, or a few breaks here and there on the field, and we would be the team no one would want to draw in the playoffs. This statistic says it all: The Vikings have allowed the fewest points in the NFC North (and the 4th fewest in the conference), yet our –2 point differential is last in the division, over 30 points behind the third-place team, the Chicago Bears. Gross. Ahh, yes, the 2025 Bears. Channeling the Scooby-Doo “let’s see who this really is” meme, I like to refer to them with their mask off: the 2022 Minnesota Vikings.
NOW THE QUESTIONS COME
But alas, we will play only for pride against a Packers team locked into the 7th seed for the third year in a row. They have their own short- and long-term issues to address, but at least they’re in the dance. Again, gross. Finishing 9-8 will be nice – especially if McCarthy shows continued improvement in the finale – but it will not change the fact that, given the expectations, any objective classification of this season must include a folder clearly labeled “disappointment.” It also won’t matter if we win 70-0; the minute the game clock strikes zero, this team will be bombarded by so many question marks to begin the offseason that it would make the Riddler blush.
QB1 FOR 2026 IS…
First and foremost, there will be endless conjecture about the quarterback position. The number of social media posts, blogs, and segments speculating about trades for Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Justin Herbert has already begun and will only grow over the next three to four months. The underlying justification for this will be the pressure on KAM and KOC heading into Year 5 with no playoff wins. I believe the odds of such a massive trade are unlikely but not inconceivable. That alone is all it takes for the rumor mill to churn aggressively – and it will. The...
