Way Too Early Prediction Thread

Talk to me after free agency and the draft, but it's pretty clear that if the Vikings have a good offseason and JJ McCarthy is everything we hoped he'd be, then big things are coming.

This schedule is interesting. We get all the best teams at home.

MaroonBells wrote:
Talk to me after free agency and the draft, but it's pretty clear that if the Vikings have a good offseason and JJ McCarthy is everything we hoped he'd be, then big things are coming.

This schedule is interesting. We get all the best teams at home.

Agreed, we "should" have a winning record on the road next season given the teams we play.

If we can even go 5-3 at home with that tough slate, 10 wins seems doable.

MAD GAINZ wrote:

Agreed, we "should" have a winning record on the road next season given the teams we play.

If we can even go 5-3 at home with that tough slate, 10 wins seems doable.

Not a JJ believer? So a 14-win team returning every key starter, it's star left tackle and franchise QB, with a fuckton of money to upgrade weaknesses on the roster....can maybe scrape together 10 wins? Seems a bit pessimistic.

Enough wins for a Super Bowl trophy.

Championship, homey.

MaroonBells wrote:

Not a JJ believer? So a 14-win team returning every key starter, it's star left tackle and franchise QB, with a fuckton of money to upgrade weaknesses on the roster....can maybe scrape together 10 wins? Seems a bit pessimistic.

I talk with him frequently, he is a big JJ believer. I can't speak for him outside of that. 

I think we can get to 12 wins. That is where I will leave it. I would need to see who we get at RB and how we fix the line. At the end of the day, JJ is still a first year starting QB that is very young. You know me, I am a big believer, and I have backed my claims with many facts. It is just too hard to say at this point without seeing FA and the draft.

I won't predict until after free agency and the draft. But I feel a bit of a set back is to be expected. This season will be a lot like last year, hard to predict. The play of the QB and to some extent, the defense, exceeded expectation last year. The potential is there this year but seems unlikely.

That home schedule is brutal. At least we get them at home. Away schedule appears on the surface to be a little more manageable

StickierBuns wrote:

Not speaking for MadG, but 14 wins is hard to replicate no matter whom the QB is back to back. If Case Keenum can win 13 games for the Vikings, Darnold can win 14...but that doesn't mean either would do it again the next year. Vikings' D got LOTS of turnovers that helped that record big time, can't count on that again. But sure, its Darnold vs. McCarthy now in every conversation, lol. Does it seem a stretch to think JJ might have a few bumps in the road first time as a starter in the NFL? He can't get his first starts and learn until he gets them, if you know what I mean. I chime in because I also picked 10 wins. I also think its going to be challenging for the Vikings in free agency, other teams have a ton of cap space as well. Hopefully they get a few targets. 

I'm very curious what the excuses will be for Darnold if he stinks it up on a new team? Or shits the bed again late in the year? Maybe he plays amazing. He sure can look good when he's on.

I wouldn't expect 14 wins again. There's just too much random, uncontrollable shit in the game. Injuries, bad luck, bad calls.

But I think we should expect the Vikings to field a better roster in '25. Same 14-win team, with what is very likely going to be serious attempts to upgrade the IOL, the RBs, the DBs and the IDL. Now, maybe we don't hit on all those, but considering most will be filled by proven veterans in free agency, I like our chances. 

So....only one glaring question mark remaining...the QB. So yes, it boils down to Sam vs. JJ. But no one in his right mind would argue that this is not the key difference between the two rosters. And it's a big one.

supafreak84 wrote:
That home schedule is brutal. At least we get them at home. Away schedule appears on the surface to be a little more manageable

As a season tix holder, I look at that home schedule and go yippee, woo hoo, cant wait!! 

I'd have to wait till FA/Draft b4 I would predict anything...

I dont think setting my expectations at 14 again is realistic. Too many right things happened in close games to expect that again. The football gods smiled on this team until the final 2 games. 

They usually arent my friend.

I'm going 10, maybe 11.

6-2 at home and 5-4 on the road, 11-6

MaroonBells wrote:

Not a JJ believer? So a 14-win team returning every key starter, it's star left tackle and franchise QB, with a fuckton of money to upgrade weaknesses on the roster....can maybe scrape together 10 wins? Seems a bit pessimistic.

Oh, I'm all in on JJ McCarthy.  But even a realist like me will expect him to have some growing pains in his first year starting.  I think our floor is 10 wins.  Roster is strong and I think JJ will be a much better QB in the second half than the first half.  

But these teams will all look a lot different after FA and the draft.  And then they'll look a lot different once the season starts at the actually play games...  and not just our opponents but our team too.

I took a nice safe number.  :-)

I DO think if JJ plays like I think he will, we can be right in that 12-14 win range and challenge Detroit for the division.