Coaches and players flipped the page Monday to a prime-time matchup at "Jerry World."
In other words, there wasn't much time for Minnesota to bask in the shine of its 31-point destruction of Washington in Week 14. Life in the NFL moves quickly, especially when a team has struggled to maintain momentum in a season that spiraled because of injuries and inconsistencies but can end on a high note.
The key to that goal being realized, though, probably can be found somewhere in the shutout victory.
Top-down, it was the sharpest the Vikings have performed in 2025. Young QB J.J. McCarthy was calmer than ever, passing for 163 yards and three TDs without a single turnover-worthy play (TWP), according to Pro Football Focus. The offensive line imposed its will, carving paths for RBs Aaron Jones, Sr., and Jordan Mason to average 5.4 and 4.7 yards, respectively, and produce 162 as a team. Defensive players cashed in on mistakes — Andrew Van Ginkel and Harrison Smith intercepted Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota — and each side of the ball had a sequence of dominance; the offense used 12:01 to drive 98 yards for a TD on 19 plays, and the defense bent but never caved, forcing a turnover on downs at its own goal line.
One of the underappreciated highlights of the clinic tape was Minnesota's defensive line. PFF on Thursday ascertained it as the best overall DL unit from Week 14 games. John Kosko wrote the following:
The Vikings chaotic defense was in full force in Week 14, with six defenders earning overall grades of 69.9 or better — led by interior lineman Javon Hargrave's 86.0. Hargrave helped preserve the shutout by forcing and recovering a fumble deep in Minnesota territory, while edge defender Van Ginkel continued his screen-stopping mastery, jumping a throw for an interception and earning a 91.0 coverage grade.
Both takeaways mentioned by PFF were athletically freakish.
Hargrave had to spin out of a pass rush when Mariota scrambled to his right on a third-and-6. With a tackle assist from Van Ginkel, the 32-year-old 300-pounder caught up to the dual-threat QB and poked the football to the turf. Somehow, so close to the sideline, Hargrave then laid his frame on the loose ball and stayed in bounds. It was his first forced fumble since Oct. 30, 2022, and recovery since Oct. 2, 2022.
The pick by 'Gink', well, it felt like déjà vu. It was inevitable he was going to make a play like that this year.
Along with the Vikings, the Lions and Texans were spotlighted in PFF's Week 14 recap of defensive lines. The former's pass rush was outstanding in a win against Dallas, and the latter's run defense made Kansas City one-dimensional on Sunday Night Football. PFF's season-long DL rankings are available in this article.
Round of applause for Kleinsasser & Fruechte
Amidst the freezing temps this week, a couple former players tied to the region are on a heater.
Fan-favorite fullback/tight end Jim Kleinsasser was one of 18 players inducted Tuesday night into the College Football Hall of Fame. Kleinsasser became the second former North Dakota standout to be honored in such a way, joining St. Paul native, linebacker Jim LeClair.
"The people I encountered at UND — just the role models that I had, the men that were there to shape me and guide me, I had a lot of people pushing my sled at North Dakota," said Kleinsasser (you can read more here). "I can't thank everyone enough for what they gave me and the track that they sent me on."
After helping UND to a 32-10 record with 88 catches for 1,309 yards and 10 touchdowns over four seasons in Grand Forks, Kleinsasser was invited to the 1999 Senior Bowl and was selected 44th overall by the Vikings. In 2012, Kleinsasser entered his school's Hall of Fame.
In the pros, he was impactful and loveable. Kleinsasser started 130 of 181 games across 13 seasons for the Purple. He brought in 192 receptions for 1,688 yards and six TDs in his career, in addition to toting the rock 43 times for 147 yards and another score. Kleinsasser's blocking was fundamental to franchise-leading RB Adrian Peterson's success from 2007-11, and one of his TDs became a cultural phenomenon when it was featured as the play that got rewatched over and over in the 2004 rom-com 50 First Dates.
Other CFB greats honored this year include Saint John's (MN) WR Blake Elliott (2000-03), Oregon DT Haloti Ngata (2002, 2004-05), Minnesota C Greg Eslinger (2002-05), West Virginia RB Steve Slaton (2005-07), Virginia Tech QB Michael Vick (1999-2000) and Texas Southern DL Michael Strahan (1989-92).
A day before Kleinsasser's achievement, former Gophers and Vikings WR Isaac Fruechte was named to the 2026 class of the American Football Coaches Association's 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute.
Fruechte has served as UND's offensive coordinator and QBs coach since 2024 after spending two seasons as the OC at Winona State. He added titles as the associate head coach and QBs coach in 2023.
A graduate of Caledonia High School, Fruechte attended Rochester Community and Technical College before transferring to the U of M. He was a team captain there in 2014 and finished with 50 catches, 702 receiving yards and three TDs in 38 games. Later on, he spent some time on the Vikings practice squad and appeared in the 2016 season finale (five offensive snaps and 11 on special teams).
You can read more about Fruechte's successes in the coaching ranks here.
