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The Vikings closed the 2025 season by winning their fifth consecutive contest, a 16-3 victory over the Packers Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Minnesota's defense continued its late-season dominance on a day when Green Bay rested most starters, including quarterback Jordan Love and running back Josh Jacobs, but it was another impressive showing in a string of impressive showings.

The day also allowed for fitting tributes to C.J. Ham, who played in his 141^st career regular-season game, and Harrison Smith, who wrapped his 207^th game and 26^th Border Battle.

Ham moved past Leo Lewis for third among Vikings undrafted offensive players. Mick Tingelhoff set the record at 240, and Adam Thielen totaled 146 earlier this season before landing with Pittsburgh. Ham also scored the game's only touchdown.

J.J. McCarthy made his 10^th career start and threw for 182 yards on 14-of-23 passing before leaving the game early in the third quarter due to issues with his right, throwing hand. Nonetheless, there were some bright spots, including multiple connections with Justin Jefferson, whose 101-yard day pushed him past 1,000 yards on the season, extending his streak to six in as many seasons. He joined Randy Moss (six from 1998-2003) and Mike Evans (11 from 2014-24) as the only players to reach that milestone that many times to open a career.

Minnesota will miss the playoffs, and it will "sting" in the words of Head Coach Kevin O'Connell, but this group can know it entered December with 9-8 being the best mark possible and achieved those results.

"Never ever discount what you guys have been able to accomplish over the last five weeks," O'Connell told the team in the locker room. "A lot of teams would have said, 'My offseason can start now.' But what I saw out of this team over the last five weeks, the commitment to working, the commitment to staying the course, the commitment to staying together, is a testament to the men in this room, your leadership and what you are all about."

Smith and Ham delivered some comments in the locker room.

"I know the year didn't go how we envisioned, but there's a lot to build off of, like Coach says," Smith said when prompted to address teammates. "It's been a helluva ride. I really wish we could keep it going. I think we're really hitting our stride right now. Just keep that going into the offseason. As long as you've got air in your lungs and a heartbeat in your chest, never say die."

Speaking of rides that I wasn't ready to end. I was able to do a ride-along with Terry Pernsteiner, who drives the Vikings equipment truck, to Green Bay in November. It was an amazing time with Terry, Vikings Assistant Equipment Manager Adam Groene and Ben Ryan, another assistant.

I relayed stories from that trip and over Terry's career in this feature that posted last week. Hopefully you'll find time to give it a read if you haven't.

One of the quotes he provided after arriving at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center the day after Minnesota's final road game (at the New York Giants) sums up my thoughts on a season ending.

"When the season ends, there's this vacuum. It becomes so much of you because we invest all our passion into the season. You walk away and feel like a lost puppy."

On that note, I'd like to express my sincere appreciation to our readers and emailers for all that you have invested. There will be plenty of offseason dialogue to be had about the team, including 2026 free agency, which will start in March, and the draft in April.

Minnesota is scheduled to have the 18^th pick in the first round (complete draft order for later rounds will be determined).

We also now know all 2026 regular-season opponents, but the dates and times won't be set for a few months. The season's matchups are below.

HOME: Bears, Lions, Packers, Falcons, Panthers, Bills, Dolphins, Commanders and Colts

AWAY: Bears, Lions, Packers, Saints, Buccaneers, Patriots, Jets and 49ers

Let's get to some questions.

What a season. The Vikings had several ups and downs throughout, but the team kept fighting and never gave up. Crazy that with the results of Sunday afternoon games that the entire NFC North ended the season with a winning record and the Vikings would have been in play for the NFC North championship if we had not lost that game against the Bears earlier this season.

Few things I'd like to say:

First, it was awesome to see the ovation and respect that Harrison Smith and C.J. Ham got near the end of the game and after the game. Harry is a Hall of Fame lock in my opinion and on top of the list of my personal favorite Vikings of all-time. He's a true legend of Vikings football.

Second, is congratulations to Justin Jefferson with six straight seasons with 1,000-plus receiving yards to start, hopefully we never see that streak end in his Vikings career.

Third, is I really hope we can retain Brian Flores (give him a blank check) as defensive coordinator and possibly give him an assistant head coach title as well. It's a shame we won't get to see this defense in the playoffs this year.

Hopefully we can knock it out of the park this offseason with free agency, player retention and the draft.

Skol,

— Brandon from Winona, Minnesota

The roller-coaster of the 2025 Vikings season ended with five consecutive victories. The team rallied incredibly after the disappointing loss at the Seahawks, which earned the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Of the five teams defeated, only Green Bay is in the playoff field, and the Packers rested plenty of players. But the Vikings didn't create the schedule that was incredibly tough for stretches.

All four NFC North teams finished 9-8 or better, making the division the third instance of all four teams finishing above .500 since the 17^th game was added in 2021. The others were the 2022 NFC East (Washington squeaked by at 8-8-1) and the 2023 AFC North.

It's hard to say how the rest of a season would have shaken out if we could go back and manipulate a play here or there, but yep, had the Vikings been able to hold on in the final minute against Chicago, both teams would have finished at 10-7, and the Vikings would have had the head-to-head tiebreaker for the division title.

I can't say enough about the home crowds in the final three games of the season, or the people who traveled to Dallas and New York for the final two roadies. The passion and loyalty that Vikings fans bring was revealed in several ways during the win streak.

Ham and Smith have played their entire careers here and consistently shown their appreciation for being Vikings through their pursuits of personal and team achievements. The authentic connection between those players to fans and the integrity of doing things the right way is palpable.

Jets showed admirable leadership that has been fostered by examples of Ham and Smith and other vets, and it was good to see him finish a testing season with some positivity.

I'm sure Flores' name will be mentioned as teams begin rolling out changes at head coach. O'Connell last week made it clear there's been good dialogue with Flores and the organization would like to have him back. Flores, who just finished the final year of his contract, will be able to evaluate options. Mike Pettine has been valued by O'Connell in the role of assistant head coach.

The Vikings will try to retain the overall momentum built in the final month-plus but also understand that some changes happen every offseason.

After the loss to the Packers the first round, sitting at 4-7, I said we may go 2-4 or 0-6 the rest of the way. I'm so glad I'm not a professional gambler because I'd have been toast. And glad to be wrong and finishing 5-1! That is 100% owed to our defense. The playoff teams are glad we're out of it because we finished lights out! My concern for next year is once again our O-line. We have to figure out how to stay healthy and on the field. Center being the biggest concern. QB is once again a question mark because J.J. didn't impress too much AND he can't stay on the field, either. Ten games isn't enough, but he has to stay healthy. There were plenty of QBs that took time to shine. Peyton Manning, John Elway, Troy Aikman, to name a few. J.J. needs more time. IF we can all stay healthy and get the offense clicking like it should, next year we could be lethal. Onward to next year!

SKOL

— J.B. Brunet in Texas

It really could have snowballed for the Vikings, but the team showed tremendous fight, as well as a blend of complementary football that is helpful for a squad with a young quarterback.

The defense was amazing down the stretch, and specialists Will Reichard (hopefully he is named an All-Pro at the end of this week) and Ryan Wright were incredibly solid.

McCarthy also had some legitimate moments of growth, despite dealing with another injury. After his hand heals up completely, he will go into a full offseason without rehabbing a lower-body injury.

While no team can completely avoid injuries, it is reasonable to hope that 2025 was an outlier for the Vikings instead of something that will become the norm.

Sunday was a good game for the Vikings, J.J. McCarthy completed 14 of 23 attempts and threw for 182 yards. Jordan Mason had 14 carries for 94 yards, Justin Jefferson had eight receptions for 101 yards and went over the 1,000-yard mark for his sixth straight season, and Dallas Turner sacking Clayton Tune two times. Ending the season with a 9-8 record. The season was rough because of injuries and how McCarthy played the first half of the season, but they came back to win the last five games to end on a high note.

Next season might look a lot different for the Vikings if Flores gets a head coaching gig, Harrison Smath and C.J. Ham retire. They will have big spots to replace. The GM, Kevin O'Connell and maybe Flores if he stays on figuring out the areas of need and how to fill them, free agency or the draft or both will be important.

Way to end the season Vikings Team!

— Matt from Iowa

McCarthy's use of mobility to extend plays was another positive. He didn't hit all of his throws on the move, but the one he drilled to Ben Sims to set up "The Hammer's" touchdown was elite. Like almost any QB in almost any game, there were a couple he'd like to have as mulligans, but the growth happened before our eyes in the final five weeks of the season.

It is quite wild the number of offseason questions that must be resolved for a team that's gone 23-11 the past two seasons.

I can't believe the social media that has been already disparaging J.J. after only a handful of games. I'm sure much of it is disappointment with our season, but people, be reasonable! He didn't really play for a whole year after college, so he was rusty. He had big blocks off playing this year due to injuries, so he didn't really get momentum. He had the LEAST stable offensive line we've had, not able to give him a couple extra seconds to figure decisions out. Jordan Love watched for three years, learning before he came on to success. Josh Allen didn't look good at the start, and many others. It takes time to develop a QB! All the negativity doesn't help him.

P.S. Love the attention given C.J. Ham. Outstanding character and selfless player.

— Becky from Baldwin, Wisconsin

It's a microwave society, but QB development is not a frozen burrito. I do think people enjoyed the 14-3 showing, which somehow only landed a No. 5 seed last year (and 11-6 this year was good enough for the Bears), hoped the transition at QB would have gone smoother. By the time Sam Darnold got here, however, he had been through plenty of growing pains that were scrutinized by the Jets fanbase.

McCarthy's rhythm, timing and conviction all improved with more time on task, and Becky makes a great point about the constant churn that occurred on the offensive line (we'll cover that more next week with our season recap series).

I love the mention of "outstanding character and selfless" in describing Ham so aptly.

If this was the final game for Harrison Smith, and by his comments to the TV crew, which would indicate this to be the case, I just want to say a few things.

It has been a privilege to watch you for 14 seasons. You have been the best captain, teammate and representative to the Minnesota Vikings during my 35+ years as a Vikings fan.

You stood out with your play on the field and were never a distraction away from it. You led quietly and by example. You took less money to come back and play for the pure joy and passion for the game. A true model for what every player should be.

There will never be enough words to describe the amount of respect and admiration all Vikings fans hold for you. All we can say is you will be missed and never forgotten. I can't wait until you are enshrined in the Ring of Honor and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

On behalf of all Vikings fans across the globe, thank you, Hitman!

— Roman in Grand Forks, North Dakota

We don't know for sure what Smith will decide, and that's a position the Vikings have been in before, but if it was his final game, then Sunday's tribute to him was quite fitting.

Roman effectively describes a player who has given everything at every turn to trying to get the Vikings to the ultimate goal. This was the 12^th season I've been with Minnesota and covering Smith. I can say without question how much he has appreciated the opportunity that comes with being a Viking, as well as the support from fans that makes it such a special experience.

If his playing days are a wrap, then the countdown to major accolades is already ticking.

There were a couple of good scoring drives led by J.J. in the first half and some great passes by J.J. and at least three missed passes — just more of the same from J.J. I am so disappointed that J.J. had to leave after one play in the second half. I hope he is OK for the offseason.

Below are my 3 Ups and 3 Downs for the game:

UPS:

1. Nice opening drive FG by Reichard. Too bad about the McCarthy drive killer?

2. Nice drive by the Vikings in late second quarter. A couple of good passes by J.J.: one to Jefferson to go over 1,000 yards. Too bad we couldn't finish with a TD, but Reichard got another FG. And a beautiful drive at the end of the half for a TD. The quick opener to C.J. Ham for a 1-yard TD was not a mistake or a coincidence — just a good call.

3. The overall defensive play by the Vikings. They dominated the Packers offense. It was not Jordan Love and the starters, but they pitched a shutout, except for a garbage time FG as the clock expired. The Vikings deserve credit for that.

DOWNS:

1. The dumbest and most arrogant play of the year by McCarthy to take a needless hit on the sideline and then get penalized for [taunting] to boot? Hey J.J., did you forget you have been injury prone all season? … He needs and deserves pointed feedback after that first quarter display of horrible judgment. Competitive spirit is one thing; poor judgment and a complete loss of self-control are quite another.

2. More weak offensive performance on third-and-shorts. Handing the ball off 7 yards deep going up the middle is a proven nonperformer. Even the Packers scrub defense easily stopped it. But we keep on trying it again and again?

3. J.J. went out because his hand injury seconds into our first possession of the second half. I wonder why we started him anyway. Broken bones just don't heal in two weeks? Looking forward to next season already. I sure hope we can be great next season.

Respectfully,

— Jeff Ludwig

McCarthy's growth experience was summed up well in the finale. First, he was able to put in the preparation by working through the hand injury. Second, he took that to the field with a crisp start to the game.

Minnesota gained 10-plus on three of its first four plays (a 13-yard run by Jordan Mason and passes of 18 and 10 to Jefferson) before McCarthy was flushed from the pocket. He stiff-armed linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper, drawing quite a reaction from the crowd, and finished the run along the sideline. McCarthy could have avoided contact from Keisean Nixon but lowered his left shoulder. That part, along with a taunt (I've seen far worse not draw a flag, by the way, especially in a rivalry game), were ill-advised, but I love the competitive fire. I'd lean more toward intensity than arrogance. It just needs to be applied a little differently to avoid during a positive play into a second-and-long.

O'Connell and McCarthy both wanted him to make his 10^th start but only if he was able to grip the football. The QB showed some maturity by letting his coach know he was having difficulty with that early in the second half.

Happy New Year,

Well, the Vikings season has come to an end with a win: our first-team defense vs, the Packers third-string offense. J.J. looked very good, but is he the guy? I'd like the Vikes to bring in a veteran QB to mentor him. Possibly someone like Russell Wilson.

Skol,

— Nicholas Balkou

I quickly pointed out that Green Bay rested starters, but Minnesota's defense continued its high-level of play on a day when Minnesota had three times the yardage (363 to 121).

The Vikings have 10 starts with high points and low points by McCarthy, but I think their evaluation will show improvements in multiple aspects over time.

He's been coachable and is passionate about development, which could continue to help with more experience in the position room.

No matter the offseason, the structure of the QB room seems to take top billing around here.

Big Day for C.J. Ham

With Harrison Smith ("The Hitman") getting his flowers, it was cool to see "The Hammer" get his moment, too.

• 141 career games — third all-time among undrafted Vikings offensive players
• Passed Leo Lewis, now behind only Mick Tingelhoff (240) and Adam Thielen (146)
• One carry. One yard. One TD.
• Wild stat: he scored on both his first and final career carries

That's a storybook ending you rarely see in the NFL.

McCarthy: promise, but the concern is real

J.J. McCarthy showed legit flashes:

• Started hot (6 straight completions)

• Good pocket movement, extended plays with his legs

• Chemistry with Justin Jefferson, who:

• Hit 1,000 yards again

• Tied Randy Moss for six straight 1,000-yard seasons to start a career

But the downside is exactly what you said:

• Hand injury
• Leaves the game favoring his throwing hand
• That's now another durability red flag

For a young QB, availability matters just as much as upside.

Life without Hitman

Losing Harrison Smith hurts leadership, instincts, and communication — stuff you can't just replace with athleticism.

Bottom line (real talk)

• McCarthy has tools
• The offense has stars
• But durability + veteran losses = thin margin for error

If McCarthy can't stay healthy, it doesn't matter how promising the flashes are — and you're right to question that now rather than later.

If Brian Flores stays, that's a huge win. If he gets a head-coaching job, you tip your cap and say well deserved.

What he did with the Minnesota Vikings defense this year — especially in the second half of the season — was nothing short of outstanding:

• Creative pressure packages, not just vanilla blitzing
• Guys playing fast and confident, even without elite personnel everywhere
• Situational football improved big time (3rd downs, red zone, late-game stands)
• Clear adjustments as the season went on — that's elite coaching

That defense kept this team competitive while the offense was still finding its footing and the QB situation was unsettled.

If Flores leaves, the worry isn't just scheme — it's:

• Losing accountability
• Losing identity
• Losing that edge and aggressiveness that showed up late in games

So yeah — hope he stays.

But if he's a head coach next year, nobody in Minnesota should be bitter. He earned it.

Defense like that is why this season felt real despite all the uncertainty.

— Toby in Alaska

I think the tools and flashes shown by McCarthy provide quite a bit of juice and encouragement as development continues the multi-year path that is required. I also think he's learned more about the importance of balancing self-preservation efforts with intense play. His mental toughness is a bit underrated at this point, in my opinion.

If Flores leaves, he might try to have multiple assistants go with him, so that could further create the need to rebuild on that side of the football, but I do think a core of accountability and identity — the kind that enables a five-game win streak as a team is being eliminated — will remain.

Great finish to the season: balanced offense-suffocating defense-minimal turnovers. Won the time of possession. What can we do to improve the health of our team next year? We have the pieces to make some noise.

Defining play for the season: that long kickoff return by Chicago after we took the lead late in the game. We get the win, we're in.

— Gerald Goblirsch

Some aspects of health are choices for how to resolve a play that hasn't had the intended consequences and getting to the next down. Other aspects, however, can seem to be more about luck or happenstances.

I've definitely replayed that kickoff return in my mind plenty for nearly two months. In a league that prides itself on balance, games that can be impacted by thousands of factors often seem to come down to one or a few decisive plays.

Let me begin with Sam Darnold. He did what he didn't last year, No. 1 in the playoffs. I think the difference, as in different coaches, different players, including running backs and OL. Yet he looks better this year. Wishing him well.

A nice victory by the team, again thanks to the defense. I was so glad Justin could get his 1,000 yards and continue his streak. Let's get a better red zone play next year.

There are so many different and interesting things that happened this year, no need to repeat them.

Let's look forward to 2026, beginning with the QB. Staff and coaches (maybe new assistant coaches?) have a lot of work on making better decisions. Who will be the backup QB, and how can J.J. keep his health?

I don't pretend to know the salary cap situation, but that will need to be worked out. For the most part the starting team players could win if healthy, so the draft needs to get quality backup players. I don't pretend to know but I see these players as good examples of ones: Center Logan Jones from Iowa, CB Keionte Scott from Miami and DT A'Mauri Washington of Oregon. Others are needed, but if these three are available in the draft picks, safety and more linemen on OL and DL, keep the DL fresh and rested, if the good ones are available of course.

SKOL 2026,

— Gill Sorg in New Mexico

I'm genuinely happy personally for Darnold. Seattle took a big swing and was rewarded, but he is not the only reason the Seahawks were able to win the NFC West. That defense is smothering, and the run game is what one often envisions for teams that succeed in January games.

Minnesota has eight selections in the draft at the moment, which will lend to more opportunities to navigate the draft board and probably more bites at the apple.

Admittedly, I don't have much time to watch college football, so I'm usually playing catch-up on prospects for several weeks once an offseason begins. We'll have plenty of time for that.

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