While this season hasn't been what the Vikings envisioned, particularly after a magical 2024 campaign – Minnesota has been able to carry over one thing from last year: winning games in December.
The Vikings (7-8) added another win to their December total by defeating the New York Giants 16-13 on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. Minnesota moved to 3-0 in December games this season, with all three victories coming against NFC East opponents (31-0 vs. Washington in Week 14 and 34-26 at Dallas on Sunday Night Football and the victory last week).
Tack on the 5-0 record the Vikings earned in December a year ago, and Minnesota is 8-0 in the final month of the calendar year since 2024 – the only team in the NFL with an unblemished record in those games. Going back to the start of Kevin O'Connell's tenure as head coach in 2022, Minnesota owns the third-best record in the NFL in December with a 12-4 mark.
Only the Bills (15-1) and the Los Angeles Rams (13-4) have a better record during that span, but both of those teams dropped a game in December within the past two seasons. Coincidentally, the Bills lost to the Rams 44-42 in Week 14 of the 2024 season. Meanwhile, the Rams perfect December run ended just five days ago when former Viking Sam Darnold led the Seahawks to a 38-37 overtime victory on Thursday Night Football after trailing 30-14 in the fourth quarter.
Minnesota's third consecutive victory on Sunday also created some slight movement in this week's Power Rankings, with the biggest jump being four spots. Here's a look at where the Vikings landed going into Week 17:
View photos of the Vikings equipment staff getting the team's Winter Warrior uniforms ready for the Winter Whiteout game against the Lions on Christmas Day.
No. 19 (up 2 spots): Eric Edholm, NFL.com
The Vikings have now won three straight and will have a chance to finish above .500, with two home games remaining. That's all fine and nice, but the win over the Giants also came with QB J.J. McCarthy suffering a throwing-hand injury, [and he is out this week]. McCarthy no doubt has had some bad injury luck in his two NFL seasons, but it calls into question whether his sometimes reckless playing style can make him an unquestioned NFL starter. How the Vikings approach the QB position this offseason will be fascinating. On the one hand, they likely haven't seen enough to know one way or another whether he's the future, but on the other, it would be tough to go into next season without another higher-quality alternative.
No. 19 (up 1 spot): Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report
The Vikings have a decision to make. Is J.J. McCarthy, who flashed at times but was largely inconsistent and occasionally awful, the team's starting quarterback in 2026? Or do they believe enough in their ability to win now to kick the tires on a Kyler Murray or Tua Tagovailoa?
It's a conversation that is already being had in the Twin Cities, but it's a tomorrow problem. Now, it's about playing out the string and shutting down McCarthy. After the second-year pro hurt his hand in Sunday's win over the Giants, there's no point in him playing again in 2025.
No. 19 (no change): Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
The defense has really played well the past seven weeks. That unit dominated the Giants on Sunday as [Defensive Coordinator] Brian Flores has again done a heck of a job.
No. 20 (down 1 spot): Nate Davis, USA Today
Justin Jefferson's professionalism in the midst of a season in which many other elite wideouts would have gone to pieces has been beyond admirable.
No. 19 (no change): Josh Kendall, The Athletic
Just as [J.J. McCarthy] was beginning to show signs of progress, he suffered another injury, this one to his throwing hand. It's hard to improve when you're constantly sidelined. His injury overshadowed a victory in which the Vikings dominated defensively.
No. 19 (up 1 spot): Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
The Vikings can't seem to keep J.J. McCarthy healthy right when he builds positive momentum, but they still grounded out another win with enough clutch plays and more needed tough defense against what was a promising Giants offense.
No. 16 (up 4 spots): Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports
The Vikings still have a shot at finishing above .500, which is not what Minnesota was shooting for coming off a 14-3 season, but it would be a positive in an otherwise frustrating season. The problem is that J.J. McCarthy is out. That won't make it easy to win one remaining game, much less both of them. But playing well late should give the Vikings the belief that they can be a playoff team in 2026, as long as the quarterback play improves.
Winter Whiteout Game
Join the tradition on Dec. 25 and wear white as the Vikings showcase their Winter Warrior uniforms and take on the Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium.
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