EAGAN, Minn. — On the topic of end-of-year goals, Justin Jefferson worded it perfectly.

"Just to continue to win," he said Thursday. "We have three more opportunities to go out and show the world that we're not that team that y'all [watched] weeks ago. It's just all about getting better and understanding that we need to finish this season. And just like I said, we have the last three weeks of having guys, these guys on this team, so just being able to bond with them, being able to share the same field with them — three more opportunities. I mean, why not go out there and make the most of it?"

Jefferson added, "The effort, the chemistry that we share, that's the motivation that we have behind it."

Incentivized by that mindset, Minnesota (6-8) will aim to play 60 more minutes of complementary football at MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants (2-12) at noon (CT) Sunday. A win would improve the Vikings to 12-4 in December games under Head Coach Kevin O'Connell and 8-0 dating to last season.

O'Connell on Friday announced tackle Christian Darrisaw will be placed on season-ending Injured Reserve. Darrisaw's fifth pro season will end with him starting 10 games, a run that began in Week 3 and concluded against Washington, his hometown team, on Dec. 7. Darrisaw had been navigating through his recovery process for a knee injury suffered in Week 8 of 2024.

Minnesota ruled out defensive lineman Javon Hargrave for Sunday because of a thigh injury and listed tackle Brian O'Neill as questionable. Running back Ty Chandler (knee) and tight end Gavin Bartholomew (back) are also listed as questionable. Both are in their evaluation windows.

Earlier in the week Minnesota placed OLB Jonathan Greenard and S Joshua Metellus on Injured reserve because of shoulder injuries.

Vikings Uniform

Minnesota will wear its most common road uniform combination of white jerseys and purple pants.

3 Vikings Storylines

1. Locked-in defense

It's easy to imagine a QB's sleep debt is unavoidable when he's prepping for a Brian Flores defense.

The previous five have passed for 800 yards (160 avg.), zero TDs and two picks at a 55.6 completion percentage. Their combined passer rating is 68.1 – woah! About that nil stat: Minnesota's secondary is the first since New England in 2019, and the fifth since 2000, to go five games in a row without a passing TD allowed.

Cleveland holds the title of the most recent club to string together a six-game spree, snapping after seven … back in 1988. The only other teams in the Super Bowl era with a streak of six or better are the 1976 Steelers (7), 1972 Packers (7), 1973 Falcons (6), 1971 Colts (6) and 1969 NFL Champion Vikings (6).

Minnesota's 2025 unit is thriving behind a blitz-happy scheme that's merciless in big moments. Opponents are converting 35.8% of third downs, the sixth-lowest frequency in the league, and can't find a grip in the red zone, as evidenced by the Vikings allowing a TD rate from the 20 and in just 45.5 percent of the time, which is tied for 2^nd in the NFL.

One of the catalysts of the situational success is Harrison Smith, who does not look 36 of late, at least not physically. Smith's esoteric coverage has demonstrably impacted offenses the past three weeks, and his short-area speed and instincts remain uncanny, even if his gas mileage isn't as friendly as it was once.

Smith has factored in as a QB hunter on 35 snaps, including three in Week 15, according to Next Gen Stats, and has the No. 5 pressure rate among defensive backs with a minimum of 20 pass rushes (34.3%).

2. Flight path for 'Jets'

Jefferson continues to lead by example, just not in his customary mode.

The 26-year-old team captain ranks ninth in the NFL in targets (117) but is firmly outside the Top 10 in virtually every other receiving metric. Nineteenth in yards (832). Tied-41^st in yards per reception (12.6) and 116^th in receiving success rate (43.6%). "Jets" is fifth on the Vikings in TD catches (2), and McCarthy's passer rating when he targets him is 38.4, the lowest among 73 QB-receiver duos with 50-plus attempts.

Jefferson is positively impacting outcomes, though, with his voice, his post-snap gravity and his energy expenditure as a blocker. Yes — the silkiest route runner in football doubles as a committed run springer.

By steadfastly offering encouragement and celebrating teammates amidst an unprecedented individual season, Jefferson has proven himself as the antithesis of selfishness that exists in sports. He's multiplied his QB's confidence and fortified Minnesota's familial culture, which bodes well for the franchise's future.

Honestly, a return to form production-wise across any of the final three games won't surpass that effect. It would boost his chemistry with McCarthy, however, and keep a shot at history intact.

Jefferson needs 168 yards, or an average of 56, to log his sixth straight season of 1,000. Randy Moss and Mike Evans are the only players in history to launch their careers with six 1,000-yard campaigns in a row.

3. Winning in December

Football this month tends to matter most when Week 18 isn't all she wrote.

Nevertheless, even without a ticket to the dance, Minnesota has a stocking full of reasons to finish on a high note: McCarthy's progress, several personal-best seasons and organizational momentum for 2026.

There's other angles, too, but those three matter a lot as the Vikings try to win their third game in a row.

McCarthy, first and foremost, is on the cusp of his ninth career game. He's closer in experience to Dallas backup Joe Milton, who was drafted in the sixth round by New England, than any other Class of 2024 QB rostered by a team in 2025. Here's how McCarthy's first-round peers shake out in terms of appearances so far: Caleb Williams (31), Bo Nix (31), Drake Maye (27), Jayden Daniels (24) and Michael Penix, Jr., (14).

If you'd like another comparison, McCarthy at 22 is younger than four of 12 starters in the 2025 College Football Playoff, has barely acclimated to the pros but is starting to show serious signs of growth.

See: His cumulative 120.3 passer rating against NFC East foes. See: His value for possessions (one fluke turnover in December action) and improvements on third down; McCarthy is 6-for-10 passing with 115 yards and four conversions through the air and has scrambled twice for 14 yards and one conversion, spanning his last 14 tries with the ball in his hands (also one kneel-down and one sack). That's an incredible contrast from the previous two games when he was 5-for-14 with 48 yards and two conversions and sacks on 16 opportunities. And see: the offense's 32.5 points per game since Week 14.

A collection of Vikings, some unheralded and some highly touted, are balling out, if you will, in the backdrop of McCarthy's ascension. Linebacker Eric Wilson has exceeded O'Connell's expectations all year, the coach shared Wednesday. Wilson is tied with Dallas Turner for the team lead in sacks (5.5) and has 15 tackles for losses (five more than anyone else). Jalen Nailor is thriving in a contract year. He enjoyed his first 100-yard game in Week 10 and his first one with two touchdowns last week on Sunday Night Football. And core specialists Andrew DePaola, Will Reichard and Ryan Wright are Exhibits A, B and C of consistency.

Many others are playing with contagious passion and discipline, the kind that can go a long way in salvaging morale and reinforcing culture in a season that went awry but has plenty to offer in the future.

2 Things 'Bout the Giants

1. Empire State of Mind

Are you old enough to remember Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo?

Brushing off allegiances (this Vikings.com writer is a University of Arizona grad and senior editor Craig Peters, who receives all your mailbag questions, is a Mississippi State alum), the Giants QB-RB duo was a vibe.

Not that long ago, either.

In Weeks 1-8, the first- and fourth-round rookies snatched headlines with big personalities and brash play styles that teetered between inspiring and unsustainable but absolutely revived, at least briefly, New York's harrowed fanbase. Skattebo suffered a gnarly ankle injury in an Oct. 26 rematch with Philadelphia, two weeks after shocking the reigning champs, and had his solid first season cut short. He rushed 101 times for 410 yards and five TDs and tacked on 207 and two through the air as one of Dart's favorite outlets.

The other half of "Arm and Hammer," Dart, replaced Russell Wilson as the Giants starter in Week 4. He missed a couple games due to a concussion but returned with the same dual-threat moxie that quickly catapulted him into the spotlight — and has revitalized the debate of QBs needing to protect themselves.

Dart, the NFL's youngest starting QB (McCarthy is 113 days younger and will be the third youngest to start in '25 when Quinn Ewers makes his QB1 debut for Miami on Sunday), is an instinctive athlete. He's recorded 50 rush yards in six of nine starts and has seven TDs on the ground, third most at the position (Josh Allen 12; Jalen Hurts 8). Sometimes, though, it's an unsavory sight. ESPN reported this week that dating to the preseason, Dart has departed action to be checked for a concussion five times in 10 games.

While there's incentive to tweak his MO — availability is the greatest ability, after all — Dart has done a swell job producing in multiple areas. He logged games of 200-plus pass yards and 50-plus rush yards against Washington (on Sunday), Chicago and New Orleans. Only three rookies have posted more games of that nature: Jayden Daniels in 2024 (six), Cam Newton in 2011 (six) and Robert Griffin III in 2012 (five).

Furthermore, Dart has protected the football. His 1.5 INT rate is the fifth-lowest mark by a rookie QB with at least 250 attempts (min. 4.5 TD percentage). Dak Prescott set the all-time record in 2016 at 0.9%.

The crest of Dart's accomplishments include the highest passer rating ever by a Giants rookie QB (92.7), as well as 20 total TDs to lead all rookies. He's operating at a respectable level despite real hurdles — i.e. Brian Daboll's firing and sensational sophomore Malik Nabers' season-ending knee injury in September.

2. Burns, Carter & Lawrence

It sounds like the name of a New York law firm.

Actually, it's the studly trio of Pro Bowl EDGE Brian Burns, No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter and Pro Bowl IDL Dexter Lawrence; they account for 56.6% of pressures generated this season by the Giants defense.

Burns has 13 sacks, second in the NFL to self-proclaimed "King of the Monsters" Myles Garrett (21.5), and 25 QB hits, which trails Zach Allen (40), Garrett (35), Aidan Hutchinson (28) and Micah Parsons (26).

Burns probably is the most gifted player on the Giants roster, possessing special ball get-off and bend.

Since changing scenery via a trade from Carolina to New York in 2024, Burns is fourth among all players with 68 pressures. He also has the fifth-most QB hurries (25) and a boatload of "blocked shots" a.k.a. passes batted at the line of scrimmage. Burns' 11 ranks second; Pittsburgh's Cameron Heyward is the leader with 16.

Burns' protégé, Carter, had a half-sack in his Sept. 7 debut and then played 11 games without one. On both ends of New York's Week 14 bye, Carter revisited the sacks column, increasing his 2025 tally to 2.5.

Although it's a less flashy stat, it's worth knowing Carter is one of four players with 30 or more "quick pressures" (under three seconds), according to NGS. His 31 is in the ballpark of Nik Bonitto (36), Parsons (33) and Will Anderson, Jr. (33). Carter is a product of Penn State and battled top Vikings rookie Donovan Jackson in November 2024 when the latter kicked outside and started at LT for Ohio State due to injuries.

Burns and Carter rush off both sides and are rangy enough to play off the ball in the box. Esteemed partner Lawrence is the yin to their yang and he mainly aligns left of the center per Pro Football Focus.

"Sexy Dexy" — that's Lawrence's nickname, by the way — has an unattractive statline in his seventh pro season: 0.5 sacks, two TFLs and 11 pressures overall. But the big man in the middle of the Big Blue d-line is frequently double-teamed and has performed well based on the PFF grading system. Lawrence has an 83.4 PFF pass rush grade, which ranks fourth among interior defenders after Jeffery Simmons (90.8), Chris Jones (90.7) and Maliek Collins (87.2). Additionally, Lawrence boasts the fifth-best win percentage (18.4%) on true pass sets; the only IDL faring better are Simmons, Quinnen Williams, Jones and Vita Vea.

That's a very long-winded way to say New York's front seven has several game-wreckers to keep tabs on.

1 Key Matchup

Vikings front seven vs. Giants QB Jaxson Dart

Flores has schemed against six quarterbacks this season that pass the eye test as dangerous in ways beyond throwing the football: Caleb Williams (x2), Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota. Dart will be the seventh and might be misprized for his talent as a runner.

Among QBs, he ranks fourth in rush yards (400), fifth in attempts (70) and average yards (5.7; min. 30 carries), second in success rate under that 30-carry criteria (65.7%) and third in runs for first downs (30).

Dart gets active in a variety of methods — designed keepers, read options, scrambles, etc. In the 29-21 Week 15 loss to Washington, he waited patiently and scrambled right for 5 yards when no one was open; he dropped back and darted into a gap in the heart of the o-line for 29 yards; he smartly pulled a potential handoff but ran into the teeth of the defense for no gain; he weaved to his right on a play-fake for 7; he escaped imminent pressure for 6, trusting himself over a checkdown; he ran up the middle for 5 (prematurely, we might add, after stepping up into a nice pocket); he faked a pitch and lost a yard at the Commanders 2 trying to run a QB power; he kept a zone-read and drove through tacklers for a pickup of 4; and he moved the sticks with an 8-yard scramble featuring a little shake-and-bake on Bobby Wagner.

In total, Dart topped 60 yards for the second time in three games and was responsible for almost half of New York's rushing yardage. He's decisive and physical and flaunts some wiggle and quality acceleration.

O'Connell on Wednesday described Dart's play style as "playmaking."

"What's held up is that competitiveness and applying some of those things where maybe it's — as he grows and develops, you'll see more and more plays that he's playing in rhythm and going through progressions," the coach said. "Right now, he's doing those things, but he's not missing out on an op to take advantage of an undisciplined rush or if you're not accounting for him in some of those shotgun runs, where he can pull it, or he's part of the scheme altogether, he's turned himself into a playmaker early on and one that's really kind of ignited their offense to compete and move and score points."

The Vikings will need to contain Dart like they did Mariota (7 yards) and Daniels (16), in addition to Jackson (36), Hurts (minus-10) and Williams in the second meeting (26; he had 58 and a TD in Week 1).

Herbert did the most damage of the bunch, for what it's worth, netting 62 yards on seven attempts.

Top Quotes of Week 15

Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips on QB J.J. McCarthy's pocket movement

"I think he's getting more comfortable playing in this league. I mean, you saw pocket movement from him throughout his college career as well. I think he's certainly capable of navigating the pocket. And his natural instinct isn't to go backwards, which is sometimes what you deal with, with young quarterbacks or potentially athletic quarterbacks that maybe were faster than some of the guys that they were playing against at the college level; they were able to kind of run around and circle backwards. You know, there are certain guys — Lamar [Jackson] and Michael Vick (are a couple) — they could run backwards and circle any defense, basically. But generally, in the NFL, if their tendency is to go backwards, you get yourself into some trouble, you know, up and out is generally where you want to go — where you can keep your eyes downfield and still have an opportunity to throw or use your legs."

RB Aaron Jones, Sr., on playing with S Harrison Smith after competing against him for so long

"It's really cool. I'm two lockers down from him. So just getting to have a lot of conversations. I use his charger every day — so thank you for that, Harrison. My phone would be dead, so he saves me every day. But just being able to pick his brain about the game, what he sees from the opposite side. What is he looking at from a [running] back? And then just [poking at] him, 'Hey, you're coming back? You're coming back? I'd love to have you back. Hey, this looks like you're having fun. This looks pretty easy for you.' So just trying to stay in his ear and nudge him that way. But just also thanking him. I told him the other day, we were sitting in the sauna, and I told him, I thanked him for that play I just told you guys about (a competitive pass-pro rep between Smith and Jones during the running back's first season in Green Bay). Because I was like, that's when it kicked into me like, 'Hey, I don't like this feeling. Yes, it was 1-for-1 — he didn't make the play, but I didn't like that feeling of being put on my back.' So I told him through the years, our battles, it made me a lot better. And he was kind of a measuring stick for me. Like, I'm playing him two times a year, and this is in my eyes, a Hall of Fame guy, All-Pro, Pro Bowler, and if I can block him, I can play with anybody. And so I thanked him for that. And it's crazy how — not [that] the role is reversed but time goes on, and you become teammates and you get to share that with somebody."

Head Coach Kevin O'Connell on WR Jordan Addison's development off the field

"Throughout the time he was forced to be away from us early on in the year … there was really a lot of dialogue there about the expectations, and then coming out of that, just the excitement of having him back in the building, and then kind of the roadmap for him to continue to grow on the field, as well — most importantly — as off. And he's done that. He's really assumed [an important role]. It's different, because he's not the most vocal guy in the world. But as I've talked to him about [it], as he grows and kind of gains experience and matures a little bit, which is natural — he came into the league as a very young player — that can be a real useful thing, as the great teammate that he is, to other guys. And you feel that a little bit. You just feel his energy, the positivity, every day. He's got a million-dollar smile, and energy, and makes our team better on a daily basis by bringing that. When you compare that with what Justin brings to our team, it's a pretty dynamic group of [receivers], and that's not even talking about 'Speedy' (Jalen Nailor) and what he's brought."

From the Inbox | by Craig Peters

Mejoraron pero como que ya para que tanto festejo si estan eliminados.

Decepcionante temporada un fracazo completo.

— Hector H.

I wanted to include Hector's comments, but I don't speak Spanish. With help of an online translator, here are his comments in English, followed by a multilingual reply.

They improved, but what's the point of all the celebrating if they're already eliminated?

A disappointing season, a complete failure.

This question circles back to the way Rob started this game preview, with Jefferson explaining motivation during the final three games of a season that will not involve a trip to the playoffs.

Even after the ultimate goal for a season (winning a Super Bowl) is no longer a possibility (only one team gets to know that feeling), it still feels good for coaches and players to work together and achieve other successes. In addition to loving to win, people who reach the highest level of the sport hate to lose, and this team dealt with the latter more than it planned on doing for a variety of reasons.

The four weeks of November that followed the uplifting upset to start the month at Detroit were brutal.

I think everyone would agree with Hector that it has been a disappointing season, but I do disagree with tagging it as a "complete" failure.

McCarthy has shown considerable growth with more time on-task. Continuing that over the final three weeks and going into a full offseason as healthy as possible are important goals as he heads into his second season as a starter.

It will take running the table for the Vikings to avoid a losing record overall, and Minnesota must win at home against Detroit and Green Bay to break even at home this season.

A comparison I have in my mind is the way the 2022 Lions finished that season, even though that squad was already eliminated. Detroit went from 4-7 to finish 9-8 and was able to harness that momentum into better seasons that have followed.

Multiple fans lamented this week that the team didn't start playing better until the past two weeks. Part of that is opponent-impacted and individual-matchup drive, but there is quite a bit of the Vikings having ownership of what they can control.

The following is the translation of my response (la siguiente es la traducción de mi respuesta).

Esta pregunta nos lleva de vuelta a la forma en que Rob comenzó este análisis del partido, con Jefferson explicando la motivación durante los últimos tres partidos de una temporada que no incluirá una participación en los playoffs.

Incluso cuando el objetivo principal de la temporada (ganar un Super Bowl) ya no es posible (solo un equipo llega a experimentar esa sensación), sigue siendo gratificante para los entrenadores y los jugadores trabajar juntos y lograr otros éxitos. Además de amar la victoria, quienes alcanzan el máximo nivel en este deporte odian perder, y este equipo experimentó esto último más de lo previsto por diversas razones.

Las cuatro semanas de noviembre que siguieron a la sorprendente victoria al comienzo del mes en Detroit fueron brutales.

Creo que todos coincidirían con Hector en que ha sido una temporada decepcionante, pero no estoy de acuerdo en calificarla como un fracaso total.

McCarthy ha mostrado un progreso considerable con más tiempo de juego. Mantener ese ritmo durante las últimas tres semanas y llegar a la pretemporada en buen estado físico son objetivos importantes de cara a su segunda temporada como titular.

Los Vikings necesitan ganar todos sus partidos restantes para evitar un récord negativo, y Minnesota debe ganar en casa contra Detroit y Green Bay para terminar la temporada con un balance equilibrado en su estadio.

Una comparación que me viene a la mente es la forma en que los Lions terminaron la temporada de 2022, a pesar de que ya estaban eliminados. Detroit pasó de un récord de 4-7 a terminar con 9-8 y logró aprovechar ese impulso en las temporadas siguientes.

Varios aficionados se lamentaron esta semana de que el equipo no empezara a jugar mejor hasta las últimas dos semanas. Parte de esto se debe a la influencia de los rivales y a los enfrentamientos individuales, pero gran parte del mérito recae en los Vikings por haber tomado el control de lo que estaba en sus manos.

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