Vikings Message Board.Com

O'Neill returned to practice on Monday, October 14, to prepare for the Eagles game. That's good news for whoever plays QB.

Cliff wrote: ↑Tue Oct 14, 2025 1:01 pm

CharVike wrote: ↑Tue Oct 14, 2025 9:43 am I originally thought we had a good chance beating this team. But now I think the Eagles overall are too much better all around. Plus they have beat some good teams and haven't played good ball yet. Beating the Chiefs, Rams and Bucs is very impressive. They tripped up against the Giants who are a division rival but I don't see them tripping over us. The Eagles need to get their ground game working and I do believe it will happen this week. They got an extra rest with a half week bye and we got a week off after being in Europe for 2 weeks. Who's better off. I see it Eagles 31-20.

This year really seems to be an "Any Given Sunday" type season. I've really got no good handle on which team is going to win from week to week. At this point the Eagles and Vikings seem pretty evenly matched. It's really anybody's game.

The Steelers losing to the Bengals proved that. Flacco found a way to tear up that Steeler secondary. He was only on the team for a week.

CharVike wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 6:16 am

Cliff wrote: ↑Tue Oct 14, 2025 1:01 pm

This year really seems to be an "Any Given Sunday" type season. I've really got no good handle on which team is going to win from week to week. At this point the Eagles and Vikings seem pretty evenly matched. It's really anybody's game.

The Steelers losing to the Bengals proved that. Flacco found a way to tear up that Steeler secondary. He was only on the team for a week.

It goes to show how much having good weapons for a QB matters. The Browns top two targets are Jerry Jeudy and Rookie Isaiah Bond. Now he's got Chase and Higgins. QBs can't do it alone. Vikings fans should be acutely aware of that after watching Darnold. Sure, KOC had some impact, but it's not as if he just suddenly transformed into a top 5-10 QB, more than anything he finally had some tools to work with.

Cliff wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 8:57 am

CharVike wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 6:16 am
The Steelers losing to the Bengals proved that. Flacco found a way to tear up that Steeler secondary. He was only on the team for a week.

It goes to show how much having good weapons for a QB matters. The Browns top two targets are Jerry Jeudy and Rookie Isaiah Bond. Now he's got Chase and Higgins. QBs can't do it alone. Vikings fans should be acutely aware of that after watching Darnold. Sure, KOC had some impact, but it's not as if he just suddenly transformed into a top 5-10 QB, more than anything he finally had some tools to work with.

Darnold is doing very well so far this year. I enjoyed watching him play for us last year. It wasn't my call but I would have kept him on the roster. If JJ beat him out he could always be dealt for something in a QB weak NFL. The same is true the other way. Especially since we went through the Dobbs / Mullens mess the previous season. The lesson wasn't learned.

CharVike wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 10:23 am

Cliff wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 8:57 am

It goes to show how much having good weapons for a QB matters. The Browns top two targets are Jerry Jeudy and Rookie Isaiah Bond. Now he's got Chase and Higgins. QBs can't do it alone. Vikings fans should be acutely aware of that after watching Darnold. Sure, KOC had some impact, but it's not as if he just suddenly transformed into a top 5-10 QB, more than anything he finally had some tools to work with.

Darnold is doing very well so far this year. I enjoyed watching him play for us last year. It wasn't my call but I would have kept him on the roster. If JJ beat him out he could always be dealt for something in a QB weak NFL. The same is true the other way. Especially since we went through the Dobbs / Mullens mess the previous season. The lesson wasn't learned.

I would have loved for them to keep Darnold but it was a tough decision. He got a pretty big contract from Seattle but even then he's only something like the 18th highest paid QB in the league (average per year). I think that playoff game really soured them on him. Funny side note, Kirk Cousins' contract is bigger than Darnold's at the moment. I think keeping Daniel Jones for 14m on a one year contract (which is what he signed with the Colts) and letting JJM sit another season would have probably been the best option in hindsight.

Current Injury Report

OLB Tyler Batty, Knee, Full
LB Blake Cashman, Hamstring, Full
C Michael Jurgens, Hamstring, Full
QB Carson Wentz, Left Shoulder, Full
DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Hip, Limited
LG Donovan Jackson, Wrist, Full
QB J.J. McCarthy, Ankle, Limited
RT Brian O’Neill, Knee, Limited
OLB Andrew Van Ginkel, Neck, Limited
LT Christian Darrisaw, Vet Rest Day, DNP
OLB Jonathan Greenard, Hamstring, Limited

Looks like O'Neill and Jackson will be playing. With the exception of Ryan Kelly this has been about as healthy as the offensive line has been this season. Speaking of center, has anybody heard anything about who is starting? Looks like Jurgens is back but Brandel did so well I'm wondering if they might start him.

On the other hand, Brandel is super valuable in his backup role. He can be plugged in for any of the offensive line positions and I don't think the same can be said for Jurgens. Considering there have been so many injuries they may keep him as backup but plug him in if Jurgens looks terrible.

CharVike wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 6:16 am

Cliff wrote: ↑Tue Oct 14, 2025 1:01 pm

This year really seems to be an "Any Given Sunday" type season. I've really got no good handle on which team is going to win from week to week. At this point the Eagles and Vikings seem pretty evenly matched. It's really anybody's game.

The Steelers losing to the Bengals proved that. Flacco found a way to tear up that Steeler secondary. He was only on the team for a week.

Of all my picks in the Pick 4 this week I figured the safest was the Steelers to cover over the Bengals with Flacco...

VikingLord wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 11:33 am

CharVike wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 6:16 am
The Steelers losing to the Bengals proved that. Flacco found a way to tear up that Steeler secondary. He was only on the team for a week.

Of all my picks in the Pick 4 this week I figured the safest was the Steelers to cover over the Bengals with Flacco...

I'm sure many lost on this one. Before our Steeler game there was posts about the Steelers secondary not being that good. We couldn't take advantage of that. Somehow Flacco did. I say good for the old man. He must really enjoy playing the game and this shows he can still play the game well at times.

Cliff wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 11:15 am

CharVike wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 10:23 am
Darnold is doing very well so far this year. I enjoyed watching him play for us last year. It wasn't my call but I would have kept him on the roster. If JJ beat him out he could always be dealt for something in a QB weak NFL. The same is true the other way. Especially since we went through the Dobbs / Mullens mess the previous season. The lesson wasn't learned.

I would have loved for them to keep Darnold but it was a tough decision. He got a pretty big contract from Seattle but even then he's only something like the 18th highest paid QB in the league (average per year). I think that playoff game really soured them on him. Funny side note, Kirk Cousins' contract is bigger than Darnold's at the moment. I think keeping Daniel Jones for 14m on a one year contract (which is what he signed with the Colts) and letting JJM sit another season would have probably been the best option in hindsight.

They didn't want to pay Jones either or perhaps Jones wanted to be a starter. Here we sit and our O has struggled some. Now we face some harder teams but we are healthier on the OL which should help.

CharVike wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 2:00 pm

Cliff wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 11:15 am

I would have loved for them to keep Darnold but it was a tough decision. He got a pretty big contract from Seattle but even then he's only something like the 18th highest paid QB in the league (average per year). I think that playoff game really soured them on him. Funny side note, Kirk Cousins' contract is bigger than Darnold's at the moment. I think keeping Daniel Jones for 14m on a one year contract (which is what he signed with the Colts) and letting JJM sit another season would have probably been the best option in hindsight.

They didn't want to pay Jones either or perhaps Jones wanted to be a starter. Here we sit and our O has struggled some. Now we face some harder teams but we are healthier on the OL which should help.

KOCs gameplan relies heavily on offensive line play. It's no coincidence that 3 of the 5 highest paid players on the team are offensive linemen and one is a 1st rounder. They've invested a lot into the offensive line and if they could stay healthy for more than one or two games at a time we might actually get to see what the offense is capable of.

In regards to the QB situation over the offseason, I got the distinct impression that KOC had his mind made up already as to who his starting QB would be and it wasn't going to be Darnold or Jones. Both understood that and I think both made the right moves to leave for teams that would give them that opportunity.

The assumption I made was that KOC decided that because of what he'd seen from McCarthy up to that point. In other words, KOC was convinced that JJ McCarthy was the best QB of the options available to him. Not potentially the best, because if the decision came down to potential the prudent action would have been to retain at least one of those two veterans and let there be an open competition for the starting QB for this season, ensuring that the coming season wouldn't be sacrificed in order to "develop" McCarthy if he wasn't yet able to win the starting job outright.

We don't have a lot of data points to go on yet, but it sure seems like either KOC completely misjudged McCarthy's readiness to take over as the starting QB for a team that invested heavily in free agency to plug holes and remain competitive, or he woefully misjudged the abilities of both Darnold and Jones. Something was clearly off there. McCarthy has looked overmatched while both Darnold and Jones are doing very well.

I guess what bothers me the most about the situation KOC finds himself in is it was avoidable, and not just in retrospect. KAM made an astute move to pick up Jones late last year after the Giants shipped him. KAM made an astute move to get Darnold as well. While it wasn't realistic probably for the Vikings to retain both of them, nothing says they had to put all their chips in on McCarthy and keep neither of them. I believe if KOC had told Jones there would be an open competition for the starting QB spot, he would have signed with the Vikings without hesitation.

And now here we are with Carson Wentz, who pretty much nobody wanted heading into this season and who will be starting yet again for an injured McCarthy who I suspect might not be all that injured. Should the Vikings beat the Eagles I wouldn't be surprised if McCarthy's injury continues to linger, either. I hear all the arguments about McCarthy being young and needing time to develop, but in re-watching those first two games I see a QB who just wasn't well-prepared or disciplined. His mechanics were lazy and it often looked like he didn't have a solid grasp of what the defensive alignments were showing him. People talk about his work ethic and leadership, but when he was on the field it looked like he was just winging it a lot of the time. Maybe that is just my impression.

I think if it comes down to it KOC is going to go with the QB he feels he can win with. If that is Wentz then McCarthy is going to end up sitting. Maybe not good if someone wants to evaluate McCarthy or hope he develops, but personally I could care less and hope KOC does what is best for the team's overall chances to win. We have to face the very real prospect that McCarthy isn't going to succeed. What is happening this week with Wentz being named the starter is telling IMHO.

VikingLord wrote: ↑Fri Oct 17, 2025 2:53 pm In regards to the QB situation over the offseason, I got the distinct impression that KOC had his mind made up already as to who his starting QB would be and it wasn't going to be Darnold or Jones. Both understood that and I think both made the right moves to leave for teams that would give them that opportunity.

The assumption I made was that KOC decided that because of what he'd seen from McCarthy up to that point. In other words, KOC was convinced that JJ McCarthy was the best QB of the options available to him. Not potentially the best, because if the decision came down to potential the prudent action would have been to retain at least one of those two veterans and let there be an open competition for the starting QB for this season, ensuring that the coming season wouldn't be sacrificed in order to "develop" McCarthy if he wasn't yet able to win the starting job outright.

We don't have a lot of data points to go on yet, but it sure seems like either KOC completely misjudged McCarthy's readiness to take over as the starting QB for a team that invested heavily in free agency to plug holes and remain competitive, or he woefully misjudged the abilities of both Darnold and Jones. Something was clearly off there. McCarthy has looked overmatched while both Darnold and Jones are doing very well.

I guess what bothers me the most about the situation KOC finds himself in is it was avoidable, and not just in retrospect. KAM made an astute move to pick up Jones late last year after the Giants shipped him. KAM made an astute move to get Darnold as well. While it wasn't realistic probably for the Vikings to retain both of them, nothing says they had to put all their chips in on McCarthy and keep neither of them. I believe if KOC had told Jones there would be an open competition for the starting QB spot, he would have signed with the Vikings without hesitation.

And now here we are with Carson Wentz, who pretty much nobody wanted heading into this season and who will be starting yet again for an injured McCarthy who I suspect might not be all that injured. Should the Vikings beat the Eagles I wouldn't be surprised if McCarthy's injury continues to linger, either. I hear all the arguments about McCarthy being young and needing time to develop, but in re-watching those first two games I see a QB who just wasn't well-prepared or disciplined. His mechanics were lazy and it often looked like he didn't have a solid grasp of what the defensive alignments were showing him. People talk about his work ethic and leadership, but when he was on the field it looked like he was just winging it a lot of the time. Maybe that is just my impression.

I think if it comes down to it KOC is going to go with the QB he feels he can win with. If that is Wentz then McCarthy is going to end up sitting. Maybe not good if someone wants to evaluate McCarthy or hope he develops, but personally I could care less and hope KOC does what is best for the team's overall chances to win. We have to face the very real prospect that McCarthy isn't going to succeed. What is happening this week with Wentz being named the starter is telling IMHO.

There is a much better chance JJM will fail than succeed. That is why you can't empty the roster until he proves it on the field. Maybe KOC saw this coming and why we traded Howell and signed Wentz. At least Wentz has proven he can play good at times. But Wentz was sitting with no offers for a reason. That showed against the Steelers. He should have tore that secondary up. But Wentz will start next Thursday regardless of the Eagle game unless he gets hurt badly. QB juggling is a horror show that I watched for too many seasons since Fran retired. What makes this worse is we had a guy who showed he could play very well in this offense and made some comeback wins and another who also had spurts of playing well in his career with a playoff win on a junk team. Oh well maybe it will work out. I called Sammy a bum before game 1 last year.

Jalen Carter will play after missing last weeks game. He's a dominate player. Blake Brandel starts for us at center.

It is time for Flores to be gone, the defense was embarrassing losing to a mediocre offense, Flores is not good as you think it is and Wentz needs to be gone, he is a back up for a reason and Hockenson needs to be gone, he is a terrible tight end

Teams just can not win games with only one touchdown

I guess this is why Wentz was getting no offers. He did some stupid things like the lateral pass OB and the intentional grounding was pathetic and as the announcer said Ham was wide open and that play was designed to go his way. The pick 6 is the cherry on top. We have no pass rush and WRs just running deep wide open or not covered at all. But Jetts dropped a TD and Hock couldn't hold on for one also. Brandel with the penalty to take a TD away and then the snap over Wentz head. It goes on and on. It's more than just Wentz although he showed some horrible accuracy at times. Even the deep throw complete to Addison early was an under throw. He's gone if he didn't have to slow up for it. Last year there was some excitement. There's nothing exciting about this. Wasted how many hours and money watching this product. Turner gets blocked by one guy over and over. Spin or swipe an arm or do anything to break free.