Looking back the vikings had a great year. They way outperformed the preseason predictions. Darnold did really good until he choked. And honestly, after seeing Detroit pound us, I knew it’d be long odds to have a playoff win*.
*exception being the packers. Two easy outs in the regular season I had my fingers crossed all fall we’d get to meet LaFraud and love in the postseason, sometimes the Vikings can’t get no luck.
The vikes had a small handful of wins that actually looked good. Otherwise we beat alot of bad teams this season. Never once did we look good against a good team. I’ll bet next season will be worse.
It depends on how you define a successful season. 14-3 is a great season by any standard and bad teams are on every team’s schedule.
The Vikes record next year will in all likelihood not be as good as 14-3 but a playoff run would make it a more successful season by most standards.
We’ll see. Us Vikings fans always hope for the best and expect the worst.
Given they were predicted to have an over/under of 5.5 wins, 14 seems pretty ridiculous.
KOC’s coach of the year award was pretty obvious.
That being said, it kind of ended on a thud. They were in the week 18 game against the Lions for about 2.5 quarters. They were never in the playoff game against the Rams. Disappointing.
They were never in the playoff game against the Rams. Disappointing.
I know its the rules, but if that game were played at home I bet its a much different outcome.
It will be interesting what they do in the offseason. Obviously figuring out if they want to sign Darnold for a hefty one year deal, go with Jones or just plan to hand JJ the reigns. I would prefer to start with a veteran and give us time to evaluate where JJ is at.
Lots of roster spots in play. Secondary, interior line on both sides, RB to name a few.
I do find it interesting they havent extended Kwesi yet.
I know its the rules, but if that game were played at home I bet its a much different outcome.
I’m not so sure about that. It was technically a road game but got moved to a neutral site and purple fans outnumbered Rams fans in Arizona.
For as great as the NFC North was in the regular season, it was a colossal failure in the post season. Detroit’s thumping at home after a bye from the Commanders was even worse.
The vikes had a small handful of wins that actually looked good. Otherwise we beat alot of bad teams this season. Never once did we look good against a good team. I’ll bet next season will be worse.
What about the Texans they were supposedly good when they crushed them.
Their record was a real unexpected surprise. All season I never thought they were as good as their record was. I will say they ended up being better than expected. Darnold was a total surprise for sure. I have my doubts that he can preform that well next year if he is signed. To be able to make some noise the vikings have some rather large gaps to fill. The O-line still needs work, and their def. backs as well. Like always the year ended on a sour note but like always I’m looking forward to next season.
I’m not so sure about that. It was technically a road game but got moved to a neutral site and purple fans outnumbered Rams fans in Arizona.
Yeah there were a lot of Vikings fans there, but the NFL sure tugged at the heart strings because of the LA fires with all the pomp and circumstance around that.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bearcat89 wrote:</div>
The vikes had a small handful of wins that actually looked good. Otherwise we beat alot of bad teams this season. Never once did we look good against a good team. I’ll bet next season will be worse.What about the Texans they were supposedly good when they crushed them.
The Vikes had an easier schedule because that’s how the NFL does it. The Vikes had a poor year in 2023 so they end up with an easier schedule. However, even with an easier schedule no one saw them going 14-3.
This year will be interesting…they’ll have a harder schedule and GB and Detroit will be as good or better. They need to make a decision on QB so they can build for the future. I’m not a fan of bringing Darnold back for a year. Either sign him long term and trade JJ or run with JJ. Otherwise, they are in QB purgatory which means mediocrity in the NFL.
I felt like the season in general was kind of a waste. In the ultimate goal being, win a Superbowl. If you can’t win a Superbowl then you want to be entertaining for the home fans. I guess we got that. I for one am not entertained by a team seemingly squeaking out wins. I’d love to get behind a dominant team that really beats it’s opponents. Gets up by multiple scores and doesn’t give it all back in the last quarter. So, I can honestly say I haven’t been real entertained with the Vikings in quite some time. ’98 was amazing.
I was actually hoping for a 4-7 win season. As tough as that can be to watch, it would’ve meant better draft picks this spring and a better team next season when we were originally hoping to be good. There’s nothing wrong with a season or two of gaining the right pieces and then putting all hands on deck. Realistically you won’t be in contention every year. So why do we make it seem like you have to?
And there’s always gonna be that 1 or 2 stars on a team that you kinda waste their prime by not winning now. That’s only been happening league wide for 70+ years. You can’t fix every problem every year. But you certainly can’t fix team personnel if you finish in the top 10 but never win the big one. Re-signing Sam Darnold in my opinion would be terribly ridiculous. He’ll always be Sam Darnold with a couple shiny moments sprinkled in. He piled up stats with the receivers the Vikings have. He made some great throws, but so did 25 other quarterbacks. When the pressure really mounted in some of the regular season games and particularly the end of the Packers game through the Rams, he sucked. I don’t believe he’ll find a way to perform under that pressure any time soon.
Let’s move forward with JJ and see what he’s got. He could be great, he could be another mediocre guy. Only one way to find out.
Quote: The Vikes had an easier schedule because that’s how the NFL does it. The Vikes had a poor year in 2023 so they end up with an easier schedule.
Prior to the start of the 2024 season, the expert calculation said they were tied for the 16th hardest schedule.
I don’t think that equates to having an “easier schedule”
And this was in May 2024 from Sports Illustrated:
Vikings’ Strength of Schedule Among NFL’s Five Toughest in 2024.
That’s what Sharp Football Analysis has done. Using those Vegas win totals, the Vikings have the fifth-hardest schedule in the league this year. Only the Steelers, Patriots, Browns, and Ravens have tougher slates.
Quote: The Vikes had an easier schedule because that’s how the NFL does it. The Vikes had a poor year in 2023 so they end up with an easier schedule.
Prior to the start of the 2024 season, the expert calculation said they were tied for the 16th hardest schedule.
I don’t think that equates to having an “easier schedule”
You misinterpreted my post. The NFL builds schedules based upon how you finished. So, the Vikes 2024 schedule was based upon how they finished 2023, which was third in the NFC north and out of the playoffs. So, they theoretically had an easier schedule than anyone that finished above them.
I was actually hoping for a 4-7 win season.
That’s only 11 games. They play 17. Did you mean to type 10-7 or 4-13?
I felt like the season in general was kind of a waste. In the ultimate goal being, win a Superbowl. If you can’t win a Superbowl then you want to be entertaining for the home fans. I guess we got that. I for one am not entertained by a team seemingly squeaking out wins. I’d love to get behind a dominant team that really beats it’s opponents. Gets up by multiple scores and doesn’t give it all back in the last quarter. So, I can honestly say I haven’t been real entertained with the Vikings in quite some time. ’98 was amazing.
I was actually hoping for a 4-7 win season. As tough as that can be to watch, it would’ve meant better draft picks this spring and a better team next season when we were originally hoping to be good. There’s nothing wrong with a season or two of gaining the right pieces and then putting all hands on deck. Realistically you won’t be in contention every year. So why do we make it seem like you have to?
And there’s always gonna be that 1 or 2 stars on a team that you kinda waste their prime by not winning now. That’s only been happening league wide for 70+ years. You can’t fix every problem every year. But you certainly can’t fix team personnel if you finish in the top 10 but never win the big one. Re-signing Sam Darnold in my opinion would be terribly ridiculous. He’ll always be Sam Darnold with a couple shiny moments sprinkled in. He piled up stats with the receivers the Vikings have. He made some great throws, but so did 25 other quarterbacks. When the pressure really mounted in some of the regular season games and particularly the end of the Packers game through the Rams, he sucked. I don’t believe he’ll find a way to perform under that pressure any time soon.
Let’s move forward with JJ and see what he’s got. He could be great, he could be another mediocre guy. Only one way to find out.
So be the bears year in and year out? How’s that working out?
Sam is not resigning long term. Agree that would be foolish.
If you are a losing organization all that does is build that atmosphere in the building and get people fired year after year. I would much rather have overachievers than be underachievers.
I am no Vikings fan, but I think they either have to go all-in on the JJ movement and use a bridge guy at most for a month or so………or offer Darnold a 2-3 year contract and dangle JJ on the trade market around the draft. If you brought Darnold back it’s to essentially go for it all as assembled. This is also probably the “safer” option as he’s a known commodity in the system. Whether or not there’s enough meat left on the bone financially to build a championship roster is a big question mark. If you go to JJ you have to accept some regression in the win column in exchange for a larger “window” and more opportunities in free agency over the next 4 seasons.
The Vikings proved they could win with Darnold and be a top 5-6 team in the league. Whether or not KOC believes that to be something they can replicate is clearly not being relayed to the fanbase. My guess is the decision will be 95% KOC’s, with maybe 5% of the front office involvement weighing in.
I’ll be shocked if they resign Darnold. My gut says they go into camp with JJ + a guy like Danny Dimes and let KOC decide how it’s handled from there forward.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Pailofperch wrote:</div>
I was actually hoping for a 4-7 win season.That’s only 11 games. They play 17. Did you mean to type 10-7 or 4-13?
I meant exactly what I typed. A 4-7 win season.
As in anywhere between 4W-13L up to 7W-10L.
Didn’t think it was that difficult to understand. I was hoping we would finish where it was originally projected. Then, as long as our front office didn’t screw everything up, we’d be higher in the draft. If I’m not mistaken, we didn’t have much draft capitol this year due to previous trades. So, being a few extra wrungs up the ladder would help.
So be the bears year in and year out? How’s that working out?
Sam is not resigning long term. Agree that would be foolish.
If you are a losing organization all that does is build that atmosphere in the building and get people fired year after year. I would much rather have overachievers than be underachievers
That’s what you thought I typed? Geeze you guys. Nobody wants to suck forever. But why on earth do we think every year we should patch things together just to crawl into the post season and get embarrassed? Maybe….Maybe it’s okay to not patch for a season or two. Put out the team we have and if they aren’t that good, fine. Then get some actual draft picks that will create a long term nucleus of a team and be something special for 5 to 10 years. A mid pack team isn’t special. And that’s what the Vikings have been for 35 of the last 40 years!
If you go to JJ you have to accept some regression in the win column in exchange for a larger “window” and more opportunities in free agency over the next 4 seasons.
Yes! Kinda what I was digging at. Occasionally, you have to look a few years down the road. Take a deep breath, be patient and know you’re investing in the future.
Put out the team we have and if they aren’t that good, fine. Then get some actual draft picks that will create a long term nucleus of a team and be something special for 5 to 10 years. A mid pack team isn’t special. And that’s what the Vikings have been for 35 of the last 40 years!
The thing is that drafting high doesnt guarantee you will be good. Look at the teams that have predominately drafted high, many are still terrible. The Giants and the Jets have been bad for a long time and at the time drafted who many thought to be franchise QBs, but guess what those guys had really no one else around them and found themselves on the Vikings this year.
No professional team or organization is going to settle for mediocrity. Players arent going to tank (not suggesting you are saying this), but the fact of the matter is even though you may draft high, doesnt equal success. I would rather they make strategic veteran signings like they did this year that really jolted this team. Guys like van ginkel, aaron jones, heck even Darnold provided way more than expected. I would rather go that route than for the organization to rely on a few rookies to draft. True, we havent won anything. We got jobbed in New Orleans. Stupid kicker hadnt missed a kick and then does when it matters most in 98. Those were likely both Superbowl wins. This season was a heckuva lot of fun even though it ended prematurely (after the fact). If you said going into this season they would finish 14-3 but lose in the first round, I bet the vast majority of fans wouldnt have considered that a success considering where they were projected to go.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>buckybadger wrote:</div>
If you go to JJ you have to accept some regression in the win column in exchange for a larger “window” and more opportunities in free agency over the next 4 seasons.Yes! Kinda what I was digging at. Occasionally, you have to look a few years down the road. Take a deep breath, be patient and know you’re investing in the future.
I agree with this, but the problem is there are no guarantees that its going to work. I always say, wish in one hand and pi$$ in the other and see which one fills up first.
I’m not really in the camp of “sucking your way to success” strategy. Because for every team that accomplishes that, the majority of them fail.
I can’t really think of a recent example of that working in the NFL but I can come up with several where it didn’t work. The Bears are a great example of it not working.
The Blackhawks in the NHL are a really good example where it did work for a few years. 20 years of suckness followed by 5 years of greatness followed by more years of suckness.
I always say, wish in one hand and pi$$ in the other and see which one fills up first.
Well, that kind of implies that you’ll lose everytime! Until you completely run out of pi$$!
Also, the pi$$ kinda leaks out between the fingers. So there’s usually room for more. 
Its obvious that a few teams are destined to be terrible for very long terms at a time. Regardless of high draft picks or FA signings. Clearly then they suck at scouting, signing, and coaching. The Giants, Jets, Browns, Bears, until recently the Lions. They really turned it around.
Obviously a good mix of draft picks and free agents is best. But you also need to cut guys that are simply just kinda good.
The Chiefs made the post season for like 4-5 years straight with Alex Smith. He was “good”. Then they drafted Mahomes and even after another postseason with Smith, they gave Patrick the reigns and said let’s go.
Not trying to compare JJ to Mahomes, but if they would’ve kept sticking with Alex Smith, what would’ve happened?
“That’s what you thought I typed? Geeze you guys. Nobody wants to suck forever. But why on earth do we think every year we should patch things together just to crawl into the post season and get embarrassed? Maybe….Maybe it’s okay to not patch for a season or two. Put out the team we have and if they aren’t that good, fine. Then get some actual draft picks that will create a long term nucleus of a team and be something special for 5 to 10 years. A mid pack team isn’t special. And that’s what the Vikings have been for 35 of the last 40 years!”
I believe that was the plan this year till JJ was out for the season. Then Sam had a resurgence. I would have loved to see McCarthy play this year, but that wasn’t in the cards. I get what you are saying. They drafted two very young guys in the first round last year that they plan on being impactful players for years to come. Cost them future draft capital to get the guys they wanted. Like I said they overachieved and that says a lot about the players and the staff they have.
They are slowly turning over the roster from the previous regime. They have definitely got their financials straightened back out. Some of the patch work was a necessity just to field a starting lineup. AKA getting Cam Robinson when Darrisaw was out for the season or getting a veteran CB when Blackmon got injured for the year on the the first day of training camp. Replaced an older Hunter with a younger cheaper version.
I think drafting a QB as high as they did and letting go of Cousins said a lot about what they are trying to do.
Now that QB has to be the guy or it will start an ugly cycle that could last a long time. If they had a similar season with JJ at QB would you think the same or be excited for the future?
If you think they should trade away Jefferson, Addison, Hock, O’Neil and Darrisaw in hopes of getting draft capital and upgrading those guys. Letting McCarthy play with zero talent around him. I disagree with that strategy.
Let’s not forget 1998. Coming off two seasons of 9-7 football. Mediocre Brad Johnson football. Cough Cousins. Brad Johnson gets hurt. Cunningham comes in ( had not played meaningful football in a few years) and throws bombs to the best rookie WR we have ever seen. Sound familiar? Following year Jeff George started more game than Cunningham and by 2000 neither Brad George or Cunningham were on the team and we were all rolling our arms doing the Cullpepper dance. That lasted all of 1 season and the Mike Tice era never got more than 1 game above 500 again.
Only way you can have something special for 5 years is to have a Franchise QB. 10 years is silly to think about in NFL years now. If only we could find that special something called Manning, Brady, Mahomes. I mean it can’t be that hard right.
I do find it interesting they havent extended Kwesi yet.
If you look at his drafting record, it might be the reason he hasn’t been resigned yet. You can’t be a contender without hitting on some draft picks which are much cheaper than signing higher priced veterans.
Not trying to compare JJ to Mahomes, but if they would’ve kept sticking with Alex Smith, what would’ve happened?
Its impossible to say. Its not like they were winning just because of Mahomes, I mean they had guys like Hill that no one could cover let alone catch when he got the ball. Plus the refs are on their side 
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