The Minnesota Vikings‘ tumultuous 2025 season got worse when they lost to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, dropping their record to 4-6. That means little respect in power rankings.
ESPN didn’t punish the Vikings for their loss, but Minnesota remains in the bottom half of the rankings. They rank 20th for the second straight week, with little optimism surrounding both the team and its young quarterback, Kevin Seifert writes.
But now more than halfway through his second season, McCarthy hasn’t made much progress toward establishing himself as the Vikings’ long-term starter. The biggest concern is perhaps the most fundamental job a quarterback has: delivering the football accurately and on time. His off-target rate (22.1%) ranks No. 46 of the 47 quarterbacks who have made at least one start this season. Without a significant turnaround, the Vikings might have to consider bringing in legitimate competition for him in 2026.
McCarthy could do a lot to change the fans’ perspective of him with an upset win over the Packers this week at Lambeau Field. But consistency in both production and fundamentals continues to elude McCarthy.
If he can turn it around over the season’s final seven games, then fans can live with the lack of team success. But if McCarthy can’t show improvement, then the Vikings may need to look for another option in 2026.