A common refrain from head coach Kevin O’Connell as he gave the autopsy of this season on Monday was highlighting how small moments make a big difference. He seemed to be driving himself crazy while reflecting on some of the inflection points.
“It’s easy to say when we get into December and we’re playing for a chance to get into the playoffs,” O’Connell said. “We’ve got to understand it might be this play in September, October or November that ultimately determines our ability to have the best path to get in.”
There were a few games on the schedule that the Vikings simply have to live with because they weren’t competitive. The blowout losses to the Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay Packers, and Seattle Seahawks come to mind. But the Vikings also let a number of opportunities slip through their fingertips, losing a handful of games they could easily have won.
Now, they will be forced to sit at home while their peers get to chase a Super Bowl.
“It’s going to sting,” O’Connell said. “We’ve got to find a way to punch a ticket into the tournament.”
Here’s a ranking of the plays that cost the Vikings a shot at the playoffs:
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) scrambles out he pocket as Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) pursues in the fourth quarter of a NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Minnesota Vikings, 28-22. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
No. 5: The Jalen Hurts escape act (Oct. 19)
After the Vikings kicked a field goal to cut the deficit to 21-19 in a matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, they immediately put themselves in position to force a punt. If the Vikings got the ball back, they might have been able to take the lead.
Instead, star quarterback Jalen Hurts made a play on third down to move the chains, and the Eagles took complete control.
As the pocket collapsed around him, Hurts escaped pressure, rolled to his right, and fired a dart to star receiver A.J. Brown to move the chains. That scramble kept the drive alive, and Hurts followed it by throwing a 26-yard touchdown pass to Brown that proved to be the difference.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (99) hits Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) during an NFL football game at Croke Park in Dublin, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (Dave Shopland/AP Content Services for the NFL)
No. 4: The Carson Wentz penalty (Sept. 28)
It looked like the Vikings were about to force overtime despite trailing the Pittsburgh Steelers for most of the game. They had cut the deficit to 24-21 and had the ball back in the final minute when quarterback Carson Wentz got whistled for intentional grounding.
The pressure came from edge rusher Nick Herbig, who beat left guard Blake Brandel with a stunt on the interior of the offensive line. After initially managing to escape the sack, Wentz tried to throw the ball away while being brought to the ground. He was called for intentional grounding and the Vikings turned the ball over on downs a few plays later.
No. 3: The Myles Price fumble (Nov. 9)
After rendering superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson largely ineffective to that point, the Vikings surrendered the lead when the Baltimore Ravens kicked a field goal to make it 12-10 shortly after halftime.
On the next play, rookie receiver Myles Price fumbled on the kickoff return, a turnover from which the Vikings never fully recovered. Though they had struggled to move the ball, the Ravens took advantage of the gift, scoring a touchdown to go up 19-10 in a game they ended up winning rather comfortably.
J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings fumbles the ball while being sacked by Zach Harrison #96 of the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter in the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sept. 14, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
No. 2: The J.J. McCarthy strip sack (Sept. 14)
Never mind that the Vikings looked like a shell of themselves offensively against the Atlanta Falcons. They still trailed only12-6 at the start of the final frame — and had the ball near midfield.
That’s when quarterback J.J. McCarthy got strip sacked by defensive end Zach Harrison. The turnover set up a field goal that put the Falcons up 15-6, and the Vikings never scored another point.
This play finished high on the list because it was the first time McCarthy really showed that he was going to be a work in progress. He completed 11 of 21 passes for 158 yards, no touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Devin Duvernay (12) leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
No. 1: The Devin Duvernay kickoff return (Nov. 16)
A clutch touchdown pass from McCarthy to receiver Jordan Addison put the Vikings up 17-16 on the Chicago Bears in the final minute at U.S. Bank Stadium.
On the next play, receiver Devin Duvernay fielded a kickoff on the left side of the field, immediately sprinted toward to his right, and found a seam for what went down as a 56-yard gain. A few plays later, kicker Cairo Santos knocked in a field goal as time expired, lifting the Bears to a stunning 19-17 win.
This is undoubtedly the play everybody is going to point to when lamenting this season, and rightfully so. As tough as the Vikings made it on themselves at times, they might be in the playoffs had they simply been able to cover this particular kickoff return.
Related Articles
Mizutani: J.J. McCarthy isn’t the franchise quarterback the Vikings promised
PFF grades from the Vikings’ win over the Packers: J.J. McCarthy didn’t finish the game
Takeaways from the Vikings’ 16-3 win over the Packers
Here’s who the Vikings will play during the 2026 season
Shipley: J.J. McCarthy didn’t make a good case to be the Vikings’ starter
Leave a Reply