The Minnesota Vikings spent much of last season on the wrong end of the highlight reel. Whether it was giving up chunk plays on defense, surrendering pick-sixes on offense, or allowing backbreaking returns-especially against that team in Chicago-Minnesota was consistently on the receiving end of explosive moments. And in today’s NFL, where big plays often swing games and seasons, that’s a problem that can’t be ignored.
It’s no coincidence that the two teams preparing to square off in this year’s Super Bowl-New England and Seattle-ranked among the league’s best in generating explosive plays. Both were top five in that category on offense and finished with top-three scoring units.
Meanwhile, the Vikings found themselves in the bottom seven in both explosive plays and scoring. That gap in offensive firepower tells a clear story.
Now, it’d be easy to point fingers at quarterback J.J. McCarthy and call it a day.
But the truth is more layered than that. McCarthy, for all the inconsistency in his rookie campaign, actually tied MVP candidate Matthew Stafford with a 7.8% rate of “big-time throws”-a stat that captures arm strength, accuracy, and the willingness to push the ball into tight windows.
That’s not just encouraging-it’s a sign that McCarthy has the raw tools to create the kind of splash plays that define great offenses.
We’ve seen flashes. When McCarthy is on, he can zip the ball downfield with the best of them.
There were moments-like his deep strike to Jordan Addison on a crucial 3rd-and-9 against Detroit-where he looked every bit the franchise quarterback. But those moments were too few and far between, buried beneath a sea of misfires and missed opportunities.
Special teams offered a glimmer of hope, too. Myles Price showed real juice as a return man, even if the stat sheet doesn’t reflect it.
He had a knack for breaking off long runs, only to see them wiped out by penalties. His official long was just 61 yards, and he didn’t reach the end zone, but the potential was clearly there.
Think of what Rashid Shaheed did for Seattle this year with three return touchdowns-Price has that kind of game-changing ability if the Vikings can clean up the flags.
But the biggest hole in Minnesota’s explosive play portfolio? The run game.
Simply put, there was no home-run threat in the backfield. The two longest runs of the season came from a wide receiver and a quarterback.
That’s not ideal.
Jordan Mason, acquired for a fifth-round pick, was solid. He ran hard, averaged 4.8 yards per carry, and found the end zone six times.
But his longest run? Just 24 yards.
Aaron Jones wasn’t much better, topping out at 31 yards. Defenses didn’t fear Minnesota’s run game, and that meant fewer defenders biting on play-action or getting caught out of position.
Compare that to what Seattle and New England brought to the table. Kenneth Walker was second in the league in 20-plus-yard touches.
Rhamondre Stevenson led all running backs with a 7.4% explosive play rate. And TreVeyon Henderson?
He was one of the few backs in the league who could rival Jahmyr Gibbs in 40-yard runs. Those guys didn’t just move the chains-they flipped the field and changed the game.
Minnesota had none of that.
There was a time earlier in the season when the Vikings looked like a lock to draft Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love-a back with serious burst and 37 runs of 10-plus yards this year. But after a late-season push, Love will likely be off the board before Minnesota picks at 18. That leaves the front office with a decision: find another explosive runner in the draft, take a swing in free agency (Breece Hall, perhaps?), or get creative and try to use Price in a gadget role.
Whatever the route, the message is clear: the Vikings need more juice.
They’ve got solid players. Jordan Addison is a reliable route-runner who can move the sticks.
Jordan Mason is a dependable grinder. T.J.
Hockenson is a steady presence at tight end. But who’s the guy that keeps defensive coordinators up at night?
Who’s the player that can take a simple screen or stretch play and go 80 yards? Right now, that guy doesn’t exist on this roster.
And that’s the difference between Minnesota and teams like Seattle and New England. The Patriots and Seahawks built offenses that can hit you with haymakers.
The Vikings are still jabbing, hoping to wear you down. That’s a fine strategy-until you fall behind and need a spark.
Of course, there are other factors at play. Play-calling, offensive line play, and McCarthy’s development all deserve scrutiny.
But the lack of explosive playmakers is the most glaring issue. The Vikings don’t just need to improve-they need to evolve.
This isn’t about tweaking the margins. It’s about injecting a new element into the offense, one that can tilt the field and change the math.
The blueprint is right there in the Super Bowl. Big plays win games.
They win championships. And until Minnesota finds a way to create more of them, they’ll be stuck watching the big game from home.
Again.