The Minnesota Vikings had the kind of preseason afternoon that leaves you with more questions than answers. Their defense, even with the second string in the mix, looked ready to roll at U.S.
Bank Stadium. The offense, on the other hand, spent most of the day stuck in neutral in a 13-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 of the 2026 preseason.
Minnesota used three quarterbacks and still managed only three points. The Vikings also turned it over twice, and that was enough to let Baltimore leave Minneapolis with a 10-point win.
J.J. McCarthy opened the game for Minnesota and started with a short burst of efficiency, completing three of his four passes on the opening drive.
That possession still ended with a punt. Baltimore’s first series under Tyler Huntley went nowhere as well, and a fair catch interference penalty gave the Vikings a strong field position chance.
McCarthy nearly cashed in right away. On the second play of that drive, he escaped pressure and uncorked a deep ball to Tai Felton down the right sideline for 50 yards, putting Minnesota at first-and-goal. But the Vikings couldn’t finish, eventually facing fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line before McCarthy’s throw for Myles Price sailed too high and fell incomplete.
From there, the first half turned into a string of empty possessions. Baltimore went three-and-out again, Minnesota answered with a punt after a sack and a holding penalty erased a first down, and then the Ravens came right back with another three-and-out.
Trayvon Rudolph’s strong return gave Minnesota midfield position, but that drive also fizzled. By the start of the second quarter, neither offense had found much of anything.
Baltimore finally put together a drive that moved inside the Minnesota 40, and Tyler Loop finished it with a 49-yard field goal to put the Ravens up 3-0 with about 9 1/2 minutes left before halftime.
Carson Wentz entered at quarterback for Minnesota on the next series, and the Vikings worked into Baltimore territory before a third-down blitz led to a sack and another punt. The Ravens then made their own quarterback switch, bringing in Joe Fagnano for Tyler Huntley, but his first drive also ended in a three-and-out.
That gave Wentz one last chance before the half, and he delivered the Vikings’ biggest pass of the day to that point, connecting with Jeshaun Jones for 35 yards to move deep into Baltimore territory. A screen to tight end Gavin Bartholomew pushed Minnesota to the Ravens’ 29-yard line, but another sack forced the Vikings to settle for a long field goal try. Will Reichard drilled the 52-yarder, and the teams went to halftime tied 3-3.
The third quarter opened the way so many others had: with a Baltimore three-and-out. Max Brosmer then took over for Minnesota, but his first drive also ended with a punt.
Baltimore finally started to separate on its next possession. A personal foul on Bangally Kamara wiped out a third-down stop and helped the Ravens move into Vikings territory. Fagnano then hit Devontez Walker to help set up an eventual 8-yard touchdown pass to LaJohntay Wester, giving Baltimore a 10-3 lead with just under six minutes left in the third quarter.
Minnesota answered with one of its better-looking drives of the day. Brosmer completed back-to-back passes to Jeshaun Jones and Dillon Bell for a first down, and a throw to Dontae Fleming moved the Vikings across midfield. But on fourth-and-3 from the Baltimore 44, Brosmer’s pass fell incomplete, and the Ravens took over on downs.
The Vikings had another chance to make things interesting early in the fourth quarter. Brosmer hit Jones for a first down, but Jones then lost the ball, and Amani Oruwariye recovered for Baltimore at the Minnesota 43.
Baltimore turned that takeaway into three more points. Loop added a 20-yard field goal to stretch the lead to 13-3 with just under nine minutes left.
Minnesota’s final real push reached the Baltimore 24, but Brosmer’s pass intended for Terrill Davis was intercepted by Silas Walters inside the 20, shutting the door on any comeback. Jesse Minter’s team ran out the clock from there and headed home with the win.
The Vikings wrap up the preseason Friday night in Denver against Sean Payton and the Broncos.
In Other News...
Vikings Still Have A Backup QB Problem After J.J. McCarthy Exit
J.J. McCarthys preseason debut for Minnesota was supposed to be a longer audition, but it ended early against the Baltimore Ravens after an undisclosed injury forced him out of the game. Before leaving, he had completed 5 of 10 passes for 81 yards, and Kevin OConnell said McCarthy was slated to play more before the injury limited his night. McCarthy has described the issue as minor and not something he expects to affect his availability.
Even so, the Vikings are still sorting through their quarterback depth chart, and McCarthys brief appearance only adds another layer to a competition that remains unsettled. With Kyler Murray entrenched as the starter, the backup spot is still very much open, and Minnesota now has to balance McCarthys recovery with whatever evaluation time remains in the preseason. [Read more 🡒]
Former Vikings Coach Is Creating A Concern Minnesota Knows Too Well
Chris Kuper is wasting no time making an impression in Philadelphia. The former Vikings offensive line coach has taken over the Eagles room, and early preseason work has already pointed to encouraging signs from a group of backup linemen who have looked more organized under his direction.
For Minnesota, that kind of development brings back a familiar concern. The Vikings know how much a coach can shape the trenches, and Kuper now has a chance to prove himself in a new setting while his old team watches another familiar face try to build a line into a strength. The real answer will come with time, but Philadelphias early returns at least suggest the transition is off to a promising start. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Offense Is Giving Fans A Debate They Did Not Want
Two preseason games in, the Vikings have already given their fans an uncomfortable conversation to have. The first loss came with the offense looking out of sync across the board, as young quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer both struggled to find much traction, while the running game has not offered much relief either.
There has even been unease in 7-on-7 work with Kyler Murray, adding another layer to an offense that has not yet settled into a rhythm. Minnesotas ground attack is averaging less than four yards per carry with no touchdowns through two games, and for a team trying to sort out its identity before the games count, the questions are piling up faster than the answers. [Read more 🡒]