Game Preview, Week 14: Washington at Minnesota Vikings

December 6, 2025

by Steve Thomas

Washington looked like a real NFL team again last week, for what seemed like the first time in almost two months.  They lost, of course, but they did manage to win back some of their honor in the process.  Hopefully that mindset continues into this week’s contest against the Minnesota Vikings, who are a team with major problems.  On top of that, Washington is expected to get quarterback Jayden Daniels back from injury, so that’s an exciting moment for the fans.  I recommend that everyone forget about draft position this week and enjoy a game that Washington has a legitimate, good shot to win.  Hail to the Redskins Washington Football Team Commanders . . . ah, forget it.  Our game preview is below.

Game time & location:           Sunday, December 7, 2025, 1:00 p.m. ET, U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN; Gates                                                           open 11:00 a.m. ET; parking lots open 7:00 p.m.

Television:                                NFL Network

Television announcers:

TV broadcast map:                 Click here

 

DC-area radio:                           BIG-100 (WBIG FM)

Washington radio network:    Click here

Vikings radio network:            Click here

Satellite radio:                           SiriusXM: 384 (Wash. broad.) / internet: 831

 

Washington roster:                 Click here

Washington depth chart:       Click here

Vikings roster:                         Click here

Vikings depth chart:               Click here

 

All-time head-to-head record vs Vikings: 10 – 13 (last 10: 3 – 7)

Last meeting: L, November 6, 2022, 17 – 20

Vikings record: 4 – 8 (4th place) / NFC: 2 – 5 / Home: 1 – 4

Washington record: 3 – 9 (3rd place) / NFC: 1 – 6 / Away: 1 – 5

Early odds: Washington, -1.5

3 KEYS TO THE GAME

Pressure the quarterback

Regardless of whether J.J. McCarthy returns from concussion protocol and starts, or whether Minnesota is forced to start Max Brosmer (spoiler alert: it’s probably going to be McCarthy), the goal is the same: relentlessly pressure the quarterback and make him as uncomfortable as possible.  Brosmer looked mostly terrible last week, like he wasn’t good enough to start, but McCarthy isn’t much better.  McCarthy had been a huge disappointment this season before his concussion.  Washington needs to go all-out to get pressure on the quarterback and disrupt his ability to get comfortable and get the Vikings’ offense going.

Open up the passing game

The Vikings have a halfway decent run defense that has only allowed opposing offenses to average 4.0 yards per carry.  However, their pass defense is another story – it isn’t as bad as Washington’s pass defense, but it is still terrible.  This is a game in which Washington needs to rely on the passing game and open up the offense.  In this case, playing to the weaknesses of the opposition means relying on the passing game.  If Jayden Daniels is ready to return, this could have the added bonus of getting him back into the swing of things and back to his 2024 rookie year self.

Limit mistakes

This one really ought to be obvious and not worth putting in as a key to the game; however, when you’re Washington in 2025, it isn’t.  Washington has made a ton of mistakes this year, including penalties, blown coverages, missed tackles, drops, and everything else you can imagine.  But this week, with a winnable game, all of that needs to stop.  The last thing Washington needs to do is give up a game they should win because of silly, avoidable mistakes.

3 KEY MATCHUPS

Jonathan Jones vs. Justin Jefferson

Clearly, this matchup has the potential to go horribly, terribly wrong.  Jefferson is one the NFL’s best receivers – maybe the overall #1 in the league – whereas Jones is a lower-level #1 corner who currently has the job only due to injuries to both of Washington’s job corners.  The only saving grace for Washington here is that the Vikings have a quarterback problem.  Whether J.J. McCarthy is able to return from his concussion or whether Max Brosmer gets another start, either way, Jefferson will be underserved.  Neither quarterback is close to even a league average starter right now.  However, keep an eye out on whether Jefferson is running free in Washington’s secondary, because if it happens enough, even McCarthy / Brosmer will eventually be able to find him.  For his part, Jones has done fairly well considering the circumstances, but clearly, this is a less than ideal matchup for him.

Samuel Cosmi vs. Jalen Redmond

The Vikings actually don’t have many sacks – _31 on the year – but they have a high overall pressure percentage, meaning they get plenty of hurries and quarterback knockdowns.  Redmond, the left interior lineman, is tied for 2nd on the team in sacks with 4.  Cosmi is Washington’s best guard, probably.  If there’s a matchup in the trenches to watch out for in this game, it’s Cosmi versus Redmond.

Terry McLaurin vs Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers

McLaurin did fairly well last week, with 7 receptions for 96 yards.  This matchup is a good one for him to continue to get his mojo back, as neither Murphy nor Rodgers are known as “elite” corners who can take an upper-end receiver one on one.  Keep an eye out on how well McLaurin does in the game, including whether he can get open with regularity and get some significant yards after catch.  Washington desperately needs McLaurin to get back to his old self before the end of this season, and in my view, this is a pretty good game for him to keep that process going.  I don’t necessary expect the television announcers to highlight this matchup, but McLaurin himself should be the subject of much talk in this game.

OFFICIAL INJURY REPORT (active roster only)

LP – limited practice                          FP – full practice                    DNP – did not practice

NIR – not injury related                      Q – questionable                     O – out

D – doubtful

Washington	Vikings
TE Z. Ertz, NIR (rest); Wed: DNP; Thurs: NL; Fri: NL	DT J. Allen, NIR (rest); Wed: DNP; Thurs: FP; Fri: LP
DE D. Jackson, knee/groin; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O	G B. Brandel, concussion; Wed: LP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP
DT J. Kinlaw, back; Wed: DNP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP	RB T. Chandler, knee; Wed: LP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP; game: Q
OLB V. Miller, NIR (rest); Wed: DNP; Thurs: NL; Fri: NL	T C. Darrisaw, knee; Wed FP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: FP; game: Q
T L. Tunsil, NIR (rest); Wed: DNP; Thurs: NL; Fri: NL	OLB J. Greenard, shoulder; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP
LB B. Wagner, knee; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: LP; game: Q	DL J. Hargrave, NIR (rest); Wed: LP; Thurs: FP; Fri: LP
QB J. Daniels, left elbow; Wed: LP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP	OL D. Jackson, ankle; Wed: DN; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: Q
LB F. Luvu, shoulder; Wed: LP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP	S T. Jackson, neck; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: DNP; game: O
WR N. Brown, groin/knee; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: DNP; game: Q	RB A. Jones, shoulder: Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP
LS T. Ott, back; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP	C R. Kelly, hip; Wed: LP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP
T G. Fant, knee; Wed; NL; Thurs; LP Fri: DNP; game: O	QB J.J. McCarthy, concussion; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP
	S J. Metellus, shoulder; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP
	DL L. Drake Rodriguez, neck; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O
	DL J. Redmond, hip; Wed: LP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP
	S H. Smith, NIR (rest); Wed: LP; Thurs: FP; Fri: LP

Steve’s Prediction

The Vikings have too many problems.  Washington gets off the snide and gets a victory, 24 – 13.

Inactives

QB Josh Johnson

LB Ale Kaho

T Trent Scott

T George Fant

DE Drake Jackson

DE Jayln Holmes

 

Elevated

DE DeMarcus Walker