A few observations....

[StickierBuns]

As most have mentioned, just a horrible offensive showing. I mean you cringe every time there's a passing play on offense. Sickening to watch.

• Minnesota gave the rest of the NFL the gameplan to take Uncle Sammy off his game: Pressure up the middle. Get him rattled, hit him early and he's toast. He can be a beautiful thrower of the football but I'm glad we let him go. Ultimately, he's going to Darnold. 
  
• For those that thought Brosmer was going to be a revelation because JJ 'sucks', well there you go....more issues offensively than JJ. Not saying McCarthy was playing great, because he wasn't....we all have eyes....but Brosmer's weaknesses were exposed and of course it was his first game. He was trying to throw too early on many throws. Regardless, he's no Brock Purdy.
  
• The D really was playing so well for the majority of the game. What a wasted outing for that unit. Flo knew exactly how to attack Darnold. Just a shame.
  
• I just don't see a great team in the NFC. With any kind of just adequate QBing, Minnesota would be right in the thick of things. 
  
• Saw some good QBs throw some really shitty passes. It seems I see this week in and week out consistently in the NFL.
  

There's going to have to be a strategic reckoning this offseason. The salary cap is a monster for Minnesota heading into next year. Looks like they'll for sure have a top 10 pick in the Draft....they need to make it count. Might need another step-back year to move a step forward in 2027. Bring in a KOC University/vet QB to compete with JJ. Going to need to secure Jalen Redmond on a new contract in the offseason, he's got only 2026 left and he's making peanuts. I would think undoubtedly you need to trade Addison, he's not a luxury you can afford. Jefferson looks beyond frustrated, first time he refused to have a post game press conference. When you lose and lose ugly, the fan base wants to light the longboat on fire.

[greediron]

As most have mentioned, just a horrible offensive showing. I mean you cringe every time there's a passing play on offense. Sickening to watch.

• Minnesota gave the rest of the NFL the gameplan to take Uncle Sammy off his game: Pressure up the middle. Get him rattled, hit him early and he's toast. He can be a beautiful thrower of the football but I'm glad we let him go. Ultimately, he's going to Darnold. 
  
• For those that thought Brosmer was going to be a revelation because JJ 'sucks', well there you go....more issues offensively than JJ. Not saying McCarthy was playing great, because he wasn't....we all have eyes....but Brosmer's weaknesses were exposed and of course it was his first game. He was trying to throw too early on many throws. Regardless, he's no Brock Purdy.
  
• The D really was playing so well for the majority of the game. What a wasted outing for that unit. Flo knew exactly how to attack Darnold. Just a shame.
  
• I just don't see a great team in the NFC. With any kind of just adequate QBing, Minnesota would be right in the thick of things. 
  
• Saw some good QBs throw some really shitty passes. It seems I see this week in and week out consistently in the NFL.
  

There's going to have to be a strategic reckoning this offseason. The salary cap is a monster for Minnesota heading into next year. Looks like they'll for sure have a top 10 pick in the Draft....they need to make it count. Might need another step-back year to move a step forward in 2027. Bring in a KOC University/vet QB to compete with JJ. Going to need to secure Jalen Redmond on a new contract in the offseason, he's got only 2026 left and he's making peanuts. I would think undoubtedly you need to trade Addison, he's not a luxury you can afford. Jefferson looks beyond frustrated, first time he refused to have a post game press conference. When you lose and lose ugly, the fan base wants to light the longboat on fire.

Yeah, super glad we didn't pay Sammy 100 mil to crap the bed in December again.  That "I see ghosts" look was back.  

I have lost confidence in KOC.  He has always had issues with calling a game.  But he had enough talent to mask it.  Hopefully he can figure out how to coach a young QB and develop a game plan for them.  Hasn't shown that ability yet.

Feels like Cleveland, a championship level D, but the offense is awful.  But hell, even Shaduer could throw a TD.

[StickierBuns]

Feels like Cleveland, a championship level D, but the offense is awful.  But hell, even Shaduer could throw a TD.

My friend was texting me this morning (Bills fan) and he made this same Cleveland comparison.

[purplefaithful]

This team was a QB away from being very competitive...THIS YEAR

I agree with Sticky, there is no monster #1 team in the NFC dominating this year. I think the SB could see GB/Rams/Eagles or even Lions representing.

I have no idea what the roster churn will be for 26. But I suspect some big, older names will be gone (Hargrave, Harry etc) and it wont be too difficult to manage from a cap perspective.

I'm wondering if they are comfortable going into next year with Wentz being the vet qb insurance again???

[Chuckf]

This team was a QB away from being very competitive...THIS YEAR

I agree with Sticky, there is no monster #1 team in the NFC dominating this year. I think the SB could see GB/Rams/Eagles or even Lions representing.

I have no idea what the roster churn will be for 26. But I suspect some big, older names will be gone (Hargrave, Harry etc) and it wont be too difficult to manage from a cap perspective.

I'm wondering if they are comfortable going into next year with Wentz being the vet qb insurance again???

Who is gone IMO:

Harrison Smith - Retired
Aaron Jones - Contract redo or cut
Jordan Addison - Traded
TJ Hockenson - Contract redo
Ryan Kelly - Retired
Jon Allen - cut
Wentz - gone
Brosmer - practice squad

[medaille]

Yeah I think people are overplaying the cap issues. We’re in year 1 of the build portion of the rebuild. We haven’t really even got to “the cap is a myth” territory where we are restructuring everyone’s deals to be super backloaded with multiple void years.

[DeepFreeze05]

Hopefully he can figure out how to coach a young QB and develop a game plan for them.  Hasn't shown that ability yet.

He sure hasn't.


Some quotes from Purple Daily.

Phil Mackey: "JJ McCarthy and Max Brosmer, together, have a passer rating of just a tick over 50 this season. That's 25 points lower than the 32nd ranked passer rating quarterback, Cam Ward."

Judd Zulgad: "And you know the Brosmer thing yesterday, it makes it from an O'Connell standpoint worse because now it's not just well JJ McCarthy is not good. It is both guys look the exact same and one is the 10th overall pick in the draft and one is a UDFA and they look the same." ... On O'Connell: "We are are now at a point of I would love to see what's your preparation here. Like McCarthy and Brosmer don't look prepared to play football." ... "They look like Josh Freeman."

Judd Zulgad: "Here's what's really sad about these last two games, the Packers game with McCarthy and Brosmer on Sunday. You should not feel empathy for a football player in a professional football game. You should not feel like, 'Oh my god, this is really hard to watch. I really feel bad for this person.' You should be mad at them. You should be saying, 'You suck. What's wrong with you?' In these last two games, I just come back to I feel bad for them. They look unprepared. They look like they don't belong. And when I see two guys of a similar age, look the exact same, you know what? I'm not going to blame them. I'm blaming the coaching."