‘MNF’ takeaways: Watch out for the Vikings in the NFC North

The Vikings pulled even with the Lions for first in the NFC North with an easy 30-12 win over the Bears.

Here are five takeaways from one of two Monday night games on the Week 15 schedule. 

Watch out for the Vikings in the NFC North

All season, the Lions have stood atop the NFC North. But the Vikings, winners of seven in a row, are pushing them to the finish line and might catch them by the start of the playoffs.

With Monday’s win, Minnesota (12-2) and Detroit (12-2) are tied for first, and the teams meet in Week 18.

Injuries, particularly on defense, have depleted the Lions. Meanwhile, the Vikings have won seven in a row, one of the league’s best defenses and a balanced offense led by wide receiver Justin Jefferson and running back Aaron Jones.

The Vikings have a tougher schedule for the next two weeks. They play on the road against the Seahawks (8-6) and host the Packers (10-4), while the Lions play at the Bears (4-9) and 49ers (6-8). 

While the schedules favor the Lions, based on team health, we’d much rather be Minnesota.

Brian Flores should be a head coach next season

Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores again showed why he deserved to be a head coach in 2025 after another outstanding defensive effort by Minnesota.

The Vikings held the Bears to 1-of-12 on third downs and limited them to 284 yards, the seventh time Minnesota has held an opponent under 300 yards this season.

Flores, the former Dolphins head coach who is suing the league for discrimination, has repeatedly proven this season that he should have another head coaching opportunity. If the league passes him over this offseason, it will only prove his point.

It’s Ben Johnson or bust for the Bears

If there’s one team with a coaching opening that would be forgiven for not pursuing Flores, it’s the Bears.

Chicago should be all-in on hiring Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who’s helped orchestrate Detroit’s explosive offenses for the past three seasons. 

The Bears have appeared disjointed on offense all season, and Monday was no exception.

While Minnesota’s defense did Chicago no favors, it struggled to do even the simple things right.

In the third quarter, for example, Bears running back D’Andre Swift’s one-yard touchdown was erased because of an illegal substitution penalty, and the Bears settled for a field goal.

Chicago has a bright young talent at quarterback in 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and must pair him with an offensive coach who can develop him into a franchise starter.

This offseason, the Bears need to hand Johnson a blank check.

J.J. McCarthy is in good shape for next season

The prevailing sentiment around the league is Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, who’s playing on a one-year contract, has earned himself a larger payday than Minnesota can offer him this offseason.

That would put Vikings 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury during the preseason, in line to start in 2025.

Arguably, no other young quarterback would be in a better situation. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has established himself as one of the league’s best quarterback coaches. And with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, McCarthy will have one of the league’s top wide receiver duos.

The Vikings have set McCarthy up for success.

What’s the point of flex scheduling?

What good is flex scheduling if the league doesn’t use it? In Week 15, the league had not one but two dreadful Monday night matchups, with Falcons-Raiders rounding out the poor slate of games.

The NFL’s flexible scheduling procedures allow the league to move Monday night games for better primetime showcases, which is why it’s confusing the league didn’t move one of these two duds.

CBS and FOX probably would have blocked Bills-Lions or Steelers-Eagles from being moved from their stations, but even Bucs-Chargers or Colts-Broncos would have been preferable to the clunkers we got instead.