The Vikings' massive upset win over the Lions on Sunday has revived their playoff hopes and given fans a reason to dream about what the rest of this season might hold with J.J. McCarthy at quarterback. The win got the Vikings back to .500 at 4-4, kept them perfect within their division, and breathed life into their season in more ways than one.

The Vikings could have returned from their weekend off wearing blinders, retreating to standard-issue NFL banalities about how each game counts the same and refusing to peer into the ravine they seemed in danger of toppling down.

J.J. McCarthy made his return as the Minnesota Vikings ended a two-game losing streak, jumping to 4-4 on the 2025 NFL season after a 27-24 win on the road over Jared Goff and the NFC North rival Detroit Lions in Week 9. Now, the Vikings will turn their attention to Week 10, heading back to Minnesota to face the Baltimore Ravens.

Dallas Cowboys | New York Giants | Philadelphia Eagles | Washington Commanders NFC North: Chicago Bears | Detroit Lions | Green Bay Packers | Minnesota Vikings NFC South: Atlanta Falcons | Carolina Panthers | New Orleans Saints | Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC West: Arizona Cardinals | Los Angeles Rams | San Francisco 49ers | Seattle Seahawks

Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings made his return to the field in a big way during Week 9.

The Minnesota Vikings had their worst game of the 2025 season on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Minnesota Vikings need more quarterback depth after J.J. McCarthy, and trading for New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson could help.

Vikings QB Carson Wentz is set to undergo season-ending surgery on his left shoulder. He will be placed on IR. J.J. McCarthy is in line to start.