If the Minnesota Vikings want to be taken seriously as playoff contenders, games like the one against the Baltimore Ravens can’t look like that. Sunday’s matchup was supposed to be a measuring stick — a chance for the Vikings to prove they could hang with one of the NFL’s most complete teams. Instead, it was a sobering reminder that there’s still a wide gap between “in the hunt” and “in control.”
The Ravens didn’t just beat Minnesota — they dominated them in every phase. From Lamar Jackson’s effortless command of the offense to Baltimore’s smothering defense that had J.J. McCarthy seeing ghosts, this was a mismatch from start to finish. The Vikings’ offensive line looked overmatched, their defense couldn’t contain the run, and the energy that defined their win over the Lions was nowhere to be found.
Yes, the Vikings are still technically in the playoff picture, but performances like this tell a different story. Great teams don’t crumble under pressure; they rise to it. Until Minnesota proves it can compete — not just survive — against top-tier opponents, the “in the hunt” label feels more like wishful thinking than reality.
Pretenders or Contenders? Vikings Exposed Against Baltimore’s Big-League Test
