For 14 NFL teams, this week is continuing similar to last week.
The routines remain the same: practice, review game film, get treatment for any injuries and answer questions from the media. The only thing different is the increased weight of game results — it's now the playoffs, which means mistakes and poor play by those teams most likely translates to an early postseason exit and a missed opportunity of completing the season-long goal of winning a championship.
For the remaining 18 teams who fell short of reaching the playoffs, including the Vikings, this week brings a more somber tone to the routine. Instead of putting on their helmets and pads for practice, players cleared out their lockers. And instead of answering questions about the team's upcoming opponent or reviewing film, they're answering ones regarding the team's offseason and their future with the organization.
Minnesota's 30-20 loss to Detroit on Sunday brought its 2023 season to a close. The Vikings finished with a 7-10 record and dropped six of their final seven games, including four in a row to end the year.
The Vikings will now turn their attention to another critical offseason, with several key players eligible to enter free agency, including quarterback Kirk Cousins, wide receiver K.J. Osborn, outside linebackers Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum, and linebacker Jordan Hicks.
Minnesota's loss to the Lions dropped the Vikings in the final week of the Power Rankings for the regular season. Here's a look at the final rankings of 2023:
No. 22 (down 1 spot): Eric Edholm, NFL.com
The Vikings have now reached a flashpoint, finishing off a disappointing Year 2 under Kevin O'Connell, and they're heading into an offseason of unknowns. The biggest one is at quarterback, of course, where Kirk Cousins' status is the biggest storyline going right now. His contract voids in March. While a separation felt somewhat natural at the time of Cousins' season-ending injury, back in October, it now feels as if the Vikings must do everything they can to at least first consider a short-term deal to keep Cousins in Minnesota before seeking options. Then again, Cousins turns 36 during training camp and will be coming off Achilles rehab. There's also the matter of Justin Jefferson and his inevitable contract extension. Can the team get that done along with retaining Cousins? Watching Jefferson return from injury to dominate with a rotating cast of characters at QB might make some think Cousins is expendable. But if O'Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah enter their critical third year together — often a legacy-defining season for coach-GM combos — without more stability at QB, their tenure could end up being far shorter than one might have expected after their 13-4 record in 2022.
No. 22 (down 1 spot): Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
[The Vikings] found out what it looks like without Kirk Cousins. They have to try and bring him back.
No. 23 (down 1 spot): Josh Kendall, The Athletic
The first order of offseason business probably will be working out a new contract with Kirk Cousins. After that, it's finding an edge rusher. Chop Robinson, the 6-3, 250-pound Penn State pass rusher, or Laiatu Latu, the 6-5, 265-pounder out of UCLA, will be tempting options.
No. 21 (no change): NFL Staff, Bleacher Report
After a 13-win 2022 season and an NFC North championship, the Minnesota Vikings entered 2023 with high expectations. But thanks in part to serious injuries to players such as quarterback Kirk Cousins and wide receiver Justin Jefferson, the campaign descended into disappointment.
With the curtain closed on a 10-loss season, the Vikings now have a number of major decisions to make.
There's the matter of whether to try to re-sign Cousins, who tore his Achilles tendon midseason. The 35-year-old isn't an elite signal-caller, but he's good enough to warrant interest from other teams and $40 million a season on a new deal.
Then there's edge rusher Danielle Hunter, who finished the season fourth in the league with 16.5 sacks. He expressed interest in returning to Minnesota, but he also doesn't sound like a player interested in playing on a below-market deal.
"It's all I know. I came into this league, I don't know any better. Purple. Ever since middle school I've always been wearing purple. I'm here now. Purple," Hunter said. "I went out there, did what I was told to do. I was excited about how I played this year."
The Vikings have over $37 million in cap space per Over the Cap, but bringing Cousins and Hunter back could burn though that in the blink of an eye.
No. 22 (down 1 spot): Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports
Minnesota has to figure out who its 2024 quarterback is, and it gets a little more complicated because they're likely to sign receiver Justin Jefferson to an extension that looks like a quarterback deal. It will be an important and interesting offseason.
