Five extra points: Take some bows, Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores

Three net passing yards — an all-time record low in 566 Vikings wins, including playoffs – had coach, play-caller and QB whisperer Kevin O’Connell saying he wouldn’t be putting Christmas Day’s 23-10 win over the Lions “on my shelf.” But take a bow anyhow, K.O.

Small picture, the jet sweep to Jordan Addison — his only touch on a day when he was targeted only once — with 3:52 left was perfect timing and clearly something O’Connell had been setting up, hoping to use if he got to the fourth quarter with a lead and the Lions playing single-high man coverage with a defender chasing Addison across the formation.

Seven of O’Connell’s eight run calls right before Addison’s 65-yard sprint to a 20-10 lead were between the tackles. Before Addison’s touchdown, the Vikings had 66 yards rushing on 24 called runs (2.8 yards per carry). The QB guru brought life to the running game at a point when the Vikings led by three points despite a 5-0 turnover advantage.

Big picture, O’Connell has won four straight, three of them after being eliminated from playoff contention, 1½ with undrafted rookie quarterback Max Brosmer not turning the ball over, and Christmas Day with five offensive starters out. There’s always something to evaluate, even when the playoff race is over and the anointed one (J.J. McCarthy) can’t stay healthy. During a month that could have been historically humiliating, O’Connell has shown he’s still the right guy to lead the players.

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores called a gem. Six takeaways against a team that had led the league in fewest giveaways with eight in 15 games. Blitzed Jared Goff on 55.9% of his passes, forcing Goff to throw his first two picks versus the blitz this season. Held the Lions to 68 rushing yards on 30 carries. Did it all without Jonathan Greenard and Josh Metellus. Kudos across the board. Now what? What happens after the season finale against the Packers, when Flores’ contract is up?

It seems unlikely that he’ll be offered a head coaching job. Owners like to make splash hires. Cherry-picking a non-playoff team doesn’t qualify. Owners also keep trending toward offensive-minded head coaches capable of attaching themselves to the QB’s hip. Flores’ lawsuit against the league is another factor, no matter what anyone says. And though Flores just called a game for the ages on Christmas Day, his hands aren’t clean. His run defense was often woefully flat, especially at home against Atlanta in Week 2 (218 yards) and at the Chargers in Week 8 (207). Eleven of 21 takeaways came in two games. There were none in seven games, which contributed to five losses.

Flores also might want to make a lateral move. Find a suitor who doesn’t have a fragile quarterback or an offense that’s turned the ball over a league-worst 29 times this year and turned it over 34 times — second-worst — while also missing the playoffs two years ago. If Flores does walk, defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator Daronte Jones would seem to be a candidate for promotion. He’s now schooled in Flores’ system and has called games in the preseason.

Reichard is the only kicker in the league making at least 93.8% of his kicks (fourth-best) with only two misses (30 of 32) and no missed PATs. He is tied for a league-high 11 makes from 50-plus. Is he human? Who knows. Should he be a Pro Bowler? Absolutely. Will he be first-team All-Pro? It’s trending that way on at least one voter’s scorecard.

If you enjoy watching teams draft players more than you like watching football, now would be a good time to turn away. Although anyone who just turned away already knows just how badly O’Connell and his Vikings have screwed up their 2026 draft order. Once 4-8 and angling for a top-10 pick, the Vikings now sit 8-8 and hold the 17th overall pick. Had they just followed some fans’ orders and tanked, the Vikings would be holding the seventh pick instead of the Commanders team the Vikings beat 31-0 to start their win streak. Tanking most of the fall and winter for a three-day crapshoot in the spring doesn’t sound like a great way to root. Especially when the best franchises like Kansas City and Baltimore routinely pluck high-quality starters to stars near the bottom of the first round.

Without further ado, who ya got going to the Vikings in your 2026 mock draft? Well, after several seconds of googling, er, research, it seems there isn’t a center worthy of the 17th overall pick. Many folks seem to believe it should be a cornerback or a safety (thanks for nothing, Lewis Cine). I’m going with Jeremiyah Love, the explosive, versatile running back from Notre Dame. That’s my pick, and I’m probably not going to stick to it. But a first-round RB1 talent to take this running game to another level would help the offensive line, the play-caller, the defense and, of course, McCarthy.

The Vikings spent over $300 million in free agency and got a .500 record so far and no playoff berth. They targeted offensive and defensive linemen with a lot of miles on them. It didn’t work out the way they had envisioned, and even ownership that’s never been known to spare expenses has to be wondering where its money went and why. What should the Vikings do this year in free agency? Overthecap.com currently lists the Vikings 11th in cap space at about $15.6 million. Those numbers will fluctuate league-wide, of course, as teams start disassembling to reassemble again in 2026. Many of the top pending free agents will be re-signed or tagged.

Should the Vikings go after a corner like Tampa Bay’s Jamel Dean? A safety like Pittsburgh’s Kyle Dugger? How ‘bout a quarterback like that Aaron Rodgers fella? Or maybe kick the tires on bringing back Daniel Jones to actually compete with McCarthy? Or, better yet, call the 49ers and ask what it would take to get Mac Jones, a quarterback who can stay healthy and performed very well this year in a similar system. Jones signed the worst two-year deal maybe ever. He proved himself this year but won’t benefit from it on the open market. The 49ers are going to lose him in 2027 anyway. Maybe they’d trade him now.