Vikings score predictions for battle of losing streaks against Commanders

Someone's losing streak is ending this weekend at U.S. Bank Stadium. Sunday's game pits the 4-8 Vikings, who have lost four in a row, against the 3-9 Commanders, losers of seven straight. Both of these teams won at least 12 games and made the playoffs a year ago, but their 2025 seasons have been defined by injuries and disappointment.

The Vikings will look to snap out of their recent offensive funk and see some progress from J.J. McCarthy, who returns after a one-game absence and has a new mentality heading into the final month of the season. The Commanders haven't experienced a win in two months, but their chances are boosted by the return of Jayden Daniels after missing three games. It's an intriguing quarterback matchup between a pair of 2024 top-10 picks who have had vastly different starts to their careers.

The winner of this game will feel better about itself afterwards. The loser's fan base will have the consolation prize of moving closer to an early draft pick next April.

So who wins this one? Our staff writers have made their predictions.

Will Ragatz: Vikings 26, Commanders 24

Even with Daniels back for Washington, my gut tells me the Vikings are going to win this game. Four straight losses ties the longest streak of the Kevin O'Connell era, and I still think both O'Connell and Brian Flores are very good coaches. I like the idea of McCarthy playing more freely from a mental standpoint, and if there were ever a week for him to have a nice bounce-back game, it would be against the Commanders' abysmal defense. McCarthy is due to win a game at home after an 0-3 start and Justin Jefferson is extremely due for a big day. It'll be a close one between a couple bad teams, but the Vikings pull it out.

I'd also like to note that it would be very on-brand for the Vikings to win this one when they have a chance to improve their draft positioning with a loss.