If you’re refreshing your phone looking for the Vikings score right now, you’re going to be waiting a long time.
Today is Saturday, January 17, 2026. While the NFL Divisional Playoffs are currently in full swing with the Buffalo Bills taking on the Denver Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers facing the Seattle Seahawks, the Minnesota Vikings are nowhere to be found on the bracket.
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They’re at home. Probably golfing or starting their off-season training programs.
It’s a bit of a bummer for the Skol faithful, especially considering how the season ended. Minnesota actually finished the 2025-2026 regular season on a massive high note, but it just wasn't enough to overcome a rocky middle stretch.
The Last Time We Saw a Real Vikings Score
The final score of the Vikings season was Minnesota 16, Green Bay 3.
That game went down on Sunday, January 4, 2026. It was a weird one. The Packers had already locked up the No. 7 seed in the NFC, so they basically played their "B team." They rested almost everyone important, including star pass rusher Micah Parsons and quarterback Jordan Love.
The Vikings, meanwhile, were already mathematically eliminated from the playoffs three weeks prior. Still, Kevin O’Connell had them playing hard. J.J. McCarthy looked like the franchise savior for about thirty minutes, going 14 for 23 for 182 yards.
Then, the injury bug bit again.
McCarthy left the game early in the third quarter with soreness in his throwing hand. It felt like a microcosm of the whole year: flashes of brilliance immediately followed by a trip to the medical tent. Backup Max Brosmer finished the job, and Justin Jefferson managed to cross the 1,000-yard mark for the sixth straight season—joining an elite list of only three receivers to ever do that.
Why the Vikings Score Right Now is 0-0 (And Will Stay That Way)
Minnesota finished the season with a 9-8 record. In many years, nine wins gets you a Wild Card spot. In the 2025-2026 NFC, it got them third place in the NFC North and the 18th overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers both made the dance from the division, though the Packers were bounced by those very same Bears in the Wild Card round last week (31-27).
If you are seeing a "Vikings" score on your ticker today, you are likely looking at college sports. The Cleveland State Vikings or the Augustana Vikings (who just shut out Ferris State 4-0 in hockey last night) are active. But the purple and gold from Minneapolis? They are officially in "wait until next year" mode.
What’s Next for Minnesota?
The team is currently navigating a bit of a crossroads at the quarterback position. While J.J. McCarthy is clearly "the guy," his inability to stay on the field for a full 17-game slate has the front office looking at depth options.
Here is the immediate roadmap for the team:
- The 2026 NFL Draft: Minnesota holds the 18th overall pick. Historically, they’ve taken guys like Garrett Bradbury and Erasmus James in this slot. Fans are screaming for defensive line help.
- The Schedule: We already know who they play in 2026. They’ve got a tough road ahead with games against the AFC East (Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots) and the NFC South.
- Free Agency: With a projected healthy salary cap, expect them to be aggressive in the secondary.
The hunt for a Super Bowl continues, but for today, the only score that matters is the one on the draft board.
To get ready for the 2026 season, fans should keep an eye on the NFL Scouting Combine in February to see how the Vikings might use that 18th pick to shore up a defense that finished middle-of-the-pack this year.