01/26/2026
DCN Reaction to the Action – Week XVIII
Hail DCN Faithful
The 2025 Viking Campaign came to a close on Sunday with a win over division rival Green Bay Packers. While the game did not offer any national or playoff implications. The DCN knew what was on the line and Gerstle’s was packed by noon. We bid farewell to two Viking legends,Harrison Smith and C.J. Ham as we brought the Holiday and Viking season to a close. #22 & #30 were the last two active players on the roster from the 2018 Minneapolis Miracle team.
The win did help the Vikings inch one game closer to closing the gap on their overall lifetime record vs. the Packers. 66-61-2. The Packers are the only team in the NFC North that has the advantage over the Vikings. But most importantly it allowed the DCN to march through the rough and tumble streets of St. Matthews and reclaim the most coveted Grant-Lombardi Trophy.
The Purple finished the season with a 9-8 winning record, and if not for allowing a last second massive kickoff return against the Bears they could have made the playoffs. Not that they had any business being there. But it does go to show the resiliency of the culture Coach O’Connell has created.
The defense was the star of the season finishing in the top three of most defensive metrics. However, the offense was absolutely abysmal, finishing at the bottom of just about everycategory. The upgraded offensive line did not provide the pass protection nor the run blocking that was expected. The QB performance was horrific, the numbers McCarthy, Wentz and Brosmer delivered were mostly unwatchable. McCarthy did nothing in 2025 to solidify his position as a long-term franchise QB. The last five game of the season there were flashes, but you must consider the level of competition and the fact there was no pressure as the season was washed. Injuries, turnovers, and mechanics, the list of areas for improvement are long.
McCarthy missed his entire rookie season and only played one series in the 2026 preseason.Knowing the above issues and his limited body of work. Who made the decision to let #14 walk after going 14-3? Viking management completely whiffed. They should have kept #14 for 2-3 seasons and let McCarthy mature. Whatever veteran they bring in for 2026 is going to cost more than what they could have paid #14. I mustremind myself he is 23 years old. From my limited perspective and the number of injuries he has sustained, he has not matured physically to absorb the abuse of the NFL. Mental maturity with whole #9 thing is another story. He must be ready and healthy for 2026.
The Vikings will enter the 2026 offseason with significant questions at QB, O-Line, DB’s, TE, & RB. Hopefully, they can finally get their draft act together and fill the many needs with young talent.
Song for the offseason – Green Day – Good Riddance
SKOL
JohnnyC
Random Notes from the Road
As the Vikings closed out their 2025 campaign, Sunday was a day for the DCN to celebrate our recorded setting season. In 2025 the DCN raised and donated a record $7000! We also had a private donation directly to the Stella Effect for$20,000! For a grand total of $27,000. That is simply amazing. I am continued to be humbled by the generosity of this group. I would like to thankeveryone that shows out each week and supportsthe DCN Charity efforts, it is truly special.
On the final Sunday of the season, we presented a $5000 check to Dave and Anita Spoelker with the Stella Effect. I would like to thank the Spoelkers and the Stella Effect for their many donations to the halftime raffles in 2025. It was a pleasure to get to know the Spoelker family, learn more about their passion and celebrate their journey to help others. You can find more information about their missionhere - The Stella Effect.
In addition to the record level of fund raising in 2025 the DCNwere on the road representing the DCN and supporting the Purple. The DCN were present at 12 of the 17 games (71%) in 2025. Leaving stickers all over North America, Ireland & London. I have attached a break-down of the season. As painful as several of the games were, and as close as many others ended. Surprisingly, the Vikings finished with a positive point differential of eleven. Of their eight losses four were by single digits, two by double digits, and they were blownout in the other two games. These numbers are indicative of a .500 team.
Congratulations DJ Ray Ray winning the 2024 Old Forrester Birthday Bourbon. Regan is retiring from his real gig in 2026,this will allow him more time to refine his already amazing DJ skills. To celebrate this milestone, DJ and his friend are going to drive Route 66 from Chicago to Californiain his 1965 Mustang GT Fastback. I told him he must take that bottle with him and crack it at the end of the Mother Road on the Santa Monica Pier. Now that would be epic!
The Vikings opponents are set for 2026, 9 home and 8 away games. Based on these opponents the Vikes have the 11th hardest strength ofschedule. I just hope they play on Sundays at 1 PM
Home: Bears, Packers, Lions, Falcons, Panthers, Bills, Dolphins, Commanders, Colts
Away: Bears, Packers, Lions, Saints, Buccaneers, Patriots, Jets, 49ers.
In 2026 we will celebrate 30 years of the Grant-Lombardi Trophy. The trophy was created in 1996 by Packer Fan Mary Forseth. Back when Ye’
OleDutch’s Tavern was home to the Packer Backers and The DCN were at Jake & Elwood’s (now Saints) We used to pre-game in the alley between the bars. If you think the exterior of Dutch’s was ugly (and it was), the interior was worse. But they had all sports on satellite dish, which was a big deal back in the day. This is the origin story and where the trophy was born. Here we are 30 years later. The trophy was refurbished several years ago, grass was added to the base, we gave him sunglasses and a piece of the Metrodome roof is now on top of the cheesehead. It has become a legendary St. Matthews tradition that has been featured in the Louisville Magazine, the Leo, and the Voice Newspaper over the years. BTW this LEO cover is from 2002.
The Minnesota Vikings 2025 season is now in the books, it is now time to shutter the offices at the DCN World-Wide Headquarters on this snowy showmageddon Sunday. I am not sure which will happen first, the Vikings will win a Super Bowl or Art will win a halftime raffle prize. We will have to wait until next season to find that out. Win or lose Viking game days at Gerstle’s are an epic. I would like to thank everyone that makes our game daysso special. There are many, and I apologize if I have overlooked anyone.
• Jim-Bob Douglas – purchasing & coordinates all weekly raffle prizes. Selling tickets and working the room like a boss!
• DJ’s Ray-Ray, Anika, & Icy-Chainz – rocking out our game days, with perfect drops of the Viking fight song, Jailbreak, Jet, the list goes on.
• Tommy “T-Bird” Adcock – our game day hype-man never disappoints.
• 2024 NOTY Beverly Cote for her continued donations of rare and hard to find bourbons.
• Vanessa & Danielle, drawing halftime raffle tickets and taking the rath of a hostile crowd. Boo, dig deeper, rigged!!
• DCN resident artist Eric Brinley for his 2025 Jim Marshall painting. Won by “cheatin” Joe Walker with a back-to-back walk-off Sunday.
• The original “Cheater” Doreen Maddox for bootlegging a case of the Viking Fireball bottles back to KY from her trip to Minnesota.
• Lisa Love keeping me flush with Michelob Golden Lights.
• The five star bartenders and kitchen staff at Gerstle’s. They crush it week in and week out.
• Nick & Brenda – multiple donations of Buffalo Trace and EH Taylor.
• Brandon, Alyssa, & Shirel with the Vikings sending all the swag from the Motherlandsupporting the DCN.
• Jeff NeFouse for his editorial support with the weekly Reaction to the Action updates.
• Congratulations to your 2025 Norseman of the Year – Susan Orth!
Please keep Eric Brinley in your thoughts and prayers, he recently lost his father in a single car accident on Eastern Parkway
Stay healthy in 2026
SKOL
JohnnyC
