HH. BREAKING: Vikings rookie QB Max Brosmer delivers brutally honest words after his first NFL start — and the locker room reaction says everything.

The Minnesota Vikings confirmed on November 28 that Max Brosmer will start in Week 13 against the Seattle Seahawks.

J.J. McCarthy had limited practice this week after entering concussion protocol, and the team seems set on taking a cautious approach with their second-year quarterback.

Nonetheless, Brosmer is ready to take on this opportunity despite having a challenging task of facing the Seahawks’ defense. On November 28, he spoke with the media about preparing for his first NFL start.

“I pride myself on being the most prepared guy on the field at all times,” Brosmer said (h/t Vikings.com). “That’s just something that I feel caters to my strengths. I was never the most athletic guy, never the strongest guy, but I felt like I could do it better with my mind on the field. And that’s playing NFL quarterback.”

Brosmer has made three brief appearances this season, but none as a starter. As a result, the question is whether those first-game nerves come into play and affect his passes. However, anyone expecting the Vikings quarterback to play nervously will be mistaken.

“I think it’s great to have nerves because that’s what locks you in. But the nervous piece comes with anxiousness, and that’s not me. And that’s not this team,” Brosmer said.

“You know, I think the nerves you grow up playing with from third and fourth grade, and you’re like, ‘I can’t wait for game day.’ Riding in the car with my mom to go play, you know, Saturday with the guys, with the kids, playing pee-wee football.”

Max Brosmer Looks to Jumpstart Vikings Offense

One of the biggest tasks Brosmer will face is getting the Vikings’ offense going, which has struggled recently. In four of their past five games, Minnesota have failed to score more than 20 points, and in each of those four contests, the Vikings suffered a loss.

He will also need to get Justin Jefferson going, as the Vikings star has had an up-and-down season statistically, recording only two games with over 100 yards receiving. It will be interesting to see whether these two can link up. Nonetheless, while Jefferson has yet to develop chemistry with Brosmer, he is fully confident with him under center against the Seahawks.

“I would say his ability to make reads and really, seeing the different coverages and seeing ways that we can attack them with his arm, he has the ability to really sling it in there, and he also has the touch to loft it into a spot,” 

Jefferson said while speaking to the media on November 26.

“So being able to process information quickly would be just getting it in and out of his hands as fast as possible so he doesn’t feel the effect of the rush.”

T.J. Hockenson Talks Max Brosmer’s First NFL Start

Jefferson isn’t alone in his trust in Brosmer. Tight end T.J. Hockenson is also supporting the backup, saying he has what it takes to lead the team to a win and end their three-game losing streak.

“We’ve got the utmost confidence in Max,” Hockenson said to the media on November 26. “Throughout training camp and the year, he’s mentally prepared himself to be ready to go.

“He has confidence in the huddle, and being out there and trying to be an option for him is really my job—to find space and get him into a role, in a rhythm of things. We have nothing but confidence in him and what he can do as a player. It’ll be a good opportunity for all of us.”

One Brutal Truth Could Decide Lions’ Playoff Fate – Can the team rectify these two key metrics in the trenches?

Can the team rectify these two key metrics in the trenches?

The 2024 Detroit Lions had one thing squared away that helped them to achieve a 15-2 record despite a plethora of injuries completely ransacking their depth: strength in their trenches.

Their offensive line was one of the best in the NFL, providing a clean pocket to Jared Goff while allowing Jahmyr Gibbs to go off in David Montgomery’s absence. On the flip side, their defensive line made do with Za’Darius Smith in tow, doing their best to re-create a pass rush without Aidan Hutchinson healthy and available.

This year, it’s been a completely different story for both units, and it’s why fans could be concerned for the Lions’ chances to extend a postseason run this year. One stat shared by MLive beat reporter Kory Woods tells the story when it comes to the offensive line’s struggles this season:

The defensive line, in contrast, is only reaching the quarterback for a sack an average of 5.2 seconds after the ball has been snapped. That’s the longest rate amongst any teams in the NFL. Without a pass rush, and without a decent enough pass protection to allow for Goff to carry some responsibility for this Lions offense, the team risks being one and done in the postseason.

Lions have to hope trenches solidify ahead of postseason

We’ve seen the struggles the Lions experience against teams with above-average defensive lines. Week 1 was an immediate introduction to these struggles, with Detroit completely run over by Rashan Gary and Micah Parsons. It was only Week 1, and it was the first regular season game featuring a brand-new center and guard formation for Detroit, so it felt like it could be a one off.

But then, those struggles continued against the Minnesota Vikings, and then the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s now clear that their O-line’s problems lie in the hands of Hank Fraley and Detroit’s starting guard-center-guard formation for their final six contests. Of course, getting Frank Ragnow to un-retire helps the team significantly on that front.

Goff has expressed faith in their ability to get it together, telling reporters ahead of Thanksgiving, “They’re just gonna put their head down and work, and I’m proud of those guys, and thankful for them for laying it on the line for me, and for the running backs every game.”

As for the pass rush, it’s a matter of health. Hutchinson has been great this season, but there’s only so much one explosive edge rusher can do when he’s being chipped and double-teamed each week. Without help from Al-Quadin Muhammad coming consistently each week, the team hasn’t been able to generate many rushes on the quarterback.

Marcus Davenport, the oft-injured pass rusher the Lions opted to trust over trading for someone or signing another pass rusher this offseason, is set to return in Week 12 for the Lions against the Packers. This could help out a ton – getting fresh legs to back up Hutchinson in the trenches.

We’ll get a great idea of just how much the Lions will improve on both lines over these next few weeks, with the team squaring off with the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Minnesota Vikings to round out their 2025: four teams with either formidable pass rushing units, or at least one pass rushing star.