Minnesota Vikings 2015 NFL playoff berth scenarios
By Adam Carlson
With three games to go in the 2015 NFL season, here are the scenarios that remain for the Minnesota Vikings to win the NFC North or make the playoffs.
It might be an uphill climb for the Minnesota Vikings to win the NFC North, but the team does control their own destiny when it comes to the title. However, there are also situations that remain where the boys in purple could end up missing out on the postseason entirely.
While some of it might be a little confusing with tiebreakers and numerous situations, there are many different things that could happen to the 8-5 Minnesota Vikings. Let’s get started with the situations:
Finish 11-5
If the Minnesota Vikings beat the Chicago Bears, New York Giants, and Green Bay Packers to close out the season, Minnesota would win the NFC North. The team couldn’t take over one of the top two spots to get a bye due to a head to head loss to the Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers being undefeated. Minnesota would host the sixth seed in the NFC, which would likely be either the Green Bay Packers or Seattle Seahawks.
Finish 10-6 (beating Green Bay)
If the Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers and either the Giants or Bears, the Vikings would end the season 10-6. Minnesota would need the Packers to lose one other game (that Cardinals game looks tough) to have a shot at the NFC North Championship. That would put Green Bay and the Vikings in a tie, where Minnesota has the tiebreaker due to division records. They would own the #3 seed in the NFC and play the #6 seed in the Wild Card round.
Finish 10-6 (losing to Green Bay)
Nov 22, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Julius Peppers (56) and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) at TCF Bank Stadium. The Packers defeated the Vikings 30-15. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota would have no shot at the NFC Championship. The Packers would have at least the tiebreaker needed to win the NFC North. Green Bay would own the #3 spot in the NFC with Minnesota fighting for the #5 seed to play the NFC East champion instead of the Packers.
Finish 9-7 (beating Green Bay)
The Vikings would need the Packers to lose out to win the NFC North, but counting on the Raiders and Cardinals to beat Green Bay isn’t good. With any other Packers win in the final 3 games, Minnesota runs the risk of losing out on a playoff spot entirely if teams like the Buccaneers, Falcons, Eagles or Giants run the table.
Finish 9-7 (losing to Green Bay)
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In this scenario, the Vikings would have NO chance at all of winning the division. They’d also still be in danger of losing a playoff spot from the remaining 6-7 teams in the NFC. Minnesota would have to hope to hold off the competition to squeak into the playoffs.
Finish 8-8
Yuck. Losing the last three games of the season would be a disaster for the Vikings. However, playoff hopes wouldn’t be dead. They would need losses from the Buccs, Falcons, Eagles and Giants to get a playoff spot. This would be a huge meltdown and a horrible end to the 2015 NFL season.
So, how do you think the Minnesota Vikings will end their season? Will they win the NFC North? Will they make the playoffs? Let me know your prediction in the comments below.