Minnesota Vikings: Clinching a playoff spot in week 16

There are three ways that the young Minnesota Vikings team can clinch a playoff spot during week 16 of the 2015 NFL season on Sunday, December 27, 2015.

The Minnesota Vikings had a chance to secure a postseason berth during week 15, but counting on other teams like Jacksonville and Cleveland to win made it so those situations didn’t happen. Now, things are much more simple for the reasons how the team can secure a playoff spot.

Thanks to the folks over at the Pioneer Press website, we now know that there are three situations which can assure that the Vikings will be playing football in the postseason. And they seem much, much simpler than the situations from the previous week.

The Minnesota Vikings will secure a playoff spot if any one of the three following situations happen.

Sep 27, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders perform in the third quarter against the San Diego Chargers at TCF Bank Stadium. The Minnesota Vikings beat the San Diego Chargers 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Carolina Panthers defeat the Atlanta Falcons at noon central time on Sunday.

The Seattle Seahawks defeat the St. Louis Rams at 3:25 pm central time on Sunday.

The Minnesota Vikings defeat the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football.

I can’t imagine all three of these situations not happening. Counting on teams like the undefeated Panthers and surging Seahawks to lose has to be hard for the Falcons, who started the season 5-0 but have lost 7 of their last 9 games to currently sit at 7-7.

Of course, the Minnesota Vikings won’t be counting on Carolina or Seattle to send them into the playoffs. They’ll be focused on defeating the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football in order to compete for the NFC North division crown.