The Minnesota Vikings’ hopes at the postseason took a shot after Sunday’s blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Following their embarrassing 34-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, there are not too many positives that come to mind when thinking of the Minnesota Vikings most recent performance. With a current record now at 7-7, the Vikings chances at the postseason seem to be hanging on by a single thread.
Yet, they still have a chance.
There are a couple of scenarios in which Minnesota can get into the 2016 NFC playoffs. But first, the Vikings must absolutely make sure they win their final two games of the year.
One more loss and Minnesota will be staying home during the week following their last game of the season against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings have to finish with a 9-7 record to make it into the postseason.
But that is not all. Two more wins for the Vikings is not an automatic spot in the playoffs.
For Monday and the next two weeks of the season, there are four teams in the NFC that Minnesota’s fans must pay very close attention to. That would be the Washington Redskins, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Green Bay Packers, and the Detroit Lions
These are the only four teams that can get into the playoffs over Minnesota even if the Vikings win their final two games.
Buy why?
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Well since the Redskins had that silly little tie in Week 8 against the Cincinnati Bengals, a nine-win Washington team at the end of the year will have a higher winning percentage (.594) than a nine-win Minnesota team (.563)
As for the Buccaneers, they only need one more win to finish with at least nine victories this season. They would get into the playoffs over the Vikings if both teams ended the year with the same record based on each team’s 2016 win percentage within the NFC conference.
The only way for Minnesota to be awarded a postseason berth over Tampa Bay would be to finish with a better overall record to end the year.
As for Green Bay and Detroit, if the Vikings end up in a three-way tie atop the NFC North, then Minnesota would be the odd man out based on NFL tie-breaking procedures. Even if the Redskins and Buccaneers scenarios fall into the Vikings’ favor, a three-way tie in the NFC North would still send the Vikings home.
So let’s review what the Vikings need to happen in order for them to continue playing football after the regular season comes to a close.
- Minnesota must win their final two games (at Green Bay, Chicago).
- Washington must lose two of their final three games (Carolina, at Chicago, New York Giants).
- Tampa Bay must lose their final two games (at New Orleans, Carolina).
- Detroit must win one of their final two games (at Dallas, Green Bay).
Next: How did the Vikings lose to the Colts?
The Vikings do indeed still have a chance to make it into the playoffs. But boy is it a small one (two percent according to FiveThirtyEight).