For the second time in three years, the Minnesota Vikings are NFC North Champions after clinching the division with a Week 15 win over the Bengals.
It took an extra week, but the Minnesota Vikings are NFC North champions after a 34-7 beatdown of the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
This is the second time in four years under Mike Zimmer that the Vikings have both won the division and made the playoffs.
In a season that started in tumultuous fashion, losing both starting quarterback Sam Bradford rookie starting running back Dalvin Cook, the Vikings deserve a considerable amount of credit for rebounding and reeling off eight straight wins under less than ideal circumstances.
Additionally, a considerable amount of credit goes to both backup quarterback Case Keenum and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur for this run.
While Keenum is definitely flawed as a passer, he’s nonetheless provided a steady hand for the team and made more than just the necessary plays to win games for the team. Shurmur has also done an excellent job tailoring his offense to the players and showing creativity as a play-caller.
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However, the biggest catalyst for this season’s success has no doubt been the defense.
While the offense has been an unexpected and pleasant surprise, the defense is still the heart of this team and is once again having a spectacular season, ranking second in the NFL in both yards per game and scoring defense.
With two games remaining, Minnesota’s attention will now turn to seeding. The Vikings will finish their season against division rivals Green Bay and Chicago, and will most likely need to win both games to have any shot at getting the number one seed.
They’ll also need some help, as the Philadelphia Eagles will also need to lose two of their last three games for the Vikings to earn home-field advantage. While this seems unlikely, a 12-4 finish should still be enough for Minnesota to get a first-round bye.
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Regardless of how the rest of the season turns out, the Vikings are guaranteed to have their first playoff game in U.S. Bank Stadium, a feat that seemed incredibly unlikely after the team fell to 2-2 on October 1st. Celebrate accordingly, Vikings fans.