Who the Minnesota Vikings should be rooting for in Week 16

Which teams do the Minnesota Vikings need help from in Week 16 in order to qualify for the playoffs this season?

It’s that time of year where teams around the NFL are in need of some help outside of their locker room in order to snag a spot in the playoffs. This week, the Minnesota Vikings are one of these teams that could earn a spot in the postseason with a win and some other results to go down as well.

As it currently stands, the Vikings can clinch a spot in the playoffs this week with a win plus losses by the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins.

So besides getting a victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, let’s take a closer look at the team’s Minnesota should be rooting for in Week 16.

Tennessee Titans

On Saturday, the Titans have a home matchup against the Redskins. Given that the Vikings need a Washington loss as part of their scenario to clinch a playoff spot this week, Minnesota would greatly appreciate if Tennessee improved their 2018 home record to 6-1 on Saturday.

Houston Texans

The other part of the Vikings’ playoff-clinching scenario this week involves the Eagles suffering a loss. On Sunday, Philadelphia will be hosting a Texans team that has won 10 of their last 11 games and is currently fighting for a first-round bye in the AFC playoff bracket.

The Eagles will be without starting quarterback Carson Wentz once again and they’ll be going up against a Houston pass rush that has 15 sacks in their last four matchups.

Kansas City Chiefs

After the Seattle Seahawks suffered a surprising loss to the San Francisco 49ers last week, the Vikings still have a chance to earn the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoff bracket.

If Minnesota wins their next two games and the Seahawks lose at least one of their next two matchups, the Vikings will enter the postseason as the fifth seed in the NFC.

Needing to avoid another loss will be difficult for Seattle on Sunday though when they host an 11-3 Chiefs team that could possibly clinch home-field advantage in the AFC playoff bracket with a win.

Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers

In Week 17, Minnesota will be hosting the Chicago Bears for a matchup inside U.S. Bank Stadium. If they suffer a loss to the Lions on Sunday, the Vikings will likely need a win over the Bears next week to still earn a spot in the playoffs.

But if Chicago loses to the 49ers and the Rams defeat the Arizona Cardinals this week, then the Bears will be locked in as the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoff bracket no matter what the result turns out to be in Week 17 against Minnesota.

If this scenario ends up happening on Sunday, it will likely prompt Chicago to rest a bunch of their top players next week for their matchup with the Vikings. Which should then make getting a necessary victory over the Bears much easier for Minnesota.