History in the Vikings favor as the No. 6 seed in the NFC

Despite being the lowest seed in the NFC playoff bracket this season, recent history seems to indicate that this could be an advantage for the Minnesota Vikings.

After falling to the Green Bay Packers in Week 16, the Minnesota Vikings were locked into being the No. 6 seed in this season’s NFC playoff bracket.

Many viewed this as a disadvantage for the Vikings and their chances in the postseason this year. But recent playoff history would seem to indicate otherwise.

Since 2013, the teams who entered the playoffs as the No. 6 seed in either the AFC or the NFC have a combined record of 8-4 in the first round of the postseason. Last year, the No. 6 seeded teams in each conference (Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC and Indianapolis Colts in the AFC) both escaped their first-round playoff matchups with wins.

So at least for their opening game in the 2019 postseason, Minnesota has history in their favor as this year’s lowest seed in the NFC bracket. After the first round of the playoffs, however, the success rate tends to trend downward for these recent No. 6 seeded teams.

Of the eight teams slated with the No. 6 seed in their conference who won their opening postseason matchup since 2013, none of them ended up winning their next playoff game in the divisional round to advance to their conference championship.

The last time a No. 6 seed to advanced to either the AFC or NFC Championship came back during the 2010 season when both the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers were able to defy the odds and make it all the way to their respective conference championships. While the Jets didn’t win their matchup, the Packers got a victory in the NFC Championship and eventually went on to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl.

Will the Vikings be able to continue to the trend on Sunday and get a first-round playoff win like the majority of the No. 6 seeds from the recent past?