4 biggest takeaways from the Vikings Week 5 loss to the Seahawks

Minnesota’s playoff hopes are hanging on by a thread

After their loss on Sunday night, the Vikings are now sitting with a 1-4 record for the seventh time in the history of the franchise. Minnesota has never made the playoffs in a season that began with them losing four of their first five games and their best finish after a 1-4 start happened back in 2005 when they ended the year with a 9-7 record.

Despite the Vikings’ disappointing start to the current season, their hopes of earning a spot in the playoffs have not been completely eliminated. Especially if Minnesota continues to play like they did on Sunday night.

Even with four losses, the Vikings are still just two games out of the final playoff spot in the NFC with 11 matchups left on their schedule. Plus, outside of the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks, there isn’t really another dominant team in the NFC right now.

Minnesota just showed they can hang with a team like the Seahawks, so the talent is clearly there. The Vikings just have to figure out a way to avoid the large game-changing mistakes that have come back to bite them during their last two losses.

Realistically, Minnesota probably has to win at least eight of their final 11 games to get into the playoffs this season. The Vikings could potentially earn a postseason berth with an 8-8 record, but a 9-7 record would give them a better shot.

Is this actually possible? FiveThirtyEight currently has Minnesota with an 18 percent chance to make the playoffs this year, so it’s going to be an uphill battle. But crazier things have happened in the NFL and now is not the time for the Vikings to give up on their season.