5 things to know about the Vikings and Saints for Week 16

Minnesota needs five isolated events to occur for postseason inclusion

Two weeks in a row, the Vikings have put gunshot wounds in their feet. Minnesota was very much within reach of defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14, but then the team’s kicker disagreed.

In Week 15, the Chicago Bears marched down the field at will throughout the game disqualifying any reasonable chance of a Vikings victory. These two losses were deadly for Minnesota’s playoff visions.

Now, five separate occurrences must playout for the purple and gold to join this season’s wild-card weekend.

First, the Vikings must topple the Saints and Detroit Lions on the road in the final two weeks — not a simple task. Next, the Arizona Cardinals are required to lose each of their last two games which will be against the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams. That’s actually quite possible, but it’s not entirely probable.

Finally, the Bears would have to lose to the Jacksonville Jaguars this week -or- the Packers in Week 17. Green Bay may or may not rest its starters in that contest.

That’s the blueprint. If one of those items falls through, head to your favorite salary cap website or mock draft entity and focus on the 2021 offseason.