4 biggest takeaways from the Vikings loss to the Saints in Week 16

Missing the playoffs is probably a good thing

It’s hard to admit, but the Minnesota Vikings don’t look like a playoff team at all this season. Even though it looked as though the squad could find their way into the seventh spot in the NFC a few weeks ago, it might be for the best that they not take part in the postseason.

Now with a 6-9 record, the Vikings have no chance to have a winning record and there are many significant reasons for that. In fact, the biggest reason for the team’s struggles during the 2020 has to do with Minnesota needing more depth and talent at just about every postition on the football field.

Many of the players on the field wearing purple on Christmas Day were either elevated from the practice squad or signed to the team to help replace players who were either placed on injured reserve or ruled out for games due to injury. The clear dropoff in play from the usual starters to these fresh faces was apparent and a huge reason there were mismatches in all three phases of the game.

Had the Minnesota Vikings made the playoffs, they likely would have gone head-to-head against the New Orleans Saints again at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, only with Michael Thomas back in their lineup. While anything can happen on any given Sunday, this could have been an even uglier game than the one in Week 16.