6 biggest takeaways from the Vikings loss vs. Lions in Week 13
By Adam Carlson
Any window to sneak into the playoffs is closing
This loss hurts. A win here could have put the Minnesota Vikings back into the chase for one of the three Wild Card spots in the NFC playoff picture. Instead, the team lost to a winless division rival and fell to a 5-7 record on the season.
The three Wild Card teams at the moment are the Rams, Football Team, and 49ers. Washington and L.A. won this week while San Francisco lost. However, the 49ers still own a head-to-head victory over Minnesota.
The Vikings face the Rams in Week 16 and that could be another important game since it’s a conference contest against a potential playoff-bound squad. Still, in order to get a position for that game to matter, they will need to start winning games and need other teams like the 49ers, Rams, Football Team, and Eagles to start losing.
Four of the last five games for Minnesota are against NFC opponents and the other is the Steelers, who the Vikings play on Thursday Night Football. If there is any hope left of a playoff berth, it starts on Thursday.