3 silver linings from the Vikings loss to the Packers in Week 17

The No. 3 seed may not be the worst thing in the world

The Vikings had a huge opportunity last weekend to not only hang onto the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff bracket, but to have a shot at the No. 1 seed in the conference as well. With the loss to the Packers and the ease of the San Francisco 49ers’ game in Week 18, it appears the No. 3 in the NFC seed is all but a lock at this point for Minnesota.

While not having that guaranteed second home game is a bummer, the road to the Super Bowl could actually be a bit easier for the Vikings as the No. 3 seed. If Minnesota ends up with the No. 2 seed, they’d have to face either the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, or Green Bay. With the No. 3 seed in play, the Vikings are destined for a rematch with the New York Giants.

While the Giants are no pushover and are a damn good football team, the other three options look like tougher matchups.

The Lions are red hot and have an offense that is one of the best in the league, and a defense that is starting to come together. The Packers are also hot right now and have won four straight including the recent Lambeau lambasting. The Seahawks present a tough matchup for the Vikings as they have some very good receivers, a quarterback in Geno Smith who is playing lights out, and a strong running game led by rookie Kenneth Walker.

The Giants look like the best matchup out of the four possibilities as the Vikings recently beat them, though it did come down to a 61-yard field goal at the end of regulation. So maybe ending up with the No. 3 seed will end up paying dividends for the team down the road.