Updated Vikings playoff chances after Week 15 loss to Bengals

What do the Minnesota Vikings playoff chances look like following the team's tough loss in overtime to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday?

After three quarters on Saturday, the Minnesota Vikings playoff chances only seemed like they were going to increase after the team's Week 15 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

But then the Vikings let another win slip out of their hands, and the Bengals were able to leave their home stadium with a 27-24 victory in overtime.

Minnesota's record has fallen to 7-7 with the loss, and even though they are still in a good position to make the playoffs this season, their chances of playing extra football after Week 18 certainly took a hit on Saturday.

Minnesota Vikings playoff chances take a hit after Week 15 loss to Cincinnati Bengals

Heading into this weekend's game against the Bengals, the Vikings' had a 69 percent chance to make the playoffs this season, according to the New York Times' NFL playoff simulator.

Following their loss on Saturday, Minnesota's chance of making the 2023 postseason has now decreased to 57 percent. So not a gigantic change, but still one that the Vikings would have liked to avoid, especially since their playoff chances would have increased to 84 percent with a win over Cincinnati.

The good news is that the result of Saturday evening's matchup between the Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions won't have much of an impact on Minnesota's current playoff chances.

Something that will certainly have a significant effect on the Vikings' chances of making the postseason will be the result of the next matchup on their schedule, which has them going up against the Lions next Sunday inside U.S. Bank Stadium.

So, while the loss to the Bengals on Saturday stings, Minnesota now needs to take advantage of their extra day of rest and do everything they can to prepare for a huge divisional showdown against Detroit next weekend.