The Minnesota Vikings are still in the playoff race after a decisive victory over the Washington Commanders, but their chances remain slim. With a record of 5-8, the Vikings have less than a 1% probability of advancing to the postseason. Most NFL playoff trackers do not even list them as contenders due to their low standing.
To keep their hopes alive, the Vikings need a series of favorable outcomes over the coming weeks. Their path to the playoffs is complicated and requires both winning their remaining games and relying on other teams to lose.
Critical Scenarios for the Vikings
In the immediate term, the Vikings depend on several key matchups this week. Before they take the field against the Dallas Cowboys in primetime, they need the Cleveland Browns to defeat the Chicago Bears, and the Los Angeles Rams to overcome the Detroit Lions. A victory by the New Orleans Saints against the Carolina Panthers would also be beneficial.
Most crucially, the Vikings must secure a win against the Cowboys, which would elevate their playoff chances to a mere 4%.
Future Weeks: A Delicate Balance
Should the Vikings manage to win this weekend, their next steps become even more critical. In Week 16, they would require the Green Bay Packers to defeat the Bears, and the Los Angeles Chargers to beat the Cowboys. Wins by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Lions would also be necessary. If the Vikings continue their winning streak by defeating the New York Giants, their playoff odds would rise to 28%.
If the Vikings are still in contention by Christmas Day, the stakes will be high. They would need the Washington Commanders to beat the Cowboys again, while the Seattle Seahawks must triumph over the Panthers, and the San Francisco 49ers need to defeat the Bears. With a win against the Lions, their chances of making the playoffs could escalate to 48%.
The final week of the regular season could prove to be monumental. If the Vikings have a playoff chance heading into Week 18, they will only need to beat the Packers and hope the Lions can defeat the Bears. Achieving this would dramatically increase their playoff probability to 100%, marking a remarkable turnaround.
As the Vikings navigate this challenging path, fans are left to ponder the incredible series of events that would need to unfold for their team to secure a postseason berth. With the clock ticking, hope remains fragile but alive.
