Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Pictures.
The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Atlanta Falcons final weekend, due to a dominant 4th Quarter that despatched Kirk Cousins and his staff house dissatisfied.
The Vikings’ Most Doubtless Playoff Opponents — Ranked
Kevin O’Connell’s staff has an 11-2 document and wishes another win or a Seattle Seahawks loss on Sunday night time to achieve the playoffs.
Morgan Tencza-Imagn Pictures.
For Minnesota to overlook the postseason, it must end the season 0-4 and have the Rams win out, which simply doesn’t appear too probably. So, these are the Vikings’ likeliest playoff opponents within the Wildcard Spherical (if one assumes they don’t cross the Detroit Lions and win the NFC North), ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = best or finest matchup).
4. at Los Angeles Rams
The Arizona Cardinals nonetheless have a path to win the NFC West, but it surely’s unlikely, typically talking, as a result of the Cardinals misplaced final Sunday.
That places the Rams (8-6) on the backside of this record — and tops per opponent problem — nonetheless alive for the division and internet hosting a house playoff sport.
Los Angeles is a sport again of the subsequent staff on the record and clearly should catch Seattle to win the NFC West. If it does that and finishes within the No. 5 seed, the Vikings would maybe be on the menu.
The Rams characterize the gravest problem to Minnesota’s Spherical 1 hopes as a result of once they’re on, they will beat anybody within the league. The Week 14 Buffalo Payments can inform you all about it.
3. at Seattle Seahawks
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports activities
The Seahawks have defeated the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals within the final 4 weeks, dubs which have performed wonders for his or her playoff likelihood.
If the postseason kicked off at the moment, Seattle, the No. 3 seed via 14 weeks, would host Inexperienced Bay.
The Vikings play the Seahawks at Lumen Discipline in Week 16, a possible playoff preview, which is a development on this record.
Followers are paranoid about Seattle as a result of the purple staff hasn’t received in that metropolis since 2006. 5 straight losses.
2. at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Though the Falcons have dropped the Buccaneers twice, Tampa Bay is one sport up on Atlanta within the win column.
Tampa Bay has climbed across the unhealthy tiebreaker after the Falcons’ latest losses, and if the Buccaneers keep one win head of the Falcons, a Buccaneers-Vikings matchup in January is dripping with inevitably.
That is the Buccaneers’ remaining schedule:
at Los Angeles Chargers
at Dallas Cowboys
vs. Carolina Panthers
vs. New Orleans Saints
Tampa is a reasonably balanced staff, and if it’s on its A-game, the Buccaneers truly beat Minnesota.
1. at Atlanta Falcons
Bob Donnan-Imagn Pictures.
Pondering the Falcons within the postseason is a bit comical as of Monday, December ninth — they’ve misplaced 4 straight, and the quarterback is reeling.
Nonetheless, Atlanta has the NFL’s best remaining schedule:
at Las Vegas Raiders
vs. New York Giants
at Washington Commanders
vs. Carolina Panthers
If Cousins and Co. discover a solution to rebound, the NFC South winner will probably host Minnesota on Wildcard Weekend.
Minnesota already defeated Atlanta — considerably handily after a candy 4th Quarter displaying — and may do it once more in January. E book it.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his each day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options friends, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple staff, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as carefully because the NFL.
All statistics supplied by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual info supplied by OverTheCap.com.
