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The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16 and hope to chip off the Inexperienced Bay Packers at house in Week 17.
Right here’s the Most Probably Playoff Opponent for the Vikings
Kevin O’Connell’s workforce has a 13-2 report, clinching a playoff journey in Week 15, and now hopes to win two extra video games for homefield benefit all through the postseason.
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And due to Week 16 dealings, the workforce’s most possible playoff opponent in Spherical 1 modified. So, these are the Vikings’ likeliest playoff opponents within the Wildcard Spherical, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = more than likely Spherical 1 playoff opponent).
5. at Seattle Seahawks
Joe Nicholson-Imagn Photos.
The Seahawks’ playoff hopes are dangling by a thread — due to the Vikings’ 27-24 dub final weekend — and so they want the Los Angeles Rams to start out dropping for a ticket to the postseason.
Seattle is usually included on this checklist as a result of they can’t be absolutely dominated out. However for context, it has simply an 11% likelihood of profitable the NFC West and becoming a member of the playoff event.
4. No Spherical 1 Opponent at All
Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photos.
Pay attention, if the Vikings beat the Packers at house this weekend on the Lions on the highway in 12 days, nicely, they’ll haven’t any 1st-Spherical opponent.
Minnesota would get pleasure from homefield benefit henceforth in January, in order that verdict is all as much as them.
Win two video games — earn each eligible playoff recreation at U.S. Financial institution Stadium.
3. at Atlanta Falcons
Matt Krohn-Imagn Photos.
Weighing the Falcons’ postseason plans felt good earlier than the dropping skid that ushered Kirk Cousins’ journey to the bench. Then, Michael Penix Jr. took over, the protection oddly awoke, and the Falcons beat the New York Giants final weekend whereas the Tampa Bay Buccaneers curiously misplaced to the Dallas Cowboys.
Atlanta is true again in it, and in reality, is quickly on high of the NFC South.
Right here’s Atlanta’s remaining schedule:
at Washington Commanders
vs. Carolina Panthers
If it wins each, and the Vikings find yourself with the fifth seed, it’s Minnesota versus Michael Penix Jr. within the Wildcard Spherical.
2. at Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay with offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell. O’Connell left the Rams in 2022 after profitable a Tremendous Bowl in Los Angeles in 2021 and took over the Minnesota Vikings as head coach.
The Rams misplaced to the Philadelphia Eagles 37-20 on November twenty fourth simply earlier than Thanksgiving, after which that was it.
They stopped dropping.
Los Angeles has received 4 straight, now firmly positioned to win the NFC West.
If Minnesota loses its subsequent two video games, the purple workforce will most likely play the would-be three-seed Rams at SoFi Stadium in 2.5 weeks.
1. at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports activities.
That is the Buccaneers’ remaining schedule:
vs. Carolina Panthers
vs. New Orleans Saints
In the event that they win each of these video games — they need to — whereas the Falcons lose on the Washington Commanders this week and the Vikings lose yet another common season recreation, it will be Vikings at Buccaneers within the Wildcard Spherical.
By the mathematics, that is the likeliest situation as of Christmas Eve.
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 workforce, 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 intently because the NFL.
All statistics offered by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual info offered by OverTheCap.com.
