Jan 11, 2020; Santa Clara, California, USA; A Minnesota Vikings fans holds a sign before the game against the San Francisco 49ers in a NFC Divisional Round playoff football game at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings have lost two straight games after winning five, situating their playoff odds around 50%-60%, depending on the playoff predictor one cites.
Minnesota has a bye this weekend and will take on the Las Vegas Raiders in Sin City on December 10th.
On Thursday Night Football, the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Seattle Seahawks 41-35, and that was the first part of the Vikings’ weekend favorability parlay. Now, three parts remain.
Seattle lives in the NFC’s No. 7 playoff seed, with Minnesota at No. 6. Any losses from here on out by the Seahawks help the Vikings.
So, one down — three to go. This is the Vikings’ Week 13 wishlist.
Folks, the Packers are lurking.
Many Vikings fans delighted over Green Bay’s win over the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, but because Minnesota then lost to Chicago on Monday Night Football, that outcome did more harm than good. Now, the Vikings are peering back at the Packers in the NFC’s wildcard chase, as Green Bay is conducting a season about-face eerily similar to last year.
Thankfully for the Vikings’ sake, the opponent gets no more daunting than the Super Bowl champs. Green Bay’s schedule is incredibly easy after this matchup, so Minnesota would enjoy a Packers’ loss at Lambeau Field — like always.
Vikings Playoff Probably with KC Win: 55%
The Browns are on the road at the Rams, and this one is a true toss-up, mainly because Cleveland’s defense is so damn ferocious. Los Angeles is favored by 3.5 points, chiefly because of homefield advantage.
Joe Flacco will likely start for Cleveland, as rookie passer Dorian Thompson-Robinson hasn’t practiced this week. He’s in the concussion protocol.
None of these desired outcomes would be particularly deadly if they don’t materialize, but the Vikings can sleep easier with another Rams loss in the standings.
Vikings Playoff Probably with KC + CLE Win: 58%
Tim Boyle controls the fate of the Vikings’ faux parlay. Atlanta toppled the New Orleans Saints last weekend and currently sits atop the NFC South. Too, Minnesota owns tiebreakers over the Saints and Falcons, so that helps.
But if the Saints or Falcons finish one win higher in the standings than the Vikings, Minnesota could fail to reach the postseason. Meanwhile, the Saints play the Lions on Sunday, and that game, for the Vikings’ interest, is a crapshoot. If the Saints win, the Vikings still have a tunnel to winning the NFC North. A Lions win hurts the Saints’ wildcard aspirations.
On the whole, you, the Vikings fan, are a Jets fan in Week 13.
Vikings Playoff Probably with KC + CLE + NYJ Win: 61%
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.