Oct 9, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) runs with the ball after a catch during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Arizona Cardinals last weekend in a rollercoaster game that broke in the purple team’s favor thanks to a game-winning drive by quarterback Sam Darnold.
Kevin O’Connell’s team has a 10-2 record and a 99.7% chance of reaching the postseason.
For Minnesota to miss the postseason, it would have to finish the season 0-5 and have other teams win out, which just doesn’t seem too likely. So, these are the Vikings’ likeliest playoff opponents in the Wildcard Round (if one assumes they don’t pass the Detroit Lions and win the NFC North), ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most likely Round 1 playoff opponent).
The Seahawks have defeated the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Jets in the last three, dubs that have done wonders for their playoff probability.
As the No. 3 seed through 13 weeks, Seattle would host Green Bay if the postseason kicked off today.
The Vikings play the Seahawks at Lumen Field in Week 16, a potential playoff preview, which is a trend on this list.
For now, the Cardinals live in second place inside the NFC West, and they’re trying to hold off the Los Angeles Rams. Both teams have 6-6 records.
San Francisco has tumbled recently and may be too far removed to recover. That gives Arizona and Seattle a green light to win the NFC West.
Should the Cardinals earn the third or fourth seed, the Vikings would travel to Glendale in mid-January. Minnesota also beat Arizona on Sunday.
Although the Falcons have dropped the Buccaneers twice, Tampa Bay is tied with Atlanta — and Kirk Cousins’ team is in dire shape with poor performances as of late.
Tampa Bay would have to get around the bad tiebreaker with Atlanta, but there is assuredly a path with Atlanta’s clear and present struggles.
It’s worth noting that the Buccaneers also have the league’s easiest remaining schedule.
Minnesota and Atlanta lock horns at U.S. Bank Stadium in five days, a possible playoff teaser.
Why? Well, the Falcons hold the aforementioned tiebreaker over the Buccaneers and merely need to end the season with the same record as Tampa Bay or one extra win.
That would mandate a Falc0ns-Vikings tryst in Atlanta in Round 1 of the postseason. The Kirk Cousins Bowl.
Speaking of the Vikings and Falcons, this Sunday’s matchup between the clubs feels like a postseason preview five weeks in advance.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.