Here’s the Vikings’ Playoff Math at the Moment

Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images.

Each week, VikingsTerritory tracks the Minnesota Vikings’ odds of reaching the postseason, starting with pre-Week 1 all the way to Week 18.

Here’s the Vikings’ Playoff Math at the Moment

Various probability sources are tracked and centralized in one spot for reference.

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This is the Vikings’ probability meter after the Week 11 win over the Tennessee Titans.

DVOA = 88.6%

Minnesota running back Aaron Jones (33) does a Lambeau Leap with fans following a 31-29 victory against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. © Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Last week, DVOA estimated the Vikings playoff odds at 88.6%.

The Detroit Lions were expected to win the division outright heading into Week 1 until Minnesota showed up for a surprise 5-0 start. Detroit has since reclaimed the NFC North lead and the summer forecasts feel accurate. The Vikings will play the Lions in Week 18, which could be for all the marbles. Stay tuned.

If Minnesota wins on Sunday, this percentage will probably climb to 97% or so.

Image Courtesy of FTNFantasy.com

The Bears could be the last “bad team” Minnesota plays this year, and the game is this Sunday.

Sportsbooks = 95.24%

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When the regular season kicked off, most credible sportsbooks settled around a +250 moneyline for Minnesota to visit the postseason, which translated to 28.7%. That percentage and moneyline improved to 41.6%, though, after Week 1, when Minnesota crushed the New York Giants and hasn’t stopped climbing.

Now, it resides at -2000 (95.2%) after a win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 11.

Minnesota can drive the percentage higher on Sunday with a win over the Bears, and oddsmakers expect the Vikings to prevail.

PlayoffStatus.com = 95.0%

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This site takes a more rudimentary approach to the calculation, not necessarily factoring in predictive performance. But in the interest of fairness and sheer math, PlayoffStatus.com was included for a broader view.

Power Rankings Guru = 93.9%

Playoff
Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.

This ranking tool defines itself as follows: “Our NFL playoff probabilities are calculated by averaging predictions from numberFireESPN, and Team Rankings. The table above shows the preseason and current playoff probabilities for each team. The change in these two predictions is also shown.”


The Vikings have won four straight games at Soldier Field, an odd stat because Minnesota has historically struggled at the venue. They’re favored to win by 3.5 on Sunday.


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.