Oct 20, 2024; London, United Kingdom; Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4) celebrates with offensive tackle Anton Harrison (77) after scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run against the New England Patriots in the first half of an NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings toppled the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night, a get-right game for a team that had dropped two straight.
The regular season reached a midpoint after Week 9, and Minnesota is in the driver’s seat to reach the postseason based on its current standing. The Vikings have 82.4% odds of reaching the playoffs, per DVOA.
And with nine games left, these are the Vikings’ three easiest by the numbers.
W-L Record: 5-4
Offense EPA/Play Ranking: 12th
Defense EPA/Play Ranking: 28th
The Cardinals certainly aren’t a bad football team — not one bit. They, in fact, lead the NFC West through nine games, if that can believed. If the postseason started today, the Vikings would travel to Arizona for a playoff game.
However, the Cardinals’ defense is currently suspect, ranking as the NFL’s fifth-worst unit. The offense performs decently, but the enterprise is not balanced.
This matchup would not have made the cut of the “easiest” if it were on the road, but Minnesota should take care of business at home in four weeks.
W-L Record: 2-6
Offense EPA/Play Ranking: 29th
Defense EPA/Play Ranking: 10th
Will Levis or Mason Rudolph will face Brian Flores’ defense, and Minnesota should utterly feast. Flores’ scheme makes a living on young, inexperienced quarterbacks. It also helps that Levis and Rudolph aren’t very good, in general.
The Titans’ defense, though, isn’t a joke, so when these clubs lock horns in 11 days, the game should result in a relatively low-scoring affair.
Minnesota should win it based on the defensive matchup alone.
W-L Record: 2-7
Offense EPA/Play Ranking: 17th
Defense EPA/Play Ranking: 32nd
The Vikings might be the team to send Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson to unemployment.
Jacksonville is reeling at the moment, and there’s no good reason for it. It has its version of a franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, plus a Super Bowl-winning skipper in Pederson. Nothing is working, though, and Minnesota should be primed to sink the Jaguars campaign to 2-8.
If Sam Darnold and Co. don’t score 24+ points this weekend, the offense will be labeled as inconsistent or rocky at best.
**Note: For curious minds, games against the Bears were not included in this list because when the Vikings and Bears meet, the showdown is weird or sloppy, almost no matter what.
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.