The 4 Likely Playoff Opponents for Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings hit the regular season’s halfway point last weekend during a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road.
The 4 Likely Playoff Opponents for Vikings
The purple team has a 7-2 record and an 88.4% chance of reaching the postseason.
For Minnesota to miss the postseason, it would have to finish the season with a 1-7 or 2-6 record, 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).
4. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles toppled the Washington Commanders on Thursday Night Football, putting themselves in the driver’s seat to win the NFC East.
If the purple team finishes the season with a strong record — like 11-6 or 12-5 — Philadelphia could be waiting in the third or fourth seed to host the purple team.
And if one thinks the Eagles will collapse like they did last season, swap the Commanders here. It’s a two-horse race in the NFC East.
3. Arizona Cardinals
For now, the Cardinals unexpectedly lead the NFC West. A season with a healthy Kyler Murray evidently matters.
Most, however, don’t expect Arizona to hang onto the lead over the San Francisco 49ers. If it does, San Francisco and Arizona meet in Week 18 for all the marbles.
Should the Cardinals earn the third or fourth seed, the Vikings would travel to Glendale in mid-January.
2. San Francisco 49ers
Minnesota hasn’t found much luck against the 49ers in the playoffs, well, ever. The Vikings have lost four playoff games to San Francisco since 1988, and in fact, has only won one playoff meeting against the 49ers in franchise history. 1-5 all-time.
The 49ers will probably win the NFC West, likely finish behind the Lions, and voila — could host the Vikings on Wildcard Weekend at Levi’s Stadium.
1. Atlanta Falcons
Minnesota and Atlanta lock horns at U.S. Bank Stadium in three weeks, a possible playoff preview.
Why? Well, the Falcons are trending toward winning the NFC South and feel like a prime candidate for the NFC’s No. 4 seed. If Minnesota finishes 11-6 or 12-5, it will be on deck for the fifth seed or similar.
That would mandate a Falc0ns-Vikings tryst in Atlanta in Round 1 of the postseason. The Kirk Cousins game.
49ers Release Former Viking
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.
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