How Far Can the Vikings Go?
The Minnesota Vikings finished the regular season with a surprising 14-3 record. They absolutely exceeded expectations. Bad news? It was not enough to win the division.
How Far Can the Vikings Go?
They fell to the Wildcard spot with the loss on the road against the Detroit Lions. Winning that game would have meant a divisional title and the first seed, which, of course, would have meant a first-round bye and homefield advantage.
Instead, they will play in the first round on Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams. Earlier this season, Minnesota lost to them on the road 30-20. This time, the game will be played in Arizona.
Will it be impossible for them to advance to the Super Bowl? No, but their chances have gone down dramatically. They likely will have to win three road games to get to the Super Bowl versus two home games.
The last four times Minnesota advanced to the NFC Championship Game (2017, 2009, 2000, and 1998), they had a first-round bye. Only in 1998, they were the first seed. The current playoff format only allows one team to have a bye instead of two.
Only 11 wild card teams have ever advanced to the Super Bowl, and seven of them have won it.
Minnesota fans have to be happy with how much this team has exceeded expectations this season and have reasons to be optimistic about the future, but it is also hard for them not to be disappointed with how the game at Detroit went.
This franchise has a very bad history in the biggest games.
Earlier in the season, Minnesota lost 31-29 at home to Detroit. Had they won that game, this past Sunday would not have mattered. Minnesota could have rested its starters. However, Minnesota could have easily lost twice to Green Bay and the Arizona Cardinals at home and the Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks, and Jacksonville Jaguars on the road. The game in London against the New York Jets could also have easily been a loss.
Even having homefield would not have guaranteed anything. Maybe the Philadelphia Eagles would have come to U.S. Bank Stadium and pulled off a win. Homefield is always huge to have, though, regardless.
In the end, that is not reality. This team has to go on the road in round one and, very likely, the rest of the playoffs, barring upset wins by Green Bay and the Washington Commanders. If Washington and Minnesota win two road games and face each other in the NFC Championship Game, Minnesota will then host that game.
Yes, Minnesota fans should root for Green Bay to win, as crazy as that sounds. Of course, if Minnesota loses Monday, it would not matter if Green Bay wins at Philadelphia.
How far can this team go? They certainly can win this Monday. After that, they would very possibly have to face Detroit again on the road. Well, that is bad news, considering how bad they looked on Sunday against them, but beating a team three times in a season is not easy by any means.
Maybe if they do face Detroit, it would be in the NFC Championship Game. If this team does not win on Monday, it will still be disappointing despite their exceeding expectations.
Why? They have won only two playoff games since the 2009 season. That is not acceptable. Winning 14 games and being one and done is a general disappointment, regardless of the seeding.
This team does not look like it will advance to the Super Bowl. They may advance to the NFC Championship Game, but again, they would also need help from Washington and Green Bay to improve their chances.
Since 1987, Minnesota has not won more than one playoff game in a season. This team may find a way to do that, but it does not look very likely.
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