No Playoffs for Vikings Boils Down to One Outrageous Event
On September 28, 2025, the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys battled to a 40-40 tie on Sunday Night Football, and that event will be the reason the Minnesota Vikings have no chance at reaching the postseason this weekend.
The Vikings didn’t lose their season on a single snap, but one weird result elsewhere shuffled the math … in a bad way.
Had the Packers lost the game at Dallas and not tied, Minnesota’s upcoming date with Green Bay would be for all the postseason marbles.
The Tie That Twisted Minnesota’s Playoff Picture
Some revisionist history just because.
Packers’ Tie with Cowboys Prevents Vikings from Playoffs
Back when Micah Parsons was still healthy and Dallas still maintained playoff aspirations, the Packers and Cowboys settled a Week 4 game in Dallas in a draw. The game thoroughly entertained the masses, as viewers tend to prefer shootouts to defensive struggles.
No one knew it at the time, especially in Vikings circles, but that tie now separates Minnesota from a shot at the postseason. For example, had Green Bay lost, it would possess a 9-7 record right now, while the Vikings live at 8-8.
In theory, if the Vikings won in Week 18, Minnesota would snag the NFC’s seventh seed because of the tiebreaker(s). But that’s not an option because the Sunday Night Football tie is obviously irreversible.
Now a Preseason-Feeling Game in Week 18
It is unclear if J.J. McCarthy will play in Week 18; he suffered a hairline hand fracture in Week 16 and missed Minnesota’s win over the Lions. He might play to finish the season on a high note. He might sit out to fully heal the hand.
And truth be told, he’s really the only reason for a Vikings fan to get invested in the contest. The game means utterly nothing for either team. In fact, Green Bay is expected to rest its starters to prepare for the playoffs.
The Athletic‘s Matt Schneidman wrote Monday, “LaFleur might’ve erred on the side of caution anyway, but he might be even more inclined to do so given the Packers’ recent stretch of poor health. They’ve already lost tight end Tucker Kraft and defensive end Micah Parsons to torn ACLs and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt and center Elgton Jenkins to season-ending leg injuries.”
“Tight end John FitzPatrick also suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Chicago. Right tackle Zach Tom has missed the last two games with a knee injury, and defensive tackle Jordan Riley (Achilles) and cornerback Kamal Hadden (leg) suffered season-ending injuries against the Ravens.”
The Vikings are somehow favored to win by five or six points.
Schneidman added, “Cornerback Nate Hobbs (knee), wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (concussion) and backup safety and core special teamer Zayne Anderson (ankle) all left Saturday night’s game and didn’t return.”
“There’s something to be said for momentum and positive vibes entering the postseason instead of finishing the regular season on a four-game losing streak, but the Packers might not be able to afford tempting the injury gods any further.”
Minnesota, meanwhile, is already missing its starting left tackle, best outside linebacker, safety, and perhaps quarterback. The game will feel like preseason, unless McCarthy rallies to play.
Packers in Rough Shape before Postseason
Schneidman mentioned the Packers’ injury list, a grim situation.
Not long ago, Green Bay held the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC, but no matter what heading into Week 18, the Packers will enter the playoff tournament as the seventh seed. The team might’ve made noise in the postseason with a disruptor like Parsons, but that’s just not an option after Parsons’ ACL tear.
Yes, the Packers will have to forge a path as road warriors in January, and they’re not finishing the season on a high note for the assignment.
Vikings Finishing Season Strong
On the other hand, the Vikings are ending 2025 with a winning streak, at least during the last four games.
After a depressing loss at Lumen Field in late November, stranding the club at the bottom of the NFC North with a 4-8 record, Kevin O’Connell’s team has rallied to win four straight. In each season that O’Connell has led the Vikings, he’s produced at least one five-game win streak. He’ll get his chance to keep the streak alive against the starter-less Packers this weekend.
It just stinks that a tie ballgame between Green Bay and Dallas three months ago nullified Minnesota’s Week 18 playoff hopes.
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