
It wouldn't be a Vikings season if we weren't scoreboard watching and wondering if they will make the playoffs. So what are the Vikings' chances? Glad you asked. Let's take stock of the situation:
What is the current state of affairs?
After being as high as 94 percent likely to make the playoffs earlier this season, the Vikings are all the way down to 28 percent after falling to 6-6. If the playoffs started today, the Giants (8-4) and Buccaneers (7-5) would be wild card teams. Washington (6-5-1) is also ahead of the Vikings, while Green Bay (6-6), Arizona (5-6-1), New Orleans (5-7) and Philadelphia (5-7) are all still in the mix.
Basically, the Vikings need to start winning (a lot) and get some help (either a decent amount or a lot, depending on how things play out). The Vikings play at Jacksonville on Sunday, followed by the Colts (home), Packers (away) and Bears (home).
Should I be hoping for a wild card berth or the division title at this point?
Probably the wild card. Detroit is 8-4 and has the tiebreaker edge over the Vikings because of head-to-head wins. If the Lions go at least 2-2 down the stretch, the Vikings cannot win the division. That said, Detroit has some challenging games left (at Giants, at Cowboys, home vs. Green Bay). The game against the Giants a week from Sunday is particularly interesting since the Vikings are chasing one team for the division and the other for the wild card. The result of that game should have an impact on which route to the playoffs is more feasible for the Vikings
Is there a way the Vikings could win their final four games (to go 10-6) and miss the playoffs?
Sure. If Detroit goes at least 2-2 the Vikings can't catch the Lions in the division. If the Giants (8-4) go at least 3-1 down the stretch, the Vikings cannot catch them. If Tampa (currently 7-5) goes at least 3-1, the best the Vikings can do is tie the Bucs and they would lose that two-team tiebreaker based on conference record. If either of those teams stumble and Washington (6-5-1) goes 4-0 down the stretch, the Vikings cannot catch the Redskins.