I applaud the rabid and loyal Vikings fans who are still holding out hope that their team will turn things around and make the playoffs this season. I really do. They are passionate fans, not easily dissuaded when things go wrong, as they usually do for their squad. However, they're also ignoring history.

I assumed as much, but did the research just to confirm: the Vikings have never made the playoffs following a 2-5 start to the season.

Never.

Not once in their 27 trips to the postseason have they had fewer than three wins after seven weeks of the regular season.

Had the Vikings just hung on to beat the Bills last week instead of allowing a first down on 4th-and-20 and the go-ahead touchdown with 1 second left in regulation, there would have been historical precedence for hope -- a seven-game sliver of optimism.

Simple math tells us a win in Buffalo would have put the Vikings' record at 3-4. Believe it or not, they've made the playoffs six times following a 3-4 start. Some more complicated math tells me that means 22 percent of the Vikings' playoff appearances have actually come following a 3-4 start.

But alas they fell to the Bills and that percentage fell to zero.

Now then, let's have a peek-see at what the Vikings' records have been following seven games and following eight games for each of their 27 playoff appearances. Perhaps we can learn something.


Wait just a minute!

You see that there in 1980? How could you miss it? It somehow became bold and red (and only because I couldn't make it blink).

There is, in fact, historical precedence of a Vikings team making it to the playoffs following a 3-5 start. When it happened they got blown out by the Eagles in the first round of the playoffs, but never mind that part. That's beside the point.

It's happened one time: back in 1980 when the team was still playing at good old Metropolitan Stadium. Bud Grant was the head coach, and Ahmad Rashad caught a game-winning touchdown pass in Week 15 on a Hail Mary heave from Tommy Kramer against the Cleveland Browns for one of the most iconic plays in franchise history. I remember it like it was yesterday and can tell you precisely where I was watching the game when Rashad made the one-handed grab off a tipped ball at the corner of the end zone.

Yep, it happened 34 years ago, but it the fact that it happened once means it's possible: the Vikings can make the playoffs following a 3-5 start.

At this point, I'd like to enact the "Dumb and Dumber" mantra: "So you're telling me there's a chance."

Quick aside: I liked the first Dumb and Dumber movie; I think it's an all-time comedy classic. However, there's almost nothing in the trailers I've seen for "Dumb and Dumber To" that leads me to believe the sequel will be anything short of a flop. It looks bad. I hope I'm wrong.

The main point here is that a win on Sunday in Tampa against the 1-5 Buccaneers keeps the flame of Vikings' playoff hopes flickering. They'd be 3-5 and heading back home to take on that NFL team from Washington.

Here's the kicker. You know back in 1980 when the Vikings started the season 3-5 and still made the playoffs? You know who they played (and beat) in Week 9?

That NFL team from Washington.

Creepy, huh? It's almost like it could be destiny and stuff.

So you're telling me there's a chance…

Join the crew of VikingsJournal.com for a Monday Night Football viewing party this Monday in Bloomington. We'd love to see you there! Check out my Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings at Vikings Journal and take a listen to the Fantasy Football Pants Party podcast.

Bo Mitchell is the Vice President of Content at SportsData, head writer at VikingsJournal.com, co-host of the Fantasy Football Pants Party at 1500ESPN.com and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.

You can follow Bo on Twitter at @Bo_Mitchell