With the NFC as wide open as it is, there’s a good chance the Vikings find themselves in a mosh pit competing for a first-round bye in the playoffs.
Currently, the Eagles and Vikings control the top two seeds, but with the Rams, Seahawks and Saints all favored to win this week, the Vikings could be in a four-way tie at 6-2 entering Week 10.
Close behind are as many as four other teams.
A huge game Sunday features the Panthers (5-3) and Falcons (4-3). A Carolina win would keep them right behind Minnesota. If Atlanta wins, they’ll be 5-3, perhaps inching closer to their Super Bowl pedigree.
Then the Cowboys (4-3) host Kansas City (6-2). Their chances of beating the Chiefs went up Friday morning when running back Ezekiel Elliott was granted another injunction, thus blocking his suspension at least one more game.
Oh, and don’t forget about the Packers, who could be 5-3 with a win over Detroit on Monday night.
When it’s all said and done, the Vikings could be among eight teams at 6-2 or 5-3.
Strength of schedule
According to PlayoffStatus.com, the Eagles have the easiest remaining schedule among NFC contenders, while the Falcons, Cowboys and Panthers have the hardest. The Vikings, Rams, Seahawks and Saints have the same remaining strength of schedule, according to the site.
It’s a new season, but Minnesota has lost the game after the bye six of the last seven years. Losing at Washington would continue the trend and put a ton of pressure on them entering a critical Week 11 home game against the Rams.
Those Rams play at the Giants this week before hosting the Texans in Week 11. The Giants are terrible and the Texans just lot star rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson to a torn ACL, so it wouldn’t shock anyone if the Rams come to Minnesota at 7-2.
Will it be the 7-2 Vikings against the 7-2 Rams, or the 6-3 Vikings against the 7-2 Rams.
Of course, this hypothetical could be rendered useless if the Giants beat the Rams this week.
Either way, the NFC race is wide open and looks like it will be until the very end.
