The 33-10 loss to the Packers Sunday night was devastating for the Vikings’ playoff chances, which stand at just 3% with one week left in the regular season, according to Upshot’s playoff simulator via the New York Times.
In order to make the playoffs, the Vikings need all of the following to happen in Week 18.
- Vikings beat Lions
- Cardinals beat Seahawks
- Bears beat Packers
- Panthers beat Buccaneers or Falcons beat Saints
Anything else will send the Vikings into a harrowing offseason in which Kirk Cousins becomes a free agent and Justin Jefferson will be deciding whether or not to sign a long-term extension with the team that drafted him in 2020.
Had Minnesota beaten the Packers, all they would’ve needed to do was defeat the Lions on Jan. 7 to secure a spot on Wild Card Weekend. The stage for success was set earlier Sunday when the Steelers went to Seattle and knocked off the Seahawks, giving Minnesota the chance to control their own destiny.
Now they need to hope the four-win Cardinals can take down the Seahawks and pray the Bears can upset the Packers at Lambeau Field. And if those both happen, they’ll still need either the two-win Panthers to stun the Bucs or the Falcons to go into New Orleans and win.
There’s a 97% chance Minnesota’s season will be over by about 3 p.m. CT on Jan. 7, at which point the talkers will transition to a myriad of critical decisions in waiting.
Will Cousins be back?
Will Jefferson ink a mega contract?
Will the Vikings trade up in the draft for their next franchise QB?
Is Harrison Smith’s iconic career with Minnesota over?
Will Danielle Hunter be back?
If Brian Flores gets a head coaching job, who will be the new defensive coordinator?
