Here’s How the Vikings Can Clinch a Playoff Spot

Matt Krohn-Imagn Images. The Minnesota Vikings nudged their record to 10-2 last weekend, edging the Arizona Cardinals 23-22 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Here’s How the Vikings Can Clinch a Playoff Spot The team now has a 99.8% probability of reaching the postseason per ESPN’s Football Power Index, which is quite remarkable because Minnesota was scheduled to win six or seven games, according to sportsbooks, when the season began. Too, the Vikings have conducted the winning ways without players like J.J. McCarthy, Christian Darrisaw, and Mekhi Blackmon. Adversity has not flustered the Vikings, and the prize for their perseverance is a magic number. Minnesota needs three events to occur this weekend — or basically whenever — to stamp a ticket to the postseason. Here’s the latest scenario for this weekend. A Win over ATL Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports The most intriguing game on the Vikings’ 2024 schedule because of the Kirk Cousins personal “revenge” storyline, Minnesota takes on the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday and is favored to win by six points. The Falcons have experienced a rough patch, led by Cousins on the billboard, who has amassed 6 picks and zero touchdowns in the last three games. Vikings fans know Cousins rarely has four awful games in a row, so Brian Flores’ group better be ready. The Vikings can take care of business in the early afternoon window on Sunday and then relax and monitor the following two magic number items. But they have to beat the Falcons first. SEA Win over ARI Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports. Vikings fans are familiar with Arizona. The Vikings just survived Kyler Murray and friends at home in Week 13. Now, a Cardinals loss is once again on the wishlist, and if Minnesota beats Atlanta while the Bills down the Rams (see below), the final installment of the mock parlay is Seahawks over Cardinals. All three events happening in the Vikings’ favor would toss Minnesota into the postseason by dinnertime Sunday evening. In Week 16, Kevin O’Connell’s group will get an intimate test with the Seahawks, traveling to Seattle for what could be a playoff preview. BUF Win over LAR Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports. Buffalo is rolling in 2024, locking up the AFC East on the first day of December. Minnesota will hope Josh Allen and friends down the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium at 3:25 pm CST on Sunday, and if they honor the ask, the Vikings will be one step closer to clinching a Wildcard seed — at minimum — in the January postseason tournament. Buffalo is favored by four points. It’s worth noting that the Rams are desperate and are virtually required to win this weekend to keep their own Wildcard hopes afloat. The magic number is three. If one or more of these games plays out against the Vikings’ favor, the scenario basically resets in Week 15. Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.