Vikings Playoff Hopes are on Life Support but Aren’t Dead Yet

The Minnesota Vikings were terrible on Sunday night vs the Green Bay Packers, losing in embarrassing 33-10 fashion, but there were some lessons learned. Yes, I was wrong. The game is still moving WAY too fast for Jaren Hall and Kirk Cousins still looks pretty good without a shirt on.

Jordan Love is a legitimate starting quarterback in this league and, barring any unforeseen circumstances, he will make the Green Bay Packers an NFC North force to to be reckoned with for a decade or more, if he sticks around and remains healthy. Oh, and even Brian Flores can’t paint without paint brushes. The Vikings desperately need an influx of talent on defense.

Minnesota Vikings playoff hopes still alive…

But, even after the loss, Minnesota’s playoff hopes aren’t dead yet. The New York Times gives them a 3% chance at still backing into the postseason NFC bracket. The biggest factor holding them down is probably their own week 18 matchup vs the NFC North division champ, Detroit Lions.

Related: Justin Jefferson Will Push Vikings Toward Re-Signing Kirk Cousins, if Needed

If they can somehow come out on top in Detroit, though, their playoff scenario isn’t all that insane. In addition to a Vikings win next Sunday, Minnesota needs Green Bay, Seattle and one of the Bucs or Saints to lose too. Likely? No, but far from impossible too.

• Packers lose vs Bears
• Seahawks lose @ Cardinals
• Saints lose vs Falcons OR Bucs lose @ Panthers

Can Kevin O’Connell & Co beat the Lions and make any of the above matchups matter? That’s an entirely different conversation. But the NFL is one of the most redundant professional sports leagues in the world. “Any given Sunday” wasn’t created for propaganda’s sake.

Given the unlikelihood of making the postseason, let alone any chance at making a run, legitimate arguments can be made that the Vikings should play all backups vs Detroit. That way, they’d ‘help youngsters gain experience’ and possibly jump into the top-10 of April’s NFL Draft, with a loss.

Related: 2024 Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft Roundup

But for the eternal optimist Vikings fans out there (they do exist), your playoff hopes aren’t dead yet.