NFL Playoffs 2015: 5 reasons why the Minnesota Vikings won’t win NFC North

1. Vikings have harder schedule

The Vikings looked like a solid team throughout their five-game winning streak and have quietly employed one of the most dangerous defenses in the NFL. However, their upcoming schedule will test whether they are really ready to be more than just a playoff team. The Vikings have to play the Seattle Seahawks next. While the Seahawks game will be at home, the Seahawks have looked much better in recent weeks and figure to be as dangerous as ever. Even if the Vikings can pull out a win against the Seahawks, they also have to play a road game against the Arizona Cardinals next.

The Cardinals are 9-2 and continue to look like Super Bowl frontrunners. The Vikings will have a home game against the Bears after the Cardinals, but their last two games will be difficult. The New York Giants are inconsistent, but they can look like the one of the best teams in the NFL at times when they are hot. The Vikings’ season ends with a road game against the Packers, and there is a great chance that the NFC North title will come down to this game.

The Packers also have a relatively difficult schedule coming up, but their next two games are a revenge match against the Detroit Lions and a home game against a crippled Dallas Cowboys team. The Packers next face the Oakland Raiders on the road before taking on the Cardinals and Vikings. The Vikings and Packers both have major challenges ahead of them, but the Vikings are in for a rude awakening as they take on two NFC West teams in a row.

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