How the Minnesota Vikings can still make the playoffs

Believe it or not, the Minnesota Vikings are not out of the playoff hunt yet. 

The Minnesota Vikings had a chance to set their mark as a team on the rise in the NFC. They missed it against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 26-14 defeat.

Then again, that loss really could be behind the leg of Dan Bailey more than sub-par play from Kirk Cousins.

Now sitting at 6-7, the Vikings sit in a two-way tie with the Chicago Bears for eighth place in the NFC. While it’s looking more like the Arizona Cardinals might be legit enough to make the postseason, anything can happen. And with three weeks remaining in the regular season, it could be too little too late for Minnesota to find the answers.

However, it’s not over until the final whistle, meaning anything can happen in the upcoming weeks. Believe it or not, Minnesota still has a chance to represent the NFC North and show that slow starts are the new trendy style in 2020.

Here’s Minnesota’s best chance for the postseason

Two of the Vikings’ final three games rely heavily on winning against their own division. Next week, they’ll rematch the Bears, hoping for a clean sweep on the year while they’ll close out Week 17 against Detroit.

If the Bears lose, it automatically gives Minnesota the tiebreaker should both teams finish say 8-8. However, even with a win under a hopeful few turnover Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago stills has to close their year out against Green Bay. Given how close the race for the No.1 seed is, don’t count on Aaron Rodgers and Co. to tread lightly.

Here’s hoping Minnesota could also pull an upset against New Orleans and their red hot defense.

What really matters Arizona, who sits one game ahead. They’ll close out the season with games against the Eagles, 49ers and Rams. Sure, San Francisco might be sitting at 5-7, but the team has gone 2-2 in division play.

Arizona will have to lose all three while the Vikings will have to win a pair. More than anything, Mike Zimmer’s staff must win next Sunday at home against their NFC North rival to remain alive.

All this could be done on Sunday or it could be just the beginning of a wild and crazy finish in the NFC postseason.