Playoff Chances

[mondry]

It's gonna be rough, we probably won't win the division and having lost to seattle AND TB who will likely be wild card contender's really makes it unlikely.

[PurpleKoolaid]

Did you see our last game? We've got it all figured out now.

Its like the previous 4 game never happened.

[jackal]

to get in the playoffs at worst we are going to have to split the games against Packers and Bears and beat the rams..

I would say we have about 30 percent chance right now of making the playoffs

[PurpleMustReign]

Vikings will finish 7-9. They will not beat Chicago or GB on the road, and may beat Chicago at home, but not GB. They won't beat STL either.

They will finish 7-9.

[Purple bruise]

Is it just me or do some of the fan/posters seem to be happiest when Ponder and or the Vikes are playing poorly

[admvp]

Vikings will finish 7-9. They will not beat Chicago or GB on the road, and may beat Chicago at home, but not GB.

I wouldn't be so sure. Are you watching these Bears? And remember, we'll be coming off a bye and they'll be coming off a Monday Night-er on the west coast. The odds are with us.

They won't beat STL either.

Haha. Good one.

[admvp]

I don't like our chances to make the playoffs, but it's not because I don't think we can win any games down the stretch. I think we can steal 2 of those really tough games (GB twice, CHI twice, and @HOU), and along with a win over St. Louis, that will put us at 9-7.

At the end of the day, we screwed ourselves by losing to Tampa Bay and Seattle. Simple as that. We needed to beat one of them at least, but since we lost to each, both own the tiebreaker over us. This means we'll need to finish a game better than both. I simply don't see that happening.

[TuffJuff]

I don't like our chances to make the playoffs, but it's not because I don't think we can win any games down the stretch. I think we can steal 2 of those really tough games (GB twice, CHI twice, and @HOU), and along with a win over St. Louis, that will put us at 9-7.

At the end of the day, we screwed ourselves by losing to Tampa Bay and Seattle. Simple as that. We needed to beat one of them at least, but since we lost to each, both own the tiebreaker over us. This means we'll need to finish a game better than both. I simply don't see that happening.

Yeah that could come back to haunt us

[Cliff]

The Vikings control their own fate if nothing else.

Every game left on their schedule is winnable if they play to the best of their ability. That said, I realize they have a lot of hills and valleys in their play. If they can be one of those teams that gets it together here at the end of the season I think they've got a very good chance to make the playoffs.

[mansquatch]

Every game left on their schedule is winnable if they play to the best of their ability. That said, I realize they have a lot of hills and valleys in their play. If they can be one of those teams that gets it together here at the end of the season I think they've got a very good chance to make the playoffs.

To me this is the correct take. We had a great start and then hit a skid as our youth came to the surface and we showed some inconsistency. We are capable of beating every team that beat us, we just were not level in our play. The next few games are going to be challenging, but I see no reason why the Vikings cannot compete and win some of these games. The key is how well they execute.

In reading the interview that Frasier recently gave it became apparent that not just the players, but also the coaching staff were working through some inconsistency issues.

The next few games are really going to tell us where the Vikings are at. We could be anywhere from 7-9 to 11-5 by my estimation. The key is we are getting better and will keep getting better. The fact that we are even in the playoff converstaion is awesome considering what 2011 was like.

[Sinatra]

Every game left on their schedule is winnable if they play to the best of their ability.

This isn't really saying anything. That's true of every team in the league. Any given Sunday, and all that.

[Cliff]

This isn't really saying anything. That's true of every team in the league. Any given Sunday, and all that.

No, that's not what I mean. The Vikings have actually demonstrated they can be a good team and currently have a winning record.

The Bears just got crushed by the 49ers which is a team that the Vikings beat. The Packers just barely beat a Lions a team that the Vikings handled pretty well twice. Arizona (who the Vikings beat) took the Texans into overtime.

When I say "every game left on the schedule is winnable", I mean realistically. I'm not saying in a long shot kind of way like if 1-9 Jacksonville were playing the 9-1 Falcons would still have a "chance".

[mansquatch]

Cliff I think you are right on. This team has shown it can play with the big boys. It just hasn't shown that it can play at that level every week. I think a big part of that is the youth. However, now is the time for them to put it together. They've been in the trenches for 10 weeks, time to light it up.

Side note: Jared Allen is due for a blow up game. I predict one of the next 3 will be it.

[Raptorman]

Bears are now in the wild card hunt at 7-3.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/standings/playoffrace

They could fold, more likely, they probably will be battling to try to get a wild card or the division. 7-3 is still good but only one win more than the Vikings.

They were certainly sorry tonight, I didn't see them winning even if Cutler could have played.

Bears play Minnesota twice, host Green Bay and Seattle, at Arizona and Detroit. I don't know if they can get their steam back.

I'll save all my jawing, the teams fighting for these positions as of now will be Bears, Bucs, Vikings, Seahawks, Saints and possibly even the Giants and Cowboys, Cowboys homestretch slightly easier than the Giants. Giants lost that last game badly to the Bengals and are 6-4 as well.

You need to put the Packers in that list of teams fighting for the playoffs. It's as simple as this week. IF, the Giants get their act together and beat the Packers, the Vikings-Bears game is for the division lead. Will that hold up till the end of the year? I doubt it. Right now the NFC North is up for grabs between three teams. While two seem to have the better odds, until they are mathematically eliminated, the Vikings have a chance. Both of the Packers and Bears O-lines are suspect. Packer have lost their starting right tackle, and Saturday has not been a good replacement for Wells. Over the next 3 games Allen and Robison could easily double their sack totals for the year.

[mansquatch]

You need to put the Packers in that list of teams fighting for the playoffs. It's as simple as this week. IF, the Giants get their act together and beat the Packers, the Vikings-Bears game is for the division lead. Will that hold up till the end of the year? I doubt it. Right now the NFC North is up for grabs between three teams. While two seem to have the better odds, until they are mathematically eliminated, the Vikings have a chance. Both of the Packers and Bears O-lines are suspect. Packer have lost their starting right tackle, and Saturday has not been a good replacement for Wells. Over the next 3 games Allen and Robison could easily double their sack totals for the year.

I agree completely. These are games where our DL has the potential to take them over. Not saying they will, both teams have good players as well, but there is potential against such weak protection, esepcially in the case of the Bears.

The playoff hunt will become more clear in the next 2-3 games. The NFC is completely up for grabs. Even the teams, like SF and Atlanta that are presented as the dominant forces in the NFC are not really that far beyond the rest of the pack.