If you happen to’ve seemed on the NFL standings this week, then you could have observed that the Vikings are in hassle. With two weeks to play, they’re two video games out of the ultimate playoff spot within the NFC, which suggests they are going to want just a few issues to occur in the event that they need to make the postseason this yr. 

If you happen to’re questioning simply how determined issues are for the Vikings proper now, our stats man over at SportsLine (Stephen Oh) says the Vikings have only a 1.3% likelihood of constructing the playoffs. Yikes. That is not superb. On one hand, that sounds so low that in case you’re a pessimistic Vikings fan, you would possibly need to simply go forward and quit on the season. Then again, in case you’re a glass half-full form of Vikings fan, then proper now’s the proper time to channel your internal Lloyd Christmas. 

Because the Vikings head into their Christmas recreation towards the Saints, they’ve one path to the playoffs and one route alone. Here is what must occur for them to make it. 

Week 16 
Vikings beat Saints
49ers beat Cardinals

Week 17
Vikings beat Lions
Rams beat Cardinals

The Bears additionally should lose certainly one of their remaining two video games — they play the Jaguars and Packers — and if all that occurs, the 8-8 Vikings would get in over the 8-8 Bears and 8-8 Cardinals. The Vikings would have the divisional tiebreaker over the Bears and the frequent video games tiebreaker over the Cardinals. 

Then again, if the Vikings lose Friday, they are going to be eradicated from playoff competition. Even when they win Friday, they might be eradicated as quickly as Saturday if the Cardinals beat the 49ers. 

The Vikings are certainly one of six groups that might be eradicated this week with a loss. Here is what has to occur for every of the opposite six groups to get knocked out: 

Vikings: OUT with loss OR Cardinals win 
Raiders: OUT with loss OR Ravens win 
Eagles: OUT with loss OR Washington win
Giants: OUT with loss plus Washington OR Philadelphia win
Cowboys: OUT with loss OR Washington win
Bears: OUT with loss plus Arizona win

A win by Washington might probably find yourself eliminating each group within the NFC East. Principally, in case you’re an NFC East group, you need to be strongly rooting towards Washington on Sunday. As for Vikings fan, you want your group to win after which you are going to should hope for a Christmas miracle.