The Vikings Are Eliminated But Can Still Affect the Playoff Field

The way the Minnesota Vikings can end the season sets itself up like a line from the hit sitcom Friends. “If I’m going down,” Chandler stated, “I'm taking everybody with me!”

Going into Sunday's slate of games, the Vikings were looking for a miracle to keep them alive. So, when the Chicago Bears demolished the Cleveland Browns, 31-3, in the noon window, all that remained for the Vikings was to finish these final four weeks on a strong note.

Of their final four opponents, only one, the New York Giants, is also currently eliminated. That leaves three in-the-hunt teams looking to take advantage of Minnesota’s unfortunate season.

The Vikings can use this time to foster growth and monitor their prospects for the future. They can also use their final three games to bring three teams down with them, either by removing them from the playoffs or by drastically affecting their playoff seeding.

Dallas Cowboys

While this first contest is already in the books, it’s still important to put this win in the playoff context. Entering play, the Cowboys needed to win out and hope the Philadelphia Eagles lose two of their final three contests.

It was a heated battle, and Brandon Aubrey had an off night. He missed two field goals of 50-plus yards, where he has otherwise been automatic. He only missed five of his 38 attempts from that distance in his career entering play.

The Vikings stole a win in Dallas, putting the Cowboys in a position to be eliminated before their next game. The Eagles face the Washington Commanders on Saturday. While ultimately eliminating Dallas' playoff hopes is one thing, being able to affect those that are in your division might make things just a bit sweeter.

Detroit Lions

The Lions are in eighth place in the NFC, 1.5 games behind the Green Bay Packers. And because the New Orleans Saints beat the Carolina Panthers last week, the final Wild Card spot is left to one of the two teams in the Vikings division or one of the three contenders in the NFC West.

For argument's sake, let's say the Lions beat the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Bears take down the Packers. That leaves these two teams half a game apart going into the final two games.

If the Vikings continue to play well, a win against a reeling Lions team wouldn't be that big of a surprise.

The Lions are 4-5 since Week 5, having not won or lost two straight in that span, including a loss to the Vikings in Detroit. If that trend continues, it sets Minnesota up to at least make Week 18 interesting. Although they can’t make it in, the Vikings can be the catalyst for who rounds out the playoff field.

Green Bay Packers 

Affecting one divisional foe’s playoff chances is one thing. The chance to do it twice in the same number of weeks is another, especially when it's a bitter rival. Green Bay’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17 leads to a potential massive matchup for the Vikings.

By this point, the Bears might have their playoff seed locked, so resting starters wouldn't be entirely out of the question. That would lead the Lions to beat the Bears. Therefore, the playoffs would hinge on this Vikings-Packers matchup.

The Packers will be without edge rusher Micah Parsons, as he was lost for the season after suffering a torn ACL last week. Parsons was a wrecking ball in Week 12, sacking J.J. McCarthy twice, and opened things up for other players on their defense.

Combine that massive loss with the potential loss of Christian Watson due to a chest injury, and the Packers are then missing two vital weapons. That opens the door for a heated rivalry game that is sure to be an instant classic with massive playoff implications.

After being eliminated from the playoffs before stepping on the field Sunday, the Vikings knew their season would end on the first weekend of the new year. While their playoff hopes have been squashed, that doesn't mean they won't play a major role in how the playoff layout shakes out.

With their recent success and team growth, these fringe playoff squads should want nothing to do with the 2025 Minnesota Vikings.