With a resounding 38-17 win the Minnesota Vikings have improved to 9-5 on the season and more importunely can clinch their spot in the playoffs three different ways next Sunday.
Vikings Clinch Playoffs IF
1. They win.
Plain and simple if the Vikings beat the Giants on Sunday they clinch a playoff berth. Minnesota opened as 7 point favorites over the G-Men who will be without their star wide receiver Odell Beckham Junior after he was suspended for his actions in their defeat to Carolina over the weekend. The Vikings and Giants game has been flexed to Sunday Night Football and will kickoff around 7:30 pm local time on NBC.
2. Seattle Wins
Essentially the only tiebreaker that can hurt Minnesota at this point is a three way tie with Atlanta and Seattle which means if Seattle wins this weekend a three way tie can no longer happen and the Vikings are in. The Seahawks face off against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday at noon local time. The Seahawks defeated the Rams 35-6 earlier this month and a large Seattle win is expected.
3. Atlanta Loses
As previously mentioned only a three way tie involving the Falcons and the Seahawks can knock the Vikings out of the playoffs so if Atlanta loses this weekend the Vikings would again clinch a playoff berth. Atlanta faces the Carolina Panthers who they lost to 38-0 earlier this year. That game is also scheduled for a noon kickoff.
How The Vikings Got There
Minnesota’s 21 point victory over the Bears is the Vikings largest margin of victory so far on the season. Here’s three key areas the Vikings keyed in on in the win.
1. Teddy Bridgewater
The second year quarterback had more touchdowns (4) than incompletions (3). Bridgewater finished with a 154.4 passer rating and also added a touchdown on the ground. Bridgewater started his day with a 20 yard TD strike to Stefon Diggs on a flair route and never looked back. Minnesota OC Norv Turner seemed to be tailoring the offense to Bridgewater’s strengths mixing short routes and intermediate routes and a few deep strikes. “Teddy Two Gloves” also found Mike Wallace on a 50+ yard bomb, a sight for sore eyes to many Vikings fans.
2. Adrian Peterson’s Injury Seems Non-Serious
Peterson left the game in the second quarter with an apparent left leg (ankle) injury. Peterson later returned to the game but his absence made many a Vikings fan nervous and a longer injury would spell disaster for the Vikings playoff hopes. According to multiple reports, Peterson will play on Sunday vs the Giants.
3. The Defensive Line
With Everson Griffin limited with an injury, Danielle Hunter had a strong performance registering 1 and a half sacks. He wasn’t alone in dogging Bears QB Jay Cutler as Tom Johnson and Brian Robison also added sacks. Robison’s was perhaps the most influential, forcing a fumble after Chicago recovered an onside kick to open the second half.
What’s Next
Minnesota will stay at home to take on the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 central time.
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