It was an outside shot to begin with, but the Minnesota Vikings’ hopes of making the playoffs this season have been formally eliminated. The Vikings entered the game against the Detroit Lions needing a win and some help to make the playoffs, but they did not receive it.
Minnesota needs either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the New Orleans Saints to lose their games today against the Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons, respectively. Unfortunately for Minnesota, this was not to be.
The Bucs took care of business in an ugly game against Carolina, winning their third straight NFC South division crown in a 9-0 win. The Saints, on the other hand, have put together a convincing performance in their game against the Falcons. The Saints also put themselves in position to earn a playoff spot with a 48-17 win over the Falcons.
The Bucs and Saints wins officially eliminates the Vikings, putting an end to their playoff chances — chances that were extraordinary in the first place given everything the team has gone through this season, losing their starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins, and their star wide receiver, Justin Jefferson, for extended periods.
It’s a disappointing ending to a remarkable, but ultimately disappointing, season.
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