With a 41-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins last Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings put their playoff hopes back on track. It wasn’t just that victory that has the Vikings thinking postseason, but every team they needed to lose to keep the inside track did just that.
Still, with two weeks to go in the 2018 season, can Minnesota keep its position? The oddsmakers at BetDSI have put together some odds on that very subject.
Will the Minnesota Vikings make the 2018-19 playoffs?
Yes: -165
No: +125
Here’s the good news for the Vikings (7-6-1). If the playoffs started today, they’d hold the No. 6 seed. The bad news is that would equal a trip to Soldier Field to face off against the Chicago Bears and their smothering defense. Minnesota is on the road this week in Detroit and has opened as a 5.5-point favorite against the Lions. The last time they faced off against Matt Patricia’s squad, they beat them 24-9. I don’t expect this one to be that lopsided, but those 5.5 points are probably a safe bet.
Related: NFL Betting Guide | Week 16 Odds
The problem for the Vikings on their quest to play in January is the Bears. Not only would they, as the six seed, have to play Chicago in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, they also play the Bears in Week 17. Unless the Bears lose to the San Francisco 49ers this week (and that’s a tall order), they’ll still be in the mix for a potential No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs and a first-round bye. The Los Angeles Rams currently have the two-seed, but Chicago has the head-to-head tiebreaker against L.A.. The Rams won’t play until the 4:30 game, so Chicago won’t know if it’s the No. 2 until after their own game against the Vikings is already over.
Hold Brees to 120 yards; lose by 10.
Hold Wilson to 72 yards; lose by 14.Ladies and gentlemen, your 2018 Minnesota #Vikings! pic.twitter.com/wyFYHwIBA8
— Eric Thompson (@eric_j_thompson) December 11, 2018
What could solve this problem for Minnesota? It’s simple and it all comes down to this very Sunday. The Philadelphia Eagles are hosting the Houston Texans and thanks to their shocking 30-23 victory over the Rams, they’re nipping at the Vikings’ heels. If the Eagles win Sunday, then Minnesota must beat the Bears to ensure a trip to the playoffs. The Eagles are playing at the Washington Redskins in Week 17 and will likely be favored by a touchdown.
Can you count on the Texans knocking off the Eagles at home Sunday? Philly has opened as a two-point favorite in that game. They’re the defending Super Bowl champions and made an historic late-season run last year.
According to PFF, Mike Zimmer’s Minnesota Vikings blitzed Ryan Tannehill 18 of 34 pass plays this Sunday. The last time a Zimmer defense blitzed the opposing team’s primary QB even as much as 50% was the 2011 Wildcard game against rookie QB T.J. Yates. @3YardsPerCarry
— Chris Kouffman (@ckparrot) December 18, 2018
There is, of course, another scenario that could land the Vikings into the playoff bracket, even if they lose their final game. Currently the Seattle Seahawks hold the five-seed. They host the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday and are a 2.5-point underdog. If they lose it, then lose at CenturyLink Field to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17, Minnesota makes the playoffs as long as they don’t drop the ball against the Lions this week.
What’s going to happen? Honestly, my safest bet here is “No” in spite of what the odds tell you.
