Minnesota Vikings' Playoff Situation

The way I see it, the Minnesota Vikings control their playoff hopes and dreams. Just win. The Vikings just have to concern themselves with the team that they face each week. Finish the season at 10-6. If they drop another game they are probably out of the playoffs. 9-7 might sneak them in but they can't count on it. They've given away too many games this season (Tennessee, Seattle, Dallas). They can't give away any more. As Al Davis often said, "Just Win, Baby."

Unless the Green Bay Packers go on a riotous losing run, the Wild Card is the only playoff option for the Vikings. So here's the current snapshot of the NFC Wild Card race.

Seed    Team                                    Record

5     Los Angeles Rams               7-4

6     Tampa Bay Buccaneers       7-5

7     Arizona Cardinals               6-5

8     Minnesota Vikings               5-6

9     Chicago Bears                       5-6

10     San Francisco 49ers               5-6

The Rams, Buccaneers, and Cardinals are currently holding down playoff spots. The Vikings and 49ers are knocking of the playoff door. The Bears are just hanging around the fun. 

Here's a remaining schedule breakdown of each of the Vikings and the three teams sitting in their playoff way:

Los Angeles Rams (7-4)

Current seed: Fifth (0.5 games behind Seattle for NFC West lead)

Remaining games: at ARI, vs. NE, vs. NYJ, at SEA, vs. ARI

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)

Current seed: Sixth (2.5 games behind New Orleans for NFC South lead)

Remaining games: vs. MIN, at ATL, at DET, vs. ATL

Arizona Cardinals (6-5)

Current seed: Seventh (1.5 games behind Seattle for NFC West lead)

Remaining games: vs. LAR, at NYG, vs. PHI, vs. SF, at LAR

Minnesota Vikings (5-6)

Current seed: Eighth

Remaining games: vs. JAX, at TB, vs. CHI, at NO, at DET

My eyes are drawn to the Buccaneers. They are the team to target partly because they are currently ahead of the Vikings but mostly because the Vikings play them in two weeks. Simple math reveals that if the Vikings win their remaining games, they will, at worst, finish tied with the Buccaneers at 10-6. The Vikings and Buccaneers would be tied for one of the Wild Card spots and the Vikings would take it on the basis of their head-to-head result. That's it. Just win and the Vikings are in the playoffs.