How we will make the playoffs

[akvikingsfan]

Updated the original post. Deleted post from earlier today. Going forward I will only update the original post.

[admvp]

Still looking like we screwed ourselves in all those NFC non-divisional games. (WSH, SEA, TB)

Almost every single team has the head to head tiebreaker, and if not that, the 'common opponents' tiebreaker. Our best chance will to be catch and/or pass Chicago, and maybe even Green Bay, though that looks unlikely.

This game against St. Louis is do or die.

I don't trust my team one bit. The fact that we're in the discussion is a blessing, but I fear we'll show on Sunday that we don't belong in the discussion at all.

[Mothman]

Making the playoffs isn't as hopeless as you might think and a lot of it hinges on the Monday Night game tonight. We do need to win all 3 to get in. Rams are beatable, but everyone but Ponder will have to be at their best, since to rely on or expect Ponder to be anything but subpar is a faded dream long gone. The only way we win is like how we beat the Bears. Everyone but Ponder.

I don't think it's quite that dire. It wasn't that long ago that Ponder looked sharp in a home win over the Lions. He may be subpar but there's no way the Vikes win even 2 of the next 3 if they try to hide their QB. The competition will be too good for that. Like it or not, their QB and receivers are going to have to make some plays for them.

Anyway, if the Texans win tonight, they only need to beat the Colts at home next week and they clinch #1 in the AFC. That makes a win over the Texans very possible. And that leaves us with the Packers at home. We should've beaten them at Lambeau and now we'll be playing them at home which puts us at 10-6. Very winnable game.

Are you assuming a win over the Rams?

[admvp]

We just beat the Bears by "hiding our QB". I know because they're our division brothers that it might not seem like a real victory, but the Bears are still considered one of the top teams in the entire NFL and we pounded them pretty good despite another sub-100 yard performance from our QB. And if not for those two major turnovers against the Packers from our QB we would've beaten them too. I firmly believe we can win 3 games without our QB, especially when we have a RB so driven to beat Eric Dickerson's record, and a coaching staff that is no longer trying to force Ponder to be good, and are instead focusing on what we have.
Welcome back Mr. Nitpick. Yes I am assuming a win over the Rams, since if we lose to the Rams we have 7 losses which puts us out of playoff contention and games against the Texans and Packers become moot in the topic of playoffs.

While I hope you're right, I have to disagree. This is the NFL. You can't win by hiding your quarterback. You might win a given game that way, or maybe even two. But that isn't the type of thing that is sustainable. In other words, it won't keep working. There is no way we can win these next 3 games with that formula. Absolutely no way. NFL teams are good enough to make you beat them through the air; they aren't going to stand around while AD rushes for 200 yards. Yes, the Bears messed up that strategy, but that was one game. You really think it'll happen 3 more times?

This situation reminds me of the Redskins Sunday night game in Week 16 from a few years ago. We needed the win to make the playoffs. T-jack was still the guy then, and we had been surging. But they exposed us as what we were: a talented team without a quarterback. I fear the same thing will happen this Sunday.

[Mothman]

We just beat the Bears by "hiding our QB". I know because they're our division brothers that it might not seem like a real victory, but the Bears are still considered one of the top teams in the entire NFL and we pounded them pretty good despite another sub-100 yard performance from our QB. And if not for those two major turnovers against the Packers from our QB we would've beaten them too.

Maybe... there's no way to know but I'll stand by what I said: the Vikes aren't going to win 2 of the next 3 (and they probably need all 3) by hiding their QB. It will take more than that. I know they just beat the Bears that way but that was at home and against a team missing some of their best defensive players. Even then it was a close game.

Welcome back Mr. Nitpick.

What is the problem? It's a football board, intended for discussion. People are going to ask you questions from time to time. That's not a personal insult.

All I did was ask if you were assuming a win over the Rams. It seemed like a reasonable question since you didn't mention them in your post but you did say wins over the Texans and Packers would land the Vikes at 10-6. The Rams are playing well so it seemed odd to me that anyone would assume a Vikes win, on the road, against them.

[Eli]

With last night's blowout loss to the Patriots, it's highly unlikely that the Texans will have the top seed locked up going into week 15, so don't expect them to lie down. Likewise, the Packers are in a tight race with the Bears for the division and with the Niners and Giants for a first week bye. Those aren't going to be easy games. Still, the Vikings have a shot at going 9-7.

[Raptorman]

While it is possible that the Vikings could make the playoffs, I don't see it as probable. Actually, the Packers, Bears and Vikings could all make the playoffs if certain games fall in a particular order. But I wouldn't bet $2 on it happening.

[GoldenBear91]

That stuff you are smokin up their in Alaska must be some good schit.

[GoldenBear91]

I think the simple question to ask is "Can the Vikes win 3 games in a row?" I think that is possible, but that alone is a big IF to me. Then you add in all the other play-off implications and it looks bleak.

We'll see, GO VIKES

[Dark]

I don't understand how people think we can win all of these last three games. I think we lose to the Packers and Texans, and just pull off a win against the rams. Even if we did win the next three games, we would still have to have a lot of other things happen in our favor. I see our playoff probabilities being very slim. Don't mind me though, just living in reality.

[PurpleKoolaid]

I dont think many really do. In the same breath they talk about how this season is just about rebuilding. Just wait till the end of the year....

I dont think the Vikes have a chance to beat the Rams. But if they did, the Packers and Texns may not be playing for anything. And may rest some of their stars. And then we might have a chance to back into a playoff spot. But I have a feeling when the seasons over, and we know the final win/loss for the year, things on the board will be alot different.

[Purple bruise]

So what's the deal? Do you think that a team can not be in a rebuilding mode if they happen to make the play-offs? It just shows me what a good job Spielmen did with the draft, and the good coaching job that Frazier is doing and how this team is coming together sooner than later.
Not many expected that the Vikes would be in this position and I for one am very pleased with the development. Another good draft and some good free agent moves will have the Vikes in solid contention next year.
Cracks me up to hear that the Vikes can't beat the Packers at home when the Vikes easily could have won the game in Greenbay. And then to say that there is NO way the Vikes will beat the Rams, REALLY
Keep up the optimism

[Mothman]

I dont think many really do. In the same breath they talk about how this season is just about rebuilding. Just wait till the end of the year....

I dont think the Vikes have a chance to beat the Rams. But if they did, the Packers and Texns may not be playing for anything. And may rest some of their stars. And then we might have a chance to back into a playoff spot. But I have a feeling when the seasons over, and we know the final win/loss for the year, things on the board will be alot different.

In what sense will they be different?

[Cliff]

In what sense will they be different?

53 member of the board voted in this poll;
http://vikingsmessageboard.com/viewtopi ... ll#p429195

So far, the team has already matched or exceeded expectations of 36 (or nearly 70%) members. If they can win one more game, they will have matched or exceeded the expectations of 44 of the 56 (78%) members of this board.

When everything calms down and people start reflecting on the season, considering the expectations going in and rookies/very young players starting at key positions, I can't imagine too many people will be very disappointed. Not when the Vikings met or exceeded roughly 80% of the boards expectations.

[mansquatch]

So what's the deal? Do you think that a team can not be in a rebuilding mode if they happen to make the play-offs? It just shows me what a good job Spielmen did with the draft, and the good coaching job that Frazier is doing and how this team is coming together sooner than later.
Not many expected that the Vikes would be in this position and I for one am very pleased with the development. Another good draft and some good free agent moves will have the Vikes in solid contention next year.
Cracks me up to hear that the Vikes can't beat the Packers at home when the Vikes easily could have won the game in Greenbay. And then to say that there is NO way the Vikes will beat the Rams, REALLY
Keep up the optimism

I agree with your take. Despite the glaring issues at WR/QB the team as a whole has greatly over performed expectations. The highest most people were predicting this club was 6-10, yet we are alraedy at 7-6. Most of the losses were very close and most were due to the aforementioned deficieincies. This was billed as a team in rebuilding, but I do not think we are in that category any longer. We are probably 2 guys away from a contender. The problem is one of those guys is the QB.