Vikings Make Next Step on Super Bowl Journey
The Minnesota Vikings entered the season without any expectations from the media and the general public. Kirk Cousins’ departure and, perhaps even more, the acquisition of Sam Darnold raised significant skepticism that the team could repeat any past success in the passing game. Fast forward nine months, and Kevin O’Connell’s aerial attack has done just that.
Vikings Make Next Step on Super Bowl Journey
Not many expected the Vikings to be in the mix for the division or the playoffs, but here we are, halfway through December. On Sunday, Minnesota’s Super Bowl journey became a possibility rather than a theory.
With Green Bay’s commanding win over the Seattle Seahawks, who will host the Vikings in Week 16, Minnesota has clinched a playoff berth.
Entering Week 15, the Vikings needed one of three things to happen: the San Francisco 49ers to beat the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, the Packers to take care of the Seahawks on Sunday, or the Vikings to clinch the season series against the Bears on Monday.
The 49ers lost at home against the Rams as their struggles continued. After reaching the Super Bowl in February, Kyle Shanahan’s crew is now close to elimination. Because the Packers sent the Vikes to the postseason, Monday’s game won’t have that element in store.
However, reaching the dance is the big goal as it allows an organization to compete for a spot in the big game. Once the postseason rolls around, it’s single elimination, and everyone has a chance to run hot at the right time.
A good example of that is Joe Flacco and his 2012 Baltimore Ravens, which featured former Viking Bryant McKinnie. The Ravens won the AFC North, but they were the fourth seed and had to face Peyton Manning’s Broncos and Tom Brady’s Patriots on their way to the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
With wins against both of those teams on the road and at home against Andrew Luck’s Colts, Flacco secured a trip to Louisiana. He threw for 11 touchdowns without an interception and over 1,100 yards in four games in what was one of the hottest playoffs of any quarterback in NFL history.
That story shows how a Sam Darnold-led Vikings team could do it by having a quarterback have the hottest streak of his career at the perfect time. His predecessor, Cousins, could never ignite that flame, although he had a decent game against the Saints in the 2019 playoffs and played well against the Giants in 2022.
His next goal, however, will be to beat the Bears on Monday to stay in contention for the NFC North and, subsequently, the first seed in the NFL playoff picture. That would make sure that the route to the Super Bowl leads through the Twin Cities and allow Minnesota’s homefield advantage to unfold. Winning out would result in a Vikings first-round bye.
The playoffs are clinched. Next step: A win against the division rivals Chicago Bears.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt