Rooting for the Vikings to Make the Playoffs? Here Are 5 Teams to Cheer for in Week 18
Josh Frey
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While Minnesota’s Week 17 loss to the Green Bay Packers was a devastating one, it didn’t eliminate all hopes of the playoffs for the team.
The Vikings still have a path to the No. 7 seed in the NFC if absolutely everything breaks their way in Week 18. For those Vikings fans that refuse to jump ship and root for a higher draft pick, here is a look at the teams you need to cheer for on Sunday to ensure Minnesota makes the tournament.
Minnesota Vikings
First and foremost, the Vikings absolutely need to win in Detroit on Sunday if they want to preserve any sort of playoff hopes this season. Minnesota cannot make the playoffs with a 7-10 record no matter what happens across the rest of the league this weekend.
Luckily, there is some hope that a win could happen. Even with Nick Mullens throwing four interceptions in Week 16 against these Lions, the Vikings only lost that game by six points. If they can get a cleaner game from their QB this week, there is certainly a chance.
Atlanta Falcons/Carolina Panthers
The Vikings need one of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or New Orleans Saints to lose this weekend in order to make the playoffs, so as a result, all eyes will be on the NFC South on Sunday. New Orleans is taking on the Atlanta Falcons at home, who defeated them back in Week 12 by a score of 24-15.
Meanwhile, the Buccaneers will take on the Carolina Panthers, who have the worst record in the NFL. A win from the Panthers may not be the most realistic outcome here, but at the very least, they were able to keep their last matchup with Tampa Bay close. Carolina lost that Week 13 game by a score of 21-18 in Tampa Bay.
Chicago Bears
Vikings fans will be Bears fans during the late slate on Sunday regardless of if their playoff hopes are alive or not. If Chicago can win in Green Bay this weekend, it will either keep Minnesota breathing in the playoff race, or it will move them up the draft board if the Vikings lose to Detroit.
While Chicago was blown out by Green Bay in their Week 1 matchup against the team, the Bears have caught fire in recent weeks by winning five of their past seven games following a 2-7 start.
Arizona Cardinals
And finally, Vikings fans will be scoreboard watching out west during the late slate of football if Minnesota is able to pull off a win in Detroit. The Vikings need the Arizona Cardinals to upset the Seattle Seahawks if they are to make the playoffs.
Arizona may be a 4-12 team heading into Week 18, but they look like a far better team than that record suggests since Kyler Murray has returned at quarterback. In fact, the Cardinals just upset the Philadelphia Eagles on the road, so a home game against the Seattle Seahawks should be very winnable.
Rooting for a Vikings Top-10 Pick? Here Are 4 Teams to Cheer for in Week 18
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.