Vikings Bumpy Path to Postseason Glory

Sep 11, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) looks on and smiles during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The dismay many Vikings’ fans felt after the team’s Week 11 loss to the Bears immediately dissipated after they vanquished the Packers on Sunday night. Kirk Cousins was far more poised and decisive in victory, throwing for 342 yards and three touchdown strikes, than he was in defeat at Soldier Field the week before. As the Vikes enter Week 13 they stand at 6-4-1 on the season with an identical ATS record (Against The Spread) for all of those who enjoy a little wager, part of the time, or all of the time for that matter.

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If the Vikings are to continue their march to the playoffs they will have to maintain the balanced attack that they leveled at the Packers last week. In the loss to the Bears, Minnesota virtually abandoned the running game which was limited to 22 yards on 14 carries, while forcing Cousins to throw early and often. The result was a beleaguered Cousins who tossed a pair of picks and drew the short end of a 25-20 decision. However, the offensive game plan against the Packers this week was far more balanced with 38 passing attempts and 29 carries versus 46 and 14 the week before. This also allowed Minnesota’s play-action to work to near perfection as Cousins struck on seven of nine for 124 yards and a pair of touchdown passes in that mode.

Assuming the playoffs were to begin this week, the Vikings would be the first wildcard entry with tiebreakers between Seattle, Carolina, and Washington determining the second wildcard berth. But much can change between now and the end of the regular season, including the loss of a Pro Bowl corner like Xavier Rhodes. Yes, word came in that Rhodes may have suffered a season-ending hamstring injury while defending Green Bay’s Davante Adams on Sunday night. Rhodes would be a tremendous loss to the Minnesota secondary as well as their standing as the fifth-ranked pass defense. Down the homestretch of the regular season, the Vikings must contend with prolific passing attacks in the forms of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, Russell Wilson of the Seahawks, Matthew Stafford of the Lions, and Chicago’s young gun Mitchell Trubisky.

Although it is unrealistic to believe the Vikings will win out the remainder of their schedule, considering the caliber of their final five opponents, we can speculate as to what’s likely to happen as opposed to what we want to happen. The Patriots are still an upper echelon team but are no longer the vaunted juggernaut of years’ past. The best online sportsbooks are offering the Patriots as 6 ½ point favorites over the Vikings. We believe that game will be closer than the point spread indicates but whether Minny can leave with a win in hand is suspect at best.

However, wins over Seattle (away), Miami (home), and Detroit (away) are definitely within the Vikings’ grasp. Perhaps the entire season will boil down to Week 17 when Chicago invades The Bank. At that point we will know whether we have a true contender or a failed pretender. Skol Vikings!

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