It was an outside shot to begin with, but any chances the Minnesota Vikings had of reaching the playoffs this season have been officially dashed. The Vikings came into the game against the Detroit Lions needing a win and some help to get into the playoffs, and they didn’t get that help.
Minnesota needed either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the New Orleans Saints to drop their games today against the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons respectively. Unfortunately for Minnesota, that was not to be.
The Bucs took care of business in an ugly game against Carolina, winning their third straight NFC South division crown in a 9-0 win. The Saints, on the other hand, have put together a convincing performance in their game against the Falcons. The Saints also put themselves in position to earn a playoff spot with a 48-17 win over the Falcons.
The Bucs and Saints wins officially eliminates the Vikings, putting an end to their playoff chances — chances that were extraordinary in the first place given everything the team has gone through this season, losing their starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins, and their star wide receiver, Justin Jefferson, for extended periods.
It’s a disappointing ending to a remarkable, but ultimately disappointing, season.
