vikings/nfl

Scenario is further complicated by real possibility of a three-way tie among the contenders in which Conference records are all the same. This would throw the tie-breaker to record versus common opponents, potentially creating a situation where Vikes tie Seattle and still make it in.

"What’s that? Ah — Playoffs? Don’t talk about — playoffs? You kidding me? PLAYOFFS? I just hope we can win a game! Another game."

Beating the Packers but not making the playoffs may be a perfect way for this team to end the season and head into 2013.

The only problem with going to the playoffs this year is the fact that next year everyone will be complaining about the draft pick we missed out on because we won one too many games. Trust me RG3 looks great but he'll last 3 years in the NFL tops. No running QB last very long and that's a fact.

NoMasBS, how do you define 'running QB'? Michael Vick is still around. Daunte lasted more than three years (yeah, hold back the comments on the latter years). I'm certainly no expert on this, just throwing out fodder for discussion. I just think back to that first Packer game. Had Ponder been just a little more careful with the ball and not thrown a pick in the end zone and another in the red zone... Let's stretch that just a bit and say the Vikings score touchdowns on both of those possessions and win that game. The play-off picture would look very different right now! I know, that's a lot of woulda, shoulda, coulda. Fun to 'ponder' it though.

Let's stop with the "what ifs", please. The season is full of them for lots of teams. Atlanta is 12-2, but easily could be 10-4 or even 8-6. Jacksonville was a minute away from beating beating GB. Let's not forget the Seattle-GB debacle, because while it was entertaining for Viking fans (such as myself) it could actually cost the Vikes a playoff spot if Seattle and Minn end in a tie, and we lose a tie breaker to another team.

No matter what happens, even an 8-8 season is a winner compared to last year. Progress! So glad we don't live in Detroit. Go Vikes! Win out and make the playoffs! Go AP!

I think Seattle will finish 10-6 and claim the top Wild Card. The Vikes can ignore them, because it's the other wild card that they should be shooting for. I think Dallas may well lose its last two, which would knock them out. The Giants should lose the game against Baltimore. I think Washington will win the East. That leaves the Bears as the only team the Vikings really have to worry about, thanks to their two easy remaining games. Hopefully the injury-depleted Bears can be upset by the Cards and/or the Lions. If that's the case, the Vikings could get into the playoffs even if they lose on Sunday (but they need to beat the Packers).

Figuring out the tie breakers is actually more enjoyable than the game itself sometimes. what happens if every team listed goes 9-7? Vikings loss at Houston, beat Green Bay Dallas loss to New Orleans, beats Washington Washington beats Philadelphia, losses to Dallas Chicago beats Arizona, losses to Detroit N.Y. Giants lose to Baltimore, beats Phile Seattle losses to both San Francisco and St. Louis Then - Dallas wins East because NY has inferior divisional record and Dallas wins head-to-head against Washington. There would be a 5 way tie at 9-7 with Vikes, Seattle, chicago, NYG and Washington. Wash would trump NYG, and Vikes trump Chicago based on divisonal records. So Seattle, Vikes, Wash remain. Vikes would then drop out because they lost to both this year. DARNIT! Way to much free time...

It is rare - and kind of cool - when the math is more interesting than the game itself.