Some Minnesota Vikings fans want the team to “tank” at the Detroit Lions this Sunday. The club won’t do that, but it doesn’t stop tankers from requesting a tank.
The Sneaky and Overlooked Part of the Vikings Game at DET
Others desire a Vikings playoff game, which would require a win over the Lions, a loss by the Green Bay Packers to the Chicago Bears, an Arizona Cardinals win over the Seattle Seahawks, and either a Tampa Bay Buccaneers or New Orleans Saints loss.
Dec 17, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell reacts during the third quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
That’s probably not happening, either.
So, as the Tank vs. Playoff debate circulates on social media, an overlooked item is where the Vikings finish in the NFC North. Second, third, or fourth place will determine 2024’s schedule difficulty, and few are talking about it, too fixated on draft order and faint playoff hopes.
Dec 18, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) looks to pass in the third quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports.
Foremost, Minnesota cannot win the division. It will not play a first-place schedule next season as it did in 2023. The Lions canceled the Vikings’ hopes of a division crown at U.S. Bank Stadium in Week 16. No matter what, Detroit will place a first-place schedule in 2024.
Then, however, mystery looms for the Vikings’ finish inside the North.
2nd Place
Most of the Vikings’ 2024 schedule is determined, but three games will be determined by their placement in the NFC North on Sunday.
If the Vikings beat the Lions while the Packers lose to the Bears, Minnesota would play these teams in 2024:
vs. Bills or Dolphins
vs. Saints or Falcons
at Cowboys or Eagles (probably Cowboys)
3rd Place
And if the Vikings lose to the Lions, but the Packers beat the Bears, it would net a third-place schedule that looks more like this:
vs. Jets
vs. Falcons
at Giants
4th Place
Finally, the “best-case scenario” for fans who’d rather the Vikings have an easy schedule next season at the expense of a last-place finish in 2023. This would require a Vikings loss at Detroit and a Bears win at Green Bay:
vs. Patriots
vs. Panthers
at Commanders
And when one examines it in that vein, fourth place doesn’t look half-bad.
Sep 24, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings fans in the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
Here are the other Vikings matchups in 2024, regardless of this weekend’s outcome —
Opponents at U.S. Bank Stadium:
Arizona Cardinals
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
San Francisco 49ers
Then, games on the road versus these teams:
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Jacksonville Jaguars
Los Angeles Rams
Seattle Seahawks
Tennessee Titans
Ergo, in addition to draft order or slipping into the postseason, folks must monitor division placement, too.
Dec 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) gets yards after the catch as Minnesota Vikings cornerback Akayleb Evans (21) looks to make the tackle during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
The Vikings are 3.5-point underdogs at Detroit.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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