Playoff Scenarios

Here are some playoff scenarios for the Minnesota Vikings to make the playoffs in 2008. The following will be broke down in how the Vikings do in the upcoming weeks against their opponents, and how the other teams in the conference and division who are capable of beating out the Vikings for a Wild Card Spot do. The teams that are playoff eligible right now are: Minnesota, Washington, Philadelphia, Detroit, Carolina, New Orleans, and Arizona.

The Minnesota Vikings remaining schedule is: @ San Francisco (December 9), vs Chicago (December 17), vs Washington (December 23) and @ Denver (December 30).

If the Minnesota Vikings go 4-0:
If the Minnesota Vikings go 4-0 in the final four weeks for the season, and Detroit and Arizona go 3-1, the Minnesota Vikings will be one of the Wild Card Teams. Minnesota will have a record of 10-6, and the rest of the teams in the league who are playoff eligible will be 9-7 at best.

If the Vikings go 3-1:
If the Minnesota Vikings go 3-1, to make the playoffs they can write their own destiny by defeating Chicago, Washington and or San Francsico or Denver. By defeating Washington and Chicago, and or San Francisco or Denver, the Vikings will have a better record than Chicago and Washington at 9-7. Both Chicago and Washington will be 8-8 at best with a loss to Minnesota.

By going 3-1, Minnesota will also need New Orleans, Carolina, and Arizona to go 3-1 as well. With this scenario, New Orleans and Carolina will be 8-8 at best, and Arizona will be 9-7 like the Vikings. The Vikings will hold the tie breaker over Arizona because they will have a better conference record. By defeating Chicago, Washington and San Francisco Minnesota will be 7-5 in the conference and Arizona will be 6-6 in the conference. Minnesota must defeat Washington to have the tie breaker over them. If the Vikings go 3-1 and lose to any of the remaining conference opponents, their record will be 6-6 like Arizona. However, Minnesota will still hold the tie breaker over the Cardinals because Minnesota will have a better record percentage over like opponents. Minnesota will be 3-2 at worse and Arizona will be 1-3 at best. Keeping Detroit in the mix: if the Lions go 3-1 the rest of the season, Minnesota will hold the tie breaker because they have a better record in common games. Detroit must have a better record than Minnesota to make the playoff over the Vikings if the Vikings go 3-1.

If the Vikings go 2-2:
If the Minnesota Vikings go 2-2, their record will be 8-8. The Vikings must defeat Washington and Chicago, and hope for Philadelphia, New Orleans, Carolina, lose two. If this happens, all three teams will have a losing record and be eliminated. Minnesota will then need Washington, Chicago and Detroit to be 8-8 as well. If this happens, Minnesota will hold all tie breakers over Washington and Chicago due to head to head competition. If Detroit and Arizona are 8-8 and Minnesota is 8-8, depending on the combination of wins the Vikings may be eliminated by the the Cardinals. By defeating Chicago and Washington, Minnesota will hold the tie breaker over Detroit because Detroit lost to Washington and New York and Minnesota did not. Minnesota will have a better record over like opponents.

If the Vikings go 1-3:
If the Minnesota Vikings go 1-3, they will be eliminated from the playoffs!!!!!