Vikings in Driver's Seat

The Minnesota Vikings have taken a once lost season and turned it around to where they are now in the driver's seat and in control their own destiny. Minnesota has put themselves in the unique position of determining who exactly makes the playoffs this season and who goes home. With three games left in the season our Vikings are 7-6 and have sole possession of the last Wild Card spot in the NFC. However, the Vikings need to be careful, as Detroit, New Orleans, Washington, and Arizona are the main challengers for the Wild Card, and Chicago, Philadelphia and Carolina remain as dark horses in the NFC.

The Vikings still have a tough schedule to finish up with, but are in firm control of their destiny. With games against Chicago, Washington and Denver, Minnesota can single handedly eliminate their competition one-by-one. The Vikings can start with Chicago on Monday night when the Bears come to town to face the Vikings in hope of ending Minnesota's four game win streak. However, the playoff bound Vikings have other plans, as they are still battling to make the post season. A win in Monday Night Football will eliminate the Bears from the playoffs, putting their record at 5-9, and 7-9 at best by season's end. The Vikings can also look for help from Dallas and Seattle this week as well. Dallas plays host to their Division rival Philadelphia and Seattle visits Carolina. A win for both Dallas and Seattle will eliminate Philadelphia and Carolina. With a Viking, Dallas, and Seattle win, all dark horse teams will be eliminated from all hopes of the post season at 5-9.

The Vikings will then be back in the driver's seat the following week as they host the Washington Redskins. A victory over the Redskins will eliminate them from playoff contention and give the Vikings the tie breaker. With a win in week 15 over Chicago and 16 over Washington, and one loss in either week from Detroit, Arizona and New Orleans, Minnesota will clinch the final Wild Card spot. The main challengers for the Wild card spot are listed below in order of playoff contention with record in parenthesise:

Minnesota Vikings Wild Card Leader (7-6):

December 17 Chicago Bears; December 23 Washington Redskins; December 30 @ Denver Broncos

Washington Redskins (6-7):

December 16 @ New York Giants; December 23 @ Minnesota Vikings; December 30 Dallas

Arizona Cardinals (6-7):

December 16 @ New Orleans Saints; December 23 Atlanta Falcons; December 30 St. Louis Rams

Detroit Lions (6-7):

December 16 @ San Diego Chargers; December 23 Kansas City Chiefs; December 30 @ Green Bay

New Orleans Saints (6-7):

December 16 Arizona Cardinals; December 23 @ Philadelphia Eagles; December 30 @ Chicago Bears

Carolina Panthers (5-8) Dark Horse:

December 16 Seattle Seahawks; December 22 Dallas Cowboys; December 30 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Philadelphia Eagles (5-8) Dark Horse:

December 16 @ Dallas Cowboys; December 23 @ New Orleans Saints; December 30 Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears (5-8) Dark Horse:

December 17 @ Minnesota Vikings; December 23 Green Bay Packers; December 30 New Orleans Saints

SKOL VIKINGS!!!!