Playoff-Clinching Scenarios for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16

The Minnesota Vikings will likely be celebrating a playoff berth by the end of Week 16. 

Current clinching scenarios present three conceivable ways for Minnesota to punch its ticket into the six-team NFC field, including a pair that might happen before the Vikings even take the field Sunday night. Mike Zimmer's club also looks likely to set up a winner-take-all matchup with the Green Bay Packers in Week 17. 

In the following slides, we'll look at the different ways Minnesota can clinch a postseason berth in Week 16.

Vikings Win vs. Giants

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This is the favored path. There is no relying on others to win or lose, only taking care of your own business. With a win over the Giants on Sunday night, the Vikings will lock in a spot in the postseason. Nothing else is necessary. 

A win won't come easy. The Vikings have suffered through some heartbreak during nationally televised games this season, and the up-and-down Giants have played both the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots tough in 2015.

However, New York likely won't have receiver Odell Beckham Jr., as the NFL gave him a one-game suspension for his roughhousing with Panthers cornerback Josh Norman last Sunday. He'll be watching from home unless he wins his appeal. The Giants are also 3-4 away from home this season, while the Vikings are 5-2 at home.

Falcons Loss to Panthers

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The Vikings could have a playoff berth clinched by early Sunday afternoon. If the Atlanta Falcons can't beat the undefeated Carolina Panthers in Atlanta, Minnesota will lock up a spot. 

The Falcons beat the Jacksonville Jaguars and improved to 7-7 in Week 15. Taking down the Panthers will be a much bigger challenge. Carolina dismantled the Falcons just two weeks ago, shutting out Atlanta by a score of 38-0. Quarterback and MVP front-runner Cam Newton threw three touchdowns, while the Carolina defense forced four Falcons turnovers. 

The 14-0 Panthers are playing to lock up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and keep the perfect season alive. It would take a huge upset for the Falcons to keep their playoff hopes afloat Sunday. That's good news for the Vikings. 

Seahawks Win over the Rams

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If the Falcons somehow upset the Panthers, the Seahawks can still push the Vikings into the postseason late Sunday afternoon. A Seattle win over the St. Louis Rams would do just the trick.

The Rams did beat the Seahawks to kick off the year way back in Week 1. But that victory feels like ages ago, as Seattle has bounced back from a 2-4 start to win seven of its last eight games. Meanwhile, St. Louis has faded from the postseason picture with a 6-8 record.

Quarterback Russell Wilson is also the hottest player in the game, having thrown 19 touchdowns with zero interceptions over the last five games. Another superlative game from him, and the Vikings will have a postseason spot locked up before kickoff Sunday night.

Other Scenarios to Consider

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

A few other playoff scenarios with importance for the Vikings:

• The only way Minnesota can miss the postseason is if the Vikings, Seahawks and Falcons all finish 9-7. That would require Minnesota and Seattle to both finish 0-2 over the final two games and Atlanta to win out.
• A win over the Giants would do more than just lock up a playoff spot for Minnesota. If the Vikings win, Week 17 at Lambeau Field is guaranteed to be for the NFC North title.
• However, the Packers can clinch the division with a win over the Arizona Cardinals and a Vikings loss to the Giants.
• Head coach Mike Zimmer cares very little about clinching a playoff berth. He wants to win the division. He said Monday, via the team's official site: "I don't know, I don't feel too good about it yet. Our goal really isn't to get into the playoffs. Our goal is to win the division first."

Prediction

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The most likely scenario is that all three clinching opportunities are met for the Vikings on Sunday: The Panthers beat the Falcons, the Seahawks beat the Rams, and the Vikings beat the Giants.

New York beating Minnesota in prime time is probably the most likely of the monkey wrenches, but even that result—coupled with the others earlier in the day—would send the Vikings to the postseason. Overall, it seems very unlikely Minnesota won't have a spot clinched by the end of Sunday. 

The prediction here is the three clinching scenarios all work in Minnesota's favor. The Vikings will then be 10-5 and heading to Lambeau Field with a chance to win the division, secure the No. 3 seed and earn a home playoff game in the NFC postseason.