With New Orleans Saints Loss, Minnesota Vikings' Hopes for No. 1 Seed Look Up

Many thought that the Saints had virtually locked up the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Think again.

After the Saints lost to the Cowboys on Saturday night, the Vikings and their fans began to think that the No. 1 seed wasn't completely out of the question.

It isn't.

New Orleans could potentially rest their starters over the next two weeks if they feel they don't need to play them any longer.

This leaves hope that the Saints can lose one of their next two against either the Buccaneers or the Panthers.

Minnesota goes to Carolina on Sunday, travels to the frosty tundra of Chicago, and then faces the New York Giants at the Metrodome. Obviously, I think the Vikings will win all three of those games.

If the Vikings and Saints end up being tied at 14-2, Minnesota will have the top seed in the NFC.

Perhaps the No. 1 seed isn't the most important factor, but it is something that is surprisingly coveted in order to make it to the Super Bowl.

Last year, two No. 1 seeds (Tennessee and New York) both lost in their first games. It's rare to see both No. 1 seeds fall so early in the playoffs. Do not worry. This trend will not continue this year.

Indianapolis will likely not lose to a team like the Broncos or the Bengals in the playoffs. They are just far better.

Minnesota's chances of playing a weaker opponent in the second round would be much improved with the top seed.

No team in the playoffs is weak, but there are significant differences between the skills of, say, the Cardinals and the Packers.

Minnesota is being overlooked this year. People are calling them a "poor road team," which I find to be ridiculous. Losing to last year's Super Bowl team is disappointing?

Come on!

Pittsburgh was playing on top of their game and, at the time, had Troy Polamalu in the lineup. When he is not in, Pittsburgh loses. When he is in, Pittsburgh wins. Simple as can be.

Arizona was fairly dominant over the Vikings. Did they crush us? Not at all. Did they show us the business, so to speak? Yes they did.

Minnesota is NOT a poor road team. Being 4-2 on the road this season is not bad.

If they were 2-4, things would be much different, but they aren't. 4-2 is good, if anything.

It's honestly puzzling to me why the Vikings are being overlooked so often. Have they once showed that they are not as good as they seem? Did the beating of the Bengals not show how good the Vikings are?

After all, Cincinnati did beat Pittsburgh (twice), Green Bay, Baltimore (twice), and lost to the Broncos on one of the luckiest plays in NFL history.

It has been the case for years; Minnesota is put after the teams that they are just as good as, if not better, simply because they don't have success in the playoffs.

If you want to be logical, you can't say that the only reason the Vikings won't be good in the playoffs is because they haven't won a Super Bowl. That just doesn't make sense.

Can Minnesota beat the Saints? That remains to be seen. If they played in a week, Minnesota could definitely beat the Saints.

New Orleans looks to be a better team, but I think some of their weaknesses and flaws were exposed against the Cowboys on Saturday night.

Fully healthy, Minnesota can beat anybody on any given day of the week.

I am praying for the Vikings to get the No. 1 seed. Obviously it will not be easy, but I am used to the Vikings being the underdog, and so are they.

Do not look past the Vikings. They are a force to be reckoned with.