Vikings Facing Challenges In Narrow Path To Playoffs
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Vikings kept themselves alive in the playoff hunt with Sunday's win in Jacksonville, but their backs are still against the wall. With three teams still ahead of them for just two wild card spots, the team has no room for error.
We know this much -- the Vikings will almost certainly need to win each of their final three games to make the playoffs, and that will still likely not be enough. Because they don't control their own destiny, they'll likely need some help.
"We try not to look ahead, but at the same time you do try to pull for other teams to lose," Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said. "But you've just gotta control what you can control, and that's winning games on Sundays."
Though the Vikings did that yesterday, so did all the teams they're chasing. The Lions, Falcons, Giants, Buccaneers and Redskins all won, as did the Packers, who are right on the Vikings' heels at 7-6 themselves.
"We didn't get no help yesterday, at all. But we can't control that," Munnerlyn said.
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer agrees.
"There's really nothing we can do other than take care of our own business," he said. "I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm hoping for some other teams, but if we don't win, it doesn't really matter. All that we can do is do what we can do. I think if we continue to win, good things will happen."
Another loss would all but doom the Vikings' playoff chances. That's a lot of pressure to play under.
"You can't think of it too much pressure, but pressure makes diamonds," Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon said. "So at the same time, everybody's got to come to work and lay it on the line, that's what it's all about. I know everybody's going to lay it on the line these next three games then at the end of the day just let the chips fall."
"We've still got hope, so we just got to take care of business and do what we're capable of doing," Munnerlyn said.
And that still involves making the playoffs. For now.
