The Minnesota Vikings might be out of the playoff picture, but that doesn’t mean they’re done making noise-and if the final stretch of the season goes their way, they could take a few playoff hopefuls down with them. Think of it as the NFL version of Chandler Bing’s famous line from Friends: “If I’m going down, I’m taking everybody with me.”
Heading into this past weekend, the Vikings were already clinging to the slimmest of postseason hopes. But once the Bears steamrolled the Browns 31-3 during the early slate, that door slammed shut. Now, with elimination official, the Vikings are playing for pride-and maybe a little bit of petty satisfaction.
Minnesota’s final four games include matchups against three teams still scrapping for playoff spots. Only the New York Giants, also eliminated, share the Vikings’ fate. That gives Minnesota a unique opportunity: they can’t make the playoffs themselves, but they can play spoiler-and potentially reshape the NFC playoff picture in the process.
Dallas Cowboys: Already Felt the Sting
This one’s already in the books, but it’s worth revisiting because of its implications. The Cowboys came into their matchup with the Vikings needing to win out and hoping the Eagles would drop two of their final three. Not exactly a long shot, but certainly not a guarantee.
Then Minnesota marched into Dallas and stole one.
It wasn’t a dominant performance, but it was gritty. And it was enough.
Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey-who had been lights out from long range all season-missed not one, but two field goals from beyond 50 yards. That’s a first for him in a home game, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time for Dallas.
Prior to that night, he’d only missed five kicks of that distance in his entire career.
The loss doesn’t officially eliminate the Cowboys, but it puts them on the ropes. The Eagles face the Commanders next, and if Philly takes care of business, Dallas could be watching the postseason from home. For Minnesota, knocking a contender down a peg is a small consolation-but it’s one they’ll gladly take.
Detroit Lions: A Familiar Foe on the Brink
Next up: the Detroit Lions. The Lions are hanging around in the NFC playoff race, currently sitting in eighth place and trailing the Packers by a game and a half. With the Saints beating the Panthers last week, the final Wild Card spot is essentially a five-team scramble, and both the Packers and Lions are in the thick of it.
Let’s say the Lions handle business against the Steelers and the Bears knock off Green Bay. That would set up a razor-thin margin between Detroit and Green Bay heading into the final two weeks.
And right in the middle of that chaos? The Vikings.
Detroit has been inconsistent since Week 5, going 4-5 and never stringing together back-to-back wins or losses. That kind of rollercoaster form makes them vulnerable-especially against a Vikings team that already beat them once in Detroit. If that trend holds, and Minnesota plays spoiler again, it could blow the door wide open for another team to sneak in.
The Vikings may be out, but they’re still in position to influence who gets in. And if they can trip up the Lions again, Week 18 suddenly becomes appointment viewing.
Green Bay Packers: The Rivalry with Real Stakes
And then there’s Green Bay. It doesn’t get much sweeter for Vikings fans than the opportunity to knock the Packers out of the playoff hunt. That chance could come in the final week of the season-and it could be a doozy.
The Packers dropped a crucial game to the Ravens in Week 17, and now they’re limping toward the finish line. They’ll be without edge rusher Micah Parsons, who tore his ACL last week.
That’s a huge blow. Parsons was a game-wrecker when these teams met earlier in the season, sacking J.J.
McCarthy twice and creating chaos all night.
On top of that, wide receiver Christian Watson is dealing with a chest injury that could sideline him as well. That’s two of Green Bay’s most dynamic playmakers potentially out for a must-win game.
If the Bears have their playoff spot locked up by then-as many expect-they could rest starters, giving the Lions a clearer path to a win. That would leave the Packers in a win-or-go-home scenario against their fiercest rival.
And the Vikings? They’d love nothing more than to slam that door shut.
Playing for More Than Just Pride
Minnesota’s postseason dreams may have ended before Sunday’s kickoff, but their impact on the playoff race is far from over. They’ve already derailed Dallas. Now, they’ve got a shot to do the same to Detroit and Green Bay-two division rivals with everything on the line.
This isn’t just about being a spoiler. It’s about growth, evaluation, and building momentum for 2026. It’s about seeing who steps up when the stakes are high-even if the rewards aren’t theirs to claim.
The 2025 Minnesota Vikings aren’t going quietly. And if you’re a fringe playoff team in the NFC, you’d be wise to keep your head on a swivel.
Because the Vikings? They’re looking to take somebody down with them.