Ranking the Vikings’ potential playoff opponents

[purplefaithful]

The Minnesota Vikings are one win away from locking up the No. 2 seed and at least one home playoff game. Heading into Sunday’s action, the NFC has one spot yet to be determined and plenty of possibilities for the Vikings’ divisional round and potential conference championship opponents. Who would the Vikings be most concerned about? Who would they most like to match up with in either round during the playoffs? Let’s have a look… (ranked strongest to weakest opponents, x=playoff spot locked up).
New Orleans Saints (11-4x)The Vikings took apart the Saints in Week 1 as quarterback Sam Bradford had the best game of his NFL career. At that time, it appeared New Orleans was in for same-old, same-old with a good offense and very bad defense. Plus the culture-crushing presence of Adrian Peterson was bound to drag them down.

Well, things have changed quite a bit since Week 1. Peterson was sent to Arizona and the Saints’ defense has come around. They are 15th in yards, eighth in points and 10th in opposing quarterback rating.
And the Saints’ offense has discovered a game-changer in Alvin Kamara, who has 684 yards rushing and 75 receptions. Drew Brees’s club ranks No. 2 in yards, fourth in points and No. 1 (tied) in Adjusted Net Yards per Pass Attempt.
Last season, the top two offenses in ANY/A ended up in the Super Bowl.
The combination of a solid defense with an elite passing game is scary come playoff time. Considering how much has changed since Week 1, it’s hard to see the Vikings’ win to open the season as a factor.


Los Angeles Rams (11-4x) 
The Rams’ more recent loss to the Vikings puts them behind New Orleans in this equation. Mike Zimmer’s defense suffocated Jared Goff’s short passing game and caused a key takeaway at the goal line, while the Vikings’ offense took the air out of the ball by controlling possession. Still the Rams have only gotten stronger since their loss at US Bank Stadium. They have only one loss since then and impressive wins over the Saints and Seattle Seahawks.
Atlanta Falcons (9-6) or Seattle Seahawks (9-6)
Carolina Panthers (11-4x) While the Panthers defeated the Vikings in Charlotte, they are not an overly impressive top-to-bottom team. On defense, the Panthers rank 20th in quarterback rating against and 17th in ANY/A against. On the offensive side, they sit 17th in yards, 18th in ANY/A and 11th in points.
Philadelphia Eagles (13-2x)

A season-ending injury to Carson Wentz sinks the Eagles to the bottom of the list. The Vikings would now rather go to Philadelphia for the NFC title game than play teams with their starting QBs at home. While Nick Foles has occasionally hit his stride in the past, he’s easily the weakest quarterback in the playoffs. With him under center, you throw out all the positive statistics about the Eagles’ offense. They can still run the ball, but it won’t mean much if the passing game isn’t dangerous.On defense, the Eagles have good numbers, ranking sixth in points allowed and fifth in yards against, but lately they have been less impressive. They are allowing 24.5 points per game over the last four weeks and have shown serious weakness at cornerback.
It’s hard to imagine the Vikings’ defense allowing anything to Foles and the struggling corners would have a great deal of trouble keeping up with Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs.

http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2017/1...opponents/

[Guest]

Minnesota matches up well against any team they face. Can they beat them all? Of course. But could they lose to any of them? Yep. The Vikings haven't had a stinker of a game in awhile, who knows if it happens in the playoffs. The closest was the Carolina game, yet they were tied with 4 minutes left in the game. The NFC is especially strong this year, so we'll see. 

The team is very solid and isn't smoke and mirrors, so nobody is going to expose them. But turnovers and such are always potential X-factors. The Vikings will need to make plays and they've been doing that when needed....on both sides of the ball. They should be able to hold onto the #2 seed and that will be very helpful. Then what will be, will be. But nobody is going to bitch slap this team around, it won't happen. But losing a close game is certainly possible. 

[Guest]

Assuming that both the Saints and Rams win their Wildcard games we will have to face both of them at Home to reach the Superbowl. Philly is tough at home, but I don't see a Nick Foles lead team beating either one of them
in the Divisional Round, especially the way the Eagles' defense has been playing. I'm more concerned about the teams we will face in the NFC playoffs than anyone we would play in the AFC when we reach the Super Bowl. 

[Guest]

I think it's a damn daunting task to win the Lombardi. So tough through the NFC and then facing most likely Brady/Billichick or a Steelers team with a good D and great OL, skill players on O.

But I like our chances as well as anyone and the good news for me as a fan? It's starting to appear like we are beginning to string together enough instances where I can say with some conviction "we got something sustainable here in minny"

Now they got to get the QB/OC managed well this offseason, but man you gotta just enjoy the ride sometimes. This is one of  those seasons for sure.