Brian Murphy: It’s time to believe in Vikings as Super Bowl contenders

[purplefaithful]

The road to the NFC playoffs is paved in purple and gold, with the workmanlike Vikings laying bricks for a return to U.S. Bank Stadium in February for a Super Bowl LII appearance.
Do not fret about tempting fate or angering the demons that have haunted this franchise for five decades. Lean in to the possibility that the Vikings are poised to make history this season instead of being destroyed by it.
Shrewd and opportunistic with the football and tenaciously unforgiving without it, the Vikings are built for a postseason run for the ages, especially if they secure home-field advantage at this cauldron of noise and mayhem.
The suddenly chic and dynamic Rams proved no match for coach Mike Zimmer and his defensive band of brothers Sunday. Minnesota prevailed 24-7 in a highly anticipated showdown between elite conference teams that devolved into an alley fight for which the Vikings are always game.
http://www.twincities.com/2017/11/19/bri...ontenders/

[Guest]

A two-game lead in the NFC North has them poised to seize total control of the division if they can stuff the loitering Lions on Thanksgiving. Moreover, dispatching Los Angeles gives Minnesota head-to-head tiebreakers over the Rams and Saints in the chase for a playoff bye.

[Guest]

The Vikings’ six-game winning streak has them playing with confidence while preaching caution. That is the scar tissue from last year’s 5-0 collapse to 8-8 and out of the playoffs.
Terence Newman is in his 15th season chasing a Super Bowl, and the 39-year-old cornerback refuses to buy into anything resembling hype.
“Teams are judged after they finish the season,” he said. “A lot of guys want to talk about how we’ve strung a couple wins together. We’ve got eight. I’ve been doing this way too long. Things can go south just as quickly.”
Minnesota has its compass pointed north.

[Guest]

Well, you knew it was coming from the press right?

But seriously, wins vs Saints and Rams are huge for post-season implications. Now we have to take care of business:

Detroit
Carolina
Atlanta

We are in the midsts of a yuge NFC run right now...Yuge. 

[Guest]

we go 2-1 in the next three game we are in the drivers seat for sure in the division,

[Guest]

12. Get to 12 wins and you will get a bye. 

eagles, rams, saints all have to play each other plus other chqllenging matchups

Beat Detroit, the magic number is 3

[Guest]

@purplefaithful said:
Well, you knew it was coming from the press right?

But seriously, wins vs Saints and Rams are huge for post-season implications. Now we have to take care of business:

Detroit
Carolina
Atlanta

We are in the midsts of a yuge NFC run right now...Yuge. 

The Vikings won't go 14-2. They will lose another game or two. I just wonder if the fanbase will get skittish. Every week I keep hearing how its a 'needed win'. The Eagles need to lose and tonight would be a great time against a NFC team. The Saints got a big win today against Washington, but should have lost. The Skins convert a 3rd and 1 with 2 minutes left and its over.

[Guest]

The NFC playoffs are going to be stacked. Its definitely the power conference.

[Guest]

@StickyBun said:

The Vikings won't go 14-2. They will lose another game or two. I just wonder if the fanbase will get skittish. Every week I keep hearing how its a 'needed win'. The Eagles need to lose and tonight would be a great time against a NFC team. The Saints got a big win today against Washington, but should have lost. The Skins convert a 3rd and 1 with 2 minutes left and its over.

The last couple weeks HAVE been big games...  winning those games is the difference between being a playoff team and a Super Bowl contender.  This game against Detroit is the biggest one yet...  if the Vikings win, they will almost be a lock to win the division.  At 9-2 with a 7-1 conference record, the reality of a first round bye and at least one home playoff game gets even closer.
Win or lose, I'm just enjoying the heck out of this season.

[Guest]

IMO the Vikes need to win out to be serious Superbowl threats.  I think that homefield throughout the playoffs will be the key to dispatching the up and comers and the Eagles.     A win against the Lions this week should about shore up the North and a playoff spot,  winning 2 of the next 3 would likely lock up a bye,  and 1 of the next 3 is likely still going to end up with a wildcard birth.  The wheels would really have to come off this baby to miss the playoffs at this point,  but IMO the Eagles are the team to beat in the NFC and we would obviously prefer to see them at home if it comes down to it.