PurplePTSD: The Ol' Double Whammy

Press release from the PurplePTSD:

K. Joudry

2021-12-20

Vikings fans experienced the ol’ double whammy on Sunday. Unfortunately, this is a negative one. Both the Packers and Saints were victorious, making the playoff outlook a touch more grim as the Vikings received a double dose of bad news.

First, the dreaded Cheeseheads. They took down the Ravens 31-30. It was a close, entertaining game (at least the portion I watched). Tyler Huntley deserves credit for keeping the Ravens right in the game (which is likely more than can be said for what Minnesota’s backup QB could do). Alas, the GB victory firmly positions them atop the NFC, meaning they’ve got the inside track for the lone bye week. Somehow, the Lions got win #2, taking down the Cardinals in the process.

Perhaps the lone bit of good news on this front is that Dallas climbed to 10-4. Currently, Dallas, Arizona, and Tampa Bay all have matching 10-4 records, meaning they’re within striking distance of the 11-3 Packers. Furthermore, the 49ers took down the Falcons, so the race for the final Wild Card spot is a touch less cluttered at the moment.

The other bit of Vikings bad news is that the Saints shut out the Bucs. A mere 9 points was enough to get the job done against a beat up Tampa Bay team. At 7-7, the Saints are currently sitting in the final Wild Card spot in the NFC.

Here’s the good news: the Vikings still have a legit shot at squeaking in. Even better is that doing so could involve undermining the team’s two most hated rivals. Obviously, getting the #7 spot means leapfrogging Sean Payton’s Saints, which is always a win in my books. Being able to climb into that spot means pulling off some unlikely wins. Well, the Vikings do have an upcoming SNF game against the Packers at Lambeau. Taking down GB would mean solidifying the purple chances at the playoffs while simultaneously making GB’s chance at a first-round bye more difficult.

Now there’s a double whammy Vikings fans could get excited about. Minnesota therefore heads into the final four game with plenty to play for. The task begins tonight with the Bears. Let’s hope Prime Time Kirk is ready to roll.

This press release was produced by the PurplePTSD. The views expressed here are the author’s own.