Category: Minnesota Vikings

Where would the Vikings draft in 2020 if the season ended today?

The Vikings are 8-4 and would currently be the sixth seed in the NFC playoff hunt.

After their 37-30 loss to the Seahawks in Week 13, the Vikings now sit at 8-4 overall.

That’s good for the sixth-seed in the NFC playoff hunt.

And if we’re looking all the way ahead to the 2020 NFL Draft, which seems forever from now, the Vikings would draft 23rd overall, sandwiched between the Dolphins (via Pittsburgh) and the Chiefs.

If you want to look at how the complete first round would shake out, Luke Easterling put together the full draft order here.

The last time the Vikings had the 23rd pick, they took wide receiver Laquon Treadwell in 2016.

Good times, good times.

NFC playoff picture after Week 13

The Vikings are still the No. 6 seed in the NFC, but things are about to get crazy in Week 14.

First-round byes

  1. Saints (10-2)
  2. Seahawks (10-2)

And just like that, the Seahawks find themselves as the No. 2 seed in the NFC. The Seahawks travel to play the Rams in Week 14, while the Saints have a battle against the 49ers in New Orleans.

Wild card round

No. 6 Vikings (8-4) at No. 3 Packers (9-3)

No. 5 49ers (10-2) at No. 4 Cowboys (6-6)

This is your reminder that the NFC, outside of the NFC East maybe, is really, really good.

  • The Vikings host the Lions in a pretty much must-win game for them, especially when you consider the Rams are just a game behind the Vikings for a wild card spot.
  • The Packers host the Redskins in what should be a win.
  • That 49ers and Saints game is absolutely huge for the NFC playoff picture. Get your popcorn ready.
  • The Cowboys travel to play the Bears. A Cowboys win would not only help them, but it would also help the Vikings.

In the hunt

Rams, 7-5
Bears, 6-6
Eagles, 5-7

The Rams are suddenly alive, but their Week 14 battle against the Seahawks won’t be easy. Same goes for the Bears against the Cowboys.

The Eagles will be rooting for Dallas to lose. If Philadelphia can beat the Giants at home and the Cowboys fall, the final three weeks of the season should be pretty interesting in the NFC East.

Breaking down the importance of Week 14 for the Vikings

Even after a tough loss to the Seahawks, the Vikings still have an 82 percent chance to make the playoffs.

Monday night’s 37-30 loss to the Seahawks wasn’t ideal for the Vikings, but it also wasn’t unexpected. There was a reason why the Seahawks went into the game with a 9-2 record.

While the Vikings could have nearly clinched a playoff spot with a win, things aren’t all bad.

Per FiveThirtyEight, the Vikings still have an 82 percent chance to make the postseason. Minnesota has a one-game lead over the Rams and a two-game lead over the Bears for the final wild card spot.

The Vikings host the Lions in Week 14 at U.S. Bank Stadium. A win would up Minnesota’s percentage to 85 percent. The Bears host the Cowboys. If Dallas is able to get out of their rut and if the Rams fall to the Seahawks at home, Minnesota’s playoff chances boost to 95 percent.

However, if the Vikings fall to the Lions and the Bears and Rams both win, Minnesota’s odds decrease to 52 percent.

As far as the NFC North battle is concerned, the Packers host the Redskins in what should be an easy win for Green Bay.

It will surely be an exciting Sunday, and one that is pretty important for the Vikings.

Vikings drop spot in power rankings

The Vikings hold just a one-game lead over the Rams for the final wild-card spot in the NFC.

After Monday night’s 37-30 loss to the Seahawks, the Vikings dropped to 8-4 on the 2019 season.

And with that, Minnesota also fell from No. 8 to No. 9 in USA TODAY’s Week 14 Power Rankings.

Here’s what was written about the Vikings:

Gave a solid account of themselves in a brutal venue even without a big chunk of their offensive firepower. Still, margin for error over closing Rams is dwindling dangerously.

The Vikings hold just a one-game lead over the Rams for the final wild card spot in the NFC. However, the Vikings host the Lions in Week 14 in a game that should be a win.

The Lions rank 28th in the power rankings. To round out the NFC North, the Packers rank seventh and the Bears rank 16th.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer says Dalvin Cook’s injury not serious

On the season, Cook has run for 1,046 yards and a league-leading 12 touchdowns.

Vikings running back Dalvin Cook injured his right shoulder in the third quarter of Monday Night Football’s game against the Seahawks.

Cook did not return to the game and looked like he was in severe pain after.

However, after the game, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said that Cook’s injury wasn’t serious.

That’s good news for a player who had the feel-good story of he’s finally healthy going for him in 2019.

Just because the injury isn’t serious doesn’t mean Cook will be ready in Week 14 against the Lions, especially on a short week. If Cook can’t go, we’ll see rookie Alexander Mattison handle the majority of the touches.

On the season, Cook has run for 1,046 yards and a league-leading 12 touchdowns. However, in his last two weeks, he’s combined for just 55 yards and has averaged less than four yards per carry in four-straight games.

The Vikings’ first practice this week will be Wednesday.

Vikings’ comeback not enough vs. Seahawks in playoff-shaping game

Kirk Cousins kept the Vikings in it late, but the defense wasn’t able to stop Seattle at all.

This one wasn’t on Kirk Cousins.

The Vikings fell to the Seahawks 37-30 on Monday Night Football despite Cousins leading Minnesota back from a 34-17 defecit. The Vikings trailed 34-30 with less than three minutes left in the game, but a shorthanded Minnesota team ended up turning it over on downs.

The loss bumps the Vikings down to 8-4 on the season. That’s still good for the final wild card spot, but Minnesota fell a full game back from the Packers in the NFC North and the Vikings are now just a game up on the Rams for playoff spot.

What killed Minnesota in this game was its defense. Cornerback Xavier Rhodes continued to look completely lost and the Vikings allowed the Seahawks to run for more than 200 yards.

Cousins threw for 276 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He kept the Vikings in it when many fans were getting ready to go to bed. Cousins is now 0-8 on Monday Night Football, but this one especially can’t be pinned on him.

In news that could be really bad, Vikings running back Dalvin Cook suffered a shoulder injury while fumbling the ball in the third quarter. He did not return. We’ll get the severity of his injury likely on Tuesday.

Not a great night for the Vikings, but it also wasn’t totally unexpected.

They’ll have a chance to bounce back next week at home against the 3-8-1 Detroit Lions.

Vikings T Riley Reiff leaves MNF game with concussion

Tackle Rashod Hill will take his place.

It was a tough night as far as injuries go for the Vikings on Monday against the Seahawks.

Running back Dalvin Cook suffered a right shoulder injury. Along with that, tackle Riley Reiff (concussion) has been listed as doubtful to return in the game.

Tackle Rashod Hill has taken his place and will fill in for as long as the concussion keeps Reiff out.

Minnesota’s offense is already without wide receiver Adam Thielen, who is dealing with a hamstring injury.

Vikings RB Dalvin Cook suffers right shoulder injury vs. Seahawks

In the third quarter, running back Dalvin Cook injured his right shoulder on a play that he also fumbled on.

The Vikings may have just lost their most-important offensive player in Monday night’s game against the Seahawks.

In the third quarter, running back Dalvin Cook injured his right shoulder on a play that he also fumbled on.

While his return was officially listed as questionable, Cook looked like he was in immense pain and went straight to the locker room after the play. It would be a surprise if he returned to the game.

In his absence, we can expect to see rookie Alexander Mattison get plenty of carries.

We’ll update you on the status of Cook, who has his first 1,000-yard season in 2019, as the news comes along.

The Vikings are already without Pro Bowl wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring). Tackle Riley Reiff (concussion) also left the game.

WATCH: Russell Wilson bats ball perfectly to Vikings for pick 6

The Seahawks quarterback gave Vikings safety Anthony Harris one easy pick six.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson went into Monday night having thrown just three interceptions in 2019.

That number grew to four in a pretty odd way against the Vikings. Wilson threw a pass that got tipped at the line by the Vikings defensive line. To prevent a Vikings interception, Wilson batted the ball. Well, instead of preventing an interception, he set up Vikings safety Anthony Harris perfectly for a pick six to give Minnesota a 14-7 lead.