For the First Time in 1805 Days, the Subsequent Vikings Residence Sport Will Be a Playoff Sport


Dec 17, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings place kicker Greg Joseph (1) celebrates his recreation successful area objective towards the Indianapolis Colts after the sport at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. With the win, the Minnesota Vikings clinched the NFC North. Necessary Credit score: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports activities

Vikings followers, rejoice. Christmas came early for Minnesota as Greg Joseph delivered a 61-yard, game-winning area objective to seal a 27-24 victory over the New York Giants. It improves Minnesota’s document to 12-3, and it helps their case in the direction of being the NFC’s No. 2 seed within the playoffs. It additionally implies that for the primary time in 5 years, the following Vikings residence recreation will probably be a part of the playoffs.

That almost all latest residence playoff recreation was after all the Minneapolis Miracle recreation towards the New Orleans Saints as Case Keenum hit Stefon Diggs for a 61-yard landing cross to defeat the Saints because the clock expired.

It’s going to be laborious to high the magic of that recreation, but when there’s any workforce that would probably discover a approach to take action, it’s these 2022 Vikings. Between game-winning kicks, drive-halting interceptions, and even a 33-point comeback, these Vikings have had a knack for pulling off heroics.

Minnesota’s newest victory put a bow on the 2022 calendar 12 months, they usually completed the 12 months with a 9-1 document at U.S. Financial institution Stadium (that they had a Week 18 home victory over the Chicago Bears on January ninth). The only real loss got here in embarrassing vogue as they fell 40-3 to the Dallas Cowboys earlier this season, however general, Minnesota has confirmed to be a dominant workforce at residence this 12 months.

Dec 17, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings extensive receiver Justin Jefferson (18) celebrates the win towards the Indianapolis Colts after the sport at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. With the win, the Minnesota Vikings clinched the NFC North. Necessary Credit score: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports activities

We nonetheless don’t know who the Vikings will in the end face in that opening Wild Card spherical once they return again to U.S. Financial institution Stadium, however they need to be favorites to win that recreation at any time when the matchup is about. There are at the moment 5 prospects for that recreation:

  • Detroit Lions
  • Inexperienced Bay Packers
  • New York Giants
  • Seattle Seahawks
  • Washington Commanders

Minnesota has already overwhelmed 4 of those 5 groups in 2022, and their solely loss got here towards the Detroit Lions on the highway. Even when it’s these Lions, the Vikings ought to really feel superb about their probabilities in that recreation.

The Next Vikings Home Game Will Be a Playoff Game
Sep 11, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. Necessary Credit score: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports activities.

The Vikings offense is clicking proper now, and this week, it was the T.J. Hockenson and Justin Jefferson present. The duo mixed for 25 catches, 242 receiving yards, and three touchdowns on Saturday towards the Giants. Minnesota has now scored 27+ factors in 4 of their final 5 video games. In the meantime, three of their 5 potential opponents have averaged 20.5 factors per recreation or much less this season.

Hopefully, Minnesota gained’t want to make use of heroics to get wins of their residence playoff recreation, but when there’s one other recreation that comes all the way down to the wire, this workforce has a monitor document of getting the job accomplished within the clutch. They now have an NFL document 11 wins in one-possession video games.

Greg Joseph ensured that the Vikings shut the guide on 2022 in a nice vogue, and now hopefully, they open 2023 in the identical approach. Is that this the workforce of future? Have they got extra heroics in retailer for us this season at U.S. Financial institution Stadium? I assume we’ll have to attend till January to seek out out.

Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The School of Idaho with a bachelor’s diploma in Inventive Writing. He additionally earned minors in Historical past, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing in regards to the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon coaching, enjoying video video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For extra of his opinions, take a look at his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.



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