49ers playoff picture: Analyzing run home with Vikings, Eagles
Vikings run home
- Week 16: New York Giants @ U.S. Bank Stadium
- Week 17: Green Bay Packers @ Lambeau Field
- Week 18: Chicago Bears @ Soldier Field
Analysis
The Vikings certainly have had some flak as not being a true contender, and despite their comeback against the Colts, there are questions to be had on how they were down to such an average side by so much, to begin with.
It’s also important to note that Philadelphia holds the direct tiebreaker over Minnesota, so unlike the 49ers, it won’t matter if the two teams finish with the same record. In essence, the equation for the Vikings remains the same as the Niners, they must win out and the Eagles must lose out.
The Vikings’ last home game for the season is in Week 16 against the New York Giants, in what looms as a must-win game for the Giants if they want to stay ahead of the Commanders in the playoff hunt. The key to the Vikings winning that game would be whether or not they can get their scoring going early.
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Green Bay at Lambeau Field in a late-season game is always a dicey prospect, and even though the Packers aren’t the elite team they once were, they would like nothing more than to put one over on their divisional rivals.
The Chicago Bears are the wild-card team in this situation. Justin Fields looks like he could become a truly great dual-threat quarterback, and the Bears would like to put one over the Vikings if they could.
Ultimately, though, the defense might not be able to handle what the Vikings throw at them, literally.