Vikings Defeat Giants To Earn Playoff Spot

During the day yesterday before their primetime game, the Minnesota Vikings were hoping that the Seattle Seahawks and the Carolina Panthers would win their respective games so their postseason hopes could stay alive. Neither of those scenarios happened and the Vikings were destined to take their fate into their own hands in their matchup against the New York Giants. Throughout the course of the game during a freezing Sunday night in Minneapolis, it seemed that the Vikings had no problem in taking care of business in solidifying their playoff hopes.

Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater threw for 168 yards and one touchdown, while running back Adrian Peterson ran for 104 yards and had a touchdown of his own. When Peterson was on the sideline, backup running back Jerick McKinnon took the realm and had two touchdowns for the night. The Vikings defense made the Giants offense have a miserable night, especially with three interceptions off Giants quarterback Eli Manning and one being run back for a touchdown by safety Harrison Smith. The Giants were missing a key part in their offense in star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. being suspended for one game for his actions last week against the Panthers, which was noticed on every Giants offensive drive.

Vikings kicker Blair Walsh contributed to the increasing score with five field goals of his own, resulting in a manhandling 49-17 victory for the Vikings. “I think we’re playing with confidence right now. I think our guys feel good about the things that we’re doing, and I think they believe,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “Half the battle is believing.”

With the win, the Vikings are now a wild card in the NFC playoff race. The Vikings can go even further into the seeding of the playoffs with their NFC North division game against the Green Bay Packers next Sunday night, with the winner taking the division and No. 3 seed. Meanwhile, the Giants are out of the playoff race in the NFC East division after the Washington Redskins won the division on Saturday night, with the future of head coach Tom Coughlin and his staff in question.