Can Anyone Take the Final NFC Wild Card Spot from the Vikings With 3 Weeks Left?
- Vikings maintain second NFC wild card despite losing four of their past six
- Eagles, Panthers, Redskins closely trail Minnesota in wild card race
- Redskins enjoy favorable schedule, but can Josh Johnson lead them to the playoffs?
Week 15 in the NFL resolved little in the tight race for the second wild card in the NFC.
While Seattle’s 21-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football leaves the Seahawks all but assured of a return to playoff action, little else has changed in the NFC playoff picture.
The Vikings maintain slim control over the NFC’s second wild card after Carolina, Philadelphia, and Washington all suffered Week 15 losses to remain a half-game back of Minnesota for the final postseason berth.
While their current 2-4 SU run has left them at risk of falling out of the playoff picture, the Vikings have emerged as a solid favorite to eventually punch their ticket to the postseason.
Odds to Make the NFL Playoffs in the NFC
| Team | Odds of Making the Playoffs | Odds of Missing the Playoffs |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | -140 | +100 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | +375 | -650 |
| Carolina Panthers | +650 | -1400 |
| Washington Redskins | +800 | -2500 |
| Green Bay Packers | +1200 | -7500 |
Vikings Control Own Destiny Ahead of Dates with Dolphins, Lions
With last Monday’s loss in Seattle as 3-point underdogs, the Vikings drop to 6-6-1 on the season, but enjoy a favorable schedule over the final three weeks of the season.
First up are the Miami Dolphins, who are coming off a thrilling 34-33 last-second victory over the New England Patriots. However, the Dolphins have been dismal performers on the road this season, scoring just 16.3 points per game while losing five straight.
Minnesota closes out their schedule with a pair of divisional matchups, visiting Detroit in Week 17 before hosting the Chicago bears in its season finale. The Lions have also endured a tough second half, falling to defeat in five of seven, including a trio of home losses.
But the Vikings cannot afford to take their divisional rivals lightly. The Lions have taken five of eight from Minnesota at Ford Field, and are 3-1 SU in their past four dates with NFC North opponents on home turf.
Eagles, Panthers Face Massive Week 15 Challenge
Conversely, the Eagles and Panthers each face a huge challenge this weekend in their bid to keep pace with the faltering Vikings.
Philadelphia takes a two-game SU losing streak on the road into their Week 15 clash with the Los Angeles Rams as 10.5-point road underdogs. Meanwhile, Carolina hosts the NFC-leading New Orleans Saints as 6.5-point underdogs on Monday Night Football.
The Saints have tallied wins by double-digit margins in four of their six road victories this season, and pounded the Panthers by a 34-13 margin in their last visit to Carolina early last season.
A recent CT scan on Carson Wentz’s back revealed a fractured vertebrae that, if allowed time to rest, would fully heal without further expected issues, sources tell ESPN. There will be a continued evaluation to determine if continuing to play this year will make injury worse.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 13, 2018
The Eagles have defeated the Rams SU and ATS in five straight meetings, but with quarterback Carson Wentz likely sidelined for the remainder of the season, Philadelphia will need another miracle from last season’s Super Bowl hero Nick Foles if they are to return to playoff action.
That will be a tall order against a Rams squad that has scored 37.66 points per game while going undefeated in six home dates this season.
Redskins Best Positioned to Challenge Minnesota
The Washington Redskins own the lightest stretch-run schedule, with visits to Jacksonville and Tennessee before closing out the campaign with a potentially crucial date with the Eagles.
The Redskins have claimed victory in five of six meetings with the slumping Jaguars, and have also taken three of four from the inconsistent Titans. With a home date against Philadelphia in Week 17, Washington is well positioned to control its own destiny.
Can Josh Johnson save the Redskins’ Season?
But that will require quarterback Josh Johnson to do something he has not accomplished before, lead a team to a victory as an NFL starting quarterback.
Johnson turned in a respectable performance in relief of beleaguered Mark Sanchez in last weekend’s 40-16 loss to the New York Giants, compiling 195 yards and one touchdown in his first NFL appearance since 2013.
Josh Johnson, QB1: “This is like going to Disneyland every day for me, for real, because just a week ago, I was at home in the hood, chilling with the kids, chilling with my family and thinking on the couch that I might never play in the NFL again." https://t.co/aM9Xa0nXXf
— Scott Allen (@ScottSAllen) December 13, 2018
The 32-year-old veteran has not attempted a pass since making a brief appearance with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense in December 2011, and takes over a Redskins offense that has scored 16 or fewer points in four of six outings, further fueling short -2500 odds that favor Washington missing the playoffs this season.
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
