The Minnesota Vikings got a gift last Sunday when the Detroit Lions lost to the Buffalo Bills. That loss gave the Vikings control of their own destiny not only in the NFC North but in the NFC playoff picture at large. With that loss, all the Vikings have to do is win out and they’ll take home the division title and the number one seed in the NFC.
They held up their end of the bargain on Monday night with a convincing win over fellow division rivals the Chicago Bears. But the schedule for the Vikings gets much tougher from here on out, and it starts this Sunday with a matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle has some concerns heading into the game, however. Namely, the health of their starting quarterback, Geno Smith.
Smith was injured near the end of their game last week against the Green Bay Packers — whom the Vikings will face in Week 16. Smith left the game with a knee injury and was replaced by backup Sam Howell, who struggled mightily with the Packers defense to close out their 30-13 loss.
According to Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald, all signs are positive for Smith heading into a pivotal matchup with the Vikings, and he should be able to practice all week and play on Sunday.
The Seahawks certainly have a better chance of things with Smith at the helm than Howell, but with the efficacy with which the Vikings’ defense gets after quarterbacks, having a hobbled one back there could prove to be insurmountable for the Seattle offense. That would put Minnesota one step closer to capping off possibly the most improbable season in franchise history.
