If Vikings Beat Rams, These Are the 2nd Round Possibilities

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The Minnesota Vikings travel to Glendale, Arizona, on Monday night to begin the postseason in a tilt with the Los Angeles Rams.

If Vikings Beat Rams, These Are the 2nd Round Possibilities

The game was moved from Inglewood, California, to Arizona due to wildfires.

Minnesota is favored to win by two or three points, according to sportsbooks. Here’s what would happen next if the Vikings prevailed, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most likely Round 2 option).

4. Commanders at Vikings

Junfu Han-USA TODAY Sports

How It Would Happen:
Packers over Eagles
Commanders over Buccaneers
Vikings over Rams

After all upsets in the Wildcard Round, Minnesota would benefit, gaining homefield advantage in Round 2 of the postseason.

This is the only way the Vikings can obtain a home playoff game in the Divisional Round — all three lower seeds win.

3. Vikings at Buccaneers

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

How It Would Happen:
Packers over Eagles
Buccaneers over Commanders
Vikings over Rams

A Packers dub would enable Minnesota to avoid the Eagles and Lions if the Buccaneers take care of business.

Most Vikings fans would welcome a playoff slate at Los Angeles and at Tampa Bay in the first two rounds. Why? Because Minnesota can reasonably win both matchups.

2. Vikings at Eagles

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.

How It Would Happen:
Eagles over Packers
Commanders over Buccaneers
Vikings over Rams

Now, the realism sets in.

It wouldn’t be too shocking for the Commanders to oust the Buccaneers on the road. If that happens, while the Eagles take care of business, well, it’s Minnesota at Philadelphia, with a trip to the NFC title game on the line.

If you, the reader, fear this matchup, the Vikings are 1-4 all-time at Philadelphia in primetime games. That’s why.

1. Vikings at Lions

Detroit Lions fans cheer against Minnesota offense before a third down during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. Offensive Line. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

How It Would Happen:
Eagles over Packers
Buccaneers over Commanders
Vikings over Rams

If all the favored teams win this weekend, Minnesota saddles up for a date with the Lions at Ford Field.

Upsets this weekend aren’t out of the realm of possibility, but this is the most likely outcome, according to oddsmakers: Vikings at Lions in the Divisional Round.

We shall see what version of Sam Darnold would show up for this pressure-cooked contest. The last installment wasn’t kind.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.