Kicking has often prevented the Vikings from advancing in the playoffs. But this year, kicking might stop the Vikings from getting to the playoffs.
Dan Bailey missed four kicks on Sunday in Tampa in a game the Buccaneers won 26-14. With the loss, the Vikings fell to 6-7 and out of the playoff picture with three games remaining in the regular season.
Minnesota now has a 20% chance of making the playoffs, according to fivethirtyeight.com. the analytics site that focuses on politics and sports. The New York Times puts Minnesota's chances at 25%
So while things look bleaker for the Vikings, they haven't reached out-of-it status. A crowd of teams is hovering around the seventh and final wild card spot in the NFC.
Here are five things Vikings fans need to know about Week 14 results and what each means for Minnesota:
1. Packers make wildcard route the only route for Vikings after 31-24 victory over Lions
The Vikings probably weren't going to win the division, but now they officially can't. With Green Bay's victory and Minnesota's loss, the Packers secured the NFC North with a four-game lead over the second-place Vikings.
The Packers winning wasn't bad for the Vikings, though. The Lions fell to 5-8, one spot behind the Vikings.