The Vikings enter the playoffs with one of the NFL's worst defenses, a makeshift offensive line, a history of postseason flops, a rookie head coach and a resume pocked with lopsided losses.
They might be the worst 13-victory team in NFL history. They were outscored by three points over the course of the season, and only a wild array of fortunate bounces and clutch plays allowed them to become the first team ever to go 11-0 in one-score games.
If this sounds like a recipe for postseason disaster, you're not paying enough attention to the competition.
This might be the weakest playoff field in NFC history. The Vikings fit right in.
Philadelphia earned the No. 1 seed by finishing 14-3. The Eagles looked like the best team in the league for much of the season, and quarterback Jalen Hurts seemed to be the top candidate for league MVP.
On Dec. 18 against Chicago, Hurts injured his right shoulder. That day, the Eagles barely beat the not-even-trying Bears. Then the Eagles lost to Dallas and New Orleans. In their season finale, on Sunday, they beat the Giants 22-16, as New York rested quarterback Daniel Jones, running back Saquon Barkley and some of their best linemen.
The NFC's top seed hasn't looked good since Dec. 11, in a 48-22 victory over the Giants.
Seventh-seeded Seattle, with journeyman quarterback Geno Smith, finished 9-8 and earned a playoff spot only because Green Bay couldn't beat Detroit at home on Sunday. The Seahawks' point differential was plus-6, even though they got to play four games against two of the league's worst teams, Arizona and the Rams.