Vikings Playoff Dreams Dashed by Bears’ Dominance
The Minnesota Vikings’ aspirations for a postseason run have officially come to an end, marking a disheartening trend for the franchise. For the fourth time in the past six seasons, they will not be participating in the playoffs. Their fate was sealed on Sunday when the Chicago Bears delivered a resounding blow to the Cleveland Browns, winning 31-3 at a frigid Soldier Field. With this victory, the Bears improved to 10-4, eliminating any slim hopes the Vikings had of sneaking into the playoffs as a wild card.
NFC North Struggles
As the Vikings entered Week 15, they were already out of contention in the NFC North, struggling to find any semblance of success in their division. Although there remains a possibility for the Vikings, Lions, and 49ers to finish the season at 9-8, Minnesota would fall short in any potential tiebreaker against San Francisco. While the Vikings would hold the tiebreaker over Detroit in this scenario, the inability to win a tie with the 49ers effectively seals their fate.
Future Focus: Draft Position
With postseason hopes extinguished, the Vikings are now faced with a pivotal decision regarding the remainder of their season. The most favorable outcome for their future might be to lose the final four games, thereby positioning themselves for the highest possible draft pick. Currently, the Vikings hold a record of 5-9, and a finish of 5-12 is within reach. Their upcoming schedule includes a challenging matchup against the Cowboys in Dallas, a visit to the struggling Giants, and home games against the Packers and Lions.
Draft Order Implications
As the Vikings look to secure a better draft position, they find themselves in a competitive landscape. Several teams currently ahead of Minnesota in the 2026 draft order experienced losses during the early games on Sunday. The Giants (2-12), Raiders (2-12), Cardinals (3-11), Browns (3-11), and Bengals (4-10) all fell short in their matchups, while the Commanders (4-11) managed a victory over the Giants.
As it stands, the Vikings are positioned at 11th in the draft order, and a loss in their next contest could elevate them to the 10th spot, especially since they lost to the Falcons earlier this season. The current draft order reflects a mix of teams vying for better prospects, with the Giants and Raiders at the bottom, followed by Tennessee, Cleveland, the Jets, Arizona, New Orleans, Washington, and Cincinnati.
In this transitional phase, the Vikings must now grapple with their current roster and strategize for the future as they prepare for the final stretch of the season.
