Perhaps it seems rather far-fetched that the Minnesota Vikings could, at 8-4, pass four teams to nab the much-coveted second seed in the NFC playoffs at this point. But sit back and watch this logic unfold!

If one has never experienced the privilege of ESPN’s Playoff Machine, please let me be the first to suggest you do so. It makes life so much easier to those of us that can’t project numbers very well.

Here’s what you’ll see when you arrive. A “Current Playoff Picture” window split between the AFC and NFC:

The Playoff Machine works in a simple way that generates many different divisional and wildcard scenarios as we head into the 2019 NFL tournament. The seeding of teams updates with the user’s selection of winners and losers of each weeks’ games.

For instance, for our purposes, we’ll stay in the NFC for Week 14 and only select the games that only affect the Minnesota Vikings.

I will be selecting my own winners in the case of putting the Vikings on the road to the #2 NFC seed in the 2019 playoffs. Look–and think–them over.

Here goes:

NFC NORTH: Washington at Green Bay: Pick-PACKERS/Detroit at Minnesota: Pick-VIKINGS

NFC WEST: Seattle at L.A. Rams: Pick-SEAHAWKS/San Francisco at New Orleans: Pick-49ERS

NFC EAST: New York Giants at Philadelphia: Pick-EAGLES

OUTCOME: Saints fall to the #3 seed with the loss to the 49ers and the Packers move to #2 with their win over Redskins. The Vikings remain at the #6 spot.

The Plot Thickens

In Week 15, it will take a willfully optimistic attitude to see these circumstances through for the Vikings. Nothing ridiculous by any stretch, but outcomes that need a little fortunate ball-rolling for Minnesota.

NFC NORTH: Chicago at Green Bay: Pick-BEARS/Minnesota at L.A. Chargers: Pick-VIKINGS

NFC WEST: Atlants at San Francisco: Pick-49ERS/Seattle at Carolina: Pick: SEAHAWKS/Indianapolis at New Orleans: Pick-COLTS

NFC EAST: Philadelphia at Washington: Pick-EAGLES/L.A. Rams at Dallas: Pick RAMS

OUTCOME: Dallas out, Philly in at the #4 spot, and Vikes, still at #6, would be headed to Green Bay who has dropped to #3 with a loss to the Bears.

The Sleigh Bells Toll

Week 16 is where the rubber hits the road, folks. Fatigue has set in for players and coaches. Injuries are everywhere. Christmas ain’t kid’s stuff for these guys–its a week of intense practice and crucial competitions.

NFC NORTH: Kansas City at Chicago: Pick-CHIEFS/Green Bay at Minnesota: Pick-VIKINGS

NFC WEST: L.A. Rams at San Francisco: Pick-49ERS/New Orleans at Tennessee: Pick-TITANS/Arizona at Seattle: Pick-SEAHAWKS

NFC EAST: Dallas at Philadelphia: Pick-EAGLES

OUTCOME: Look at that! Vikings are in the NUMBER 2 SEED!

Now in the second seed and presented with a first round bye, only one thing remains to worry about…

Week 17: The Great Bear Down Returns

Whatever anyone thinks of these deliberations, they are, despite being leading towards a fitting narrative, not outlandish. They call for the Saints to do a bit of a dive, yes, but against two playoff teams (49ers and Titans) and a Colts team with something to play for.

They also require one constant from the Vikings: winning. Any loss along the way not only puts them squarely back at the #6 seed, it also sets up another potential “win to get in” in Week 17 against the haunting Chicago Bears.

If the Saints don’t “back” into the #3 spot, these picks basically hinge on Chicago beating the Packers in Green Bay on week 15. Hardly unreasonable.

Meanwhile, the Seahawks and 49ers will both fight through a brutal schedule for the top spot. One of them may fall and ironically get to take on the winner of the lowly NFC East.

The Fodder For Faith

Ultimately, this is only a parlay that may help explain that–even though the Vikings don’t have their playoff destiny in their own hands anymore–they do have a legitimate and clearly possible path to a top seed in the NFC playoffs stating in January of 2020.

Job one: Beat the pants off the visiting Detroit Lions tomorrow at noon in US Bank Stadium.

For there, it’ll take some work, some cheering for other teams (including the Bears), and some return consultation to the Playoff Machine, but, for now, it’s got to be worth the trouble to look at things with the most positive of prognostications.

At this point, isn’t that what true fans are all about?