CHARLOTTE -- One by one, Minnesota defensive end Brian Robison went up to each of member of the offensive line, every receiver and quarterback Case Keenum in the locker room after the Vikings' 31-24 loss to the Panthers on Sunday. He delivered brief words of encouragement followed by a handshake or hug and told his teammates to keep fighting.
Minnesota battled back in another tough road game and had Carolina within one score on Sunday. It showed character and resiliency in a close loss to a Panthers team the Vikings could very well see again in the postseason.
With Minnesota’s loss and Philadelphia’s win over the Rams, the NFC’s No. 1 seed shifts back to the Eagles, who fear quarterback Carson Wentz may be done for the year with a torn ACL.
The Vikings' playoff outlook may have changed in Week 14, but Minnesota is still on track to finish 12-4 and earn a first-round bye.
The hardest part is over. The Vikings took one loss at the end of a tough three-game road stretch at Detroit, Atlanta and Carolina. The rest of the December schedule plays to their advantage with two of the remaining three games at home, starting in Week 15 with the Bengals (5-8) and wrapping up with the season finale against the Bears (4-9).
Minnesota is still in prime position to lock up the NFC North, which it could do next week at U.S. Bank Stadium with a win over Cincinnati.
Of course, there’s another question the Vikings are waiting to have answered. Will they have to face Aaron Rodgers? In two weeks, Minnesota travels to Green Bay (7-6) for its final road game of the season. Rodgers, who fractured his collarbone of his throwing shoulder in Week 6, could be back for the Packers. He is eligible to return next Sunday when Green Bay travels to Carolina.
If Rodgers returns to lead Green Bay’s late playoff push, the Vikings-Packers meeting on Dec. 23 becomes a much different game.
Up until Week 14, the Vikings had won eight consecutive games, with more than half of those victories coming on the road -- at Chicago, Cleveland (in London), at Washington, at Detroit and at Atlanta. Do the Vikings need home-field advantage throughout the playoffs? Not necessarily. Minnesota has been dominant on the road this season. But it wouldn’t hurt to play in front of their home crowd when every week becomes survive and advance.
To earn the NFC’s No. 1 seed, the Vikings would need to win out and have the Eagles lose at least two of their last three games (against the Giants, Raiders and Cowboys).
That’s asking a lot, but the Vikings come away from Week 14 knowing the Eagles might be forced to ride Nick Foles down the stretch. Teams that thrive at this time of year typically are the ones that can stay the healthiest.
Even without the top seed (at the moment, at least), the Vikings have an edge because of their health at the quarterback position. What they need is the offensive line to get back to full strength so they can be playing their best in the postseason. Getting left tackle Riley Reiff (ankle) and center Pat Elflein (shoulder) the rest they need over these final three games so they can be 100 percent in January should trump all priorities.
Minnesota is still firmly in control of its own destiny, as far as the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. Carolina holds the tiebreaker over Minnesota but would need to win the NFC South, which is currently being controlled by New Orleans, in order for their win over the Vikings to come into play. But if the Vikings finish 12-4, they will hold off the Saints and Rams for the No. 2 seed. The only thing that could hinder Minnesota is Carolina’s final record. That could potentially put the Vikings, Eagles and Panthers in a three-way tie (based on their conference records) for a first-round bye.
Despite Sunday’s loss, the Vikings are still on track to chase a Super Bowl in their home city. A first-round bye is still on the table, making them a favorite over the Saints, Rams or Seahawks because they'll have to win one less postseason game in January.