Winning Division Record
Last year, the Vikings finished with an 11-5 record. That was good enough for them to earn a Wild Card playoff spot despite losing out on the NFC North title to the Green Bay Packers.
The biggest problem that this team faced on their record came within their own division. In two games a piece against the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, the Vikings came home with four losses. While they still made the playoffs, division rivalries can be a huge indicator for the fate of a team.
Imagine that the Vikings split both of the aforementioned series. That would give them a chance to win the NFC North and earn a first-round bye or even home field advantage in the playoffs. The impact of winning these division games is huge in this league.
Next year, if the Vikings want any chance to win a Super Bowl, they have to buckle down and take these matchups seriously. Three of the four matchups with the Bears or Packers ended with a margin of 10 points or less. They’ll be looking to flip the script for these games in 2020.