What happened: Minnesota won its first six games and has since dropped two in a row, the latest a 23-6 loss to Buffalo on Monday. Per Yahoo Sports, the last NFL team to start 5-0 and still miss the playoffs was the Vikings a decade ago.
Why it matters: At 6-2 the Vikings sit in the sixth playoff seed, so the two-game slide has already cost them ground in the standings. The comparison to that earlier collapse is the question now hanging over the season.
By the numbers: Minnesota Vikings: 6-2 in 2026 through 8 games, on a two-game losing streak, seed 6. Last game: 23-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills (final).
What to watch: The NFL trade deadline arrives Tuesday at 4 PM ET, with Minnesota's quarterback situation drawing attention.