Minnesota Vikings

The NFL playoffs are quickly approaching, and teams are continuing to solidify their positions in the race for the postseason.

Here's a look into the playoff picture as we turn the page to Week 13 as well as some intriguing matchups to watch.

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NFC

1. Philadelphia Eagles, 10-1

2. Minnesota Vikings, 9-2

3. San Francisco 49es, 7-4

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 5-6

5. Dallas Cowboys, 8-3

6. New York Giants, 7-4

7. Washington Commanders, 7-5

8. Seattle Seahawks, 6-5

9. Atlanta Falcons, 5-7

10. Detroit Lions, 4-7

11. Green Bay Packers, 4-8

12. Arizona Cardinals, 4-8

13. Carolina Panthers, 4-8

14. New Orleans Saints, 4-8

15. Los Angeles Rams, 3-8

16. Chicago Bears, 3-9

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AFC

1. Kansas City Chiefs, 9-2

2. Miami Dolphins, 8-3

3. Tennessee Titans, 7-4

4. Baltimore Ravens, 7-4

5. Buffalo Bills, 8-3

6. Cincinnati Bengals, 7-4

7. New York Jets, 7-4

8. New England Patriots, 6-5

9. Los Angeles Chargers, 6-5

10. Indianapolis Colts, 4-7-1

11. Jacksonville Jaguars, 4-7

12. Las Vegas Raiders, 4-7

13. Cleveland Browns, 4-7

14. Pittsburgh Steelers, 4-7

15. Denver Broncos, 3-8

16. Houston Texans, 1-9-1

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Projected NFC Matchups

Bye: Philadelphia Eagles

(2) Minnesota Vikings vs. (7) Washington Commanders

(3) San Francisco 49ers vs. (6) New York Giants

(4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. (5) Dallas Cowboys

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Projected AFC Matchups

Bye: Kansas City Chiefs

(2) Miami Dolphins vs. (7) New York Jets

(3) Tennessee Titans vs. (6) Cincinnati Bengals

(4) Baltimore Ravens vs. (5) Buffalo Bills

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Week 13 is riddled with interconference matchups that could have ramifications on the playoff picture. The most interesting game pits the hottest teams in the AFC and NFC against one another.

The Miami Dolphins will be riding a five-game winning streak into Sunday's showdown against the San Francisco 49ers, who have won their last four. The Dolphins are in second place in the AFC thanks to their head-to-head tiebreaker over the Buffalo Bills, who will face the New England Patriots on Thursday Night Football.

A win by Buffalo would put massive pressure on Miami to be victorious this week so it doesn't fall in the standings. However, that will be easier said than done against a San Francisco defense that has held its last four opponents under 20 points. The Dolphins have scored over 30 points in their last four outings, so this makes for the most intriguing game of the slate.

One of Miami's AFC East rivals is also in for a tantalizing matchup against an NFC powerhouse, as the New York Jets will visit the Minnesota Vikings. New York climbed back into the playoff picture with a magical performance by quarterback Mike White in a dominant win over the Chicago Bears, but things won't be as easy against the Vikings.

Minnesota bounced back from a blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys with a 33-26 win over New England on Thanksgiving Day. The Vikings' tilt against the Jets pits a potent offense against one of the top defenses in the league, and it will be highlighted by a matchup between Minnesota star receiver Justin Jefferson and New York star rookie cornerback Sauce Gardner.

The NFL-leading Philadelphia Eagles will face the AFC South-leading Tennessee Titans, who will be looking to get back in the win column following a 20-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Tennessee's stout run defense will be tested by Philadelphia's rushing attack, which is led by dual-threat quarterback and MVP candidate Jalen Hurts.

A intradivision matchup worth watching will be the Washington Commanders' taking on the New York Giants. All four NFC East teams would be in the playoffs if the season ended today, so every win is crucial.

Finally, the Kansas City Chiefs will face the Bengals in a rematch of last year's AFC Championship Game. Kansas City has maintained its hold on the AFC, but Cincinnati is clicking at the right time with wins in five of its last six games.

Expectations weren't that high to begin with, but fantasy football managers are likely feeling underwhelmed with their returns from Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison in 2022.

Through nine games, Mattison has run for 149 yards and two touchdowns. His 16.6 yards per game are nearly half his career average (30.1) and would represent a third straight year of decline.

Entering the season, the 24-year-old at least looked like a valuable handcuff for Dalvin Cook. Based on the fact that he's rostered in just 40 percent of Yahoo Sports leagues, some fantasy managers have lost faith in him even fulfilling that capacity.

Typically, a younger running back might be more valuable in dynasty leagues. If the production isn't there now, it could be in another year or two as his usage grows.

With Mattison, the opposite might be true because Cook isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

The three-time Pro Bowler is signed through the 2025 season, and his performance is giving the Vikings little reason to cut bait. The 27-year-old has run for 727 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He has also caught 22 passes for 146 yards and one score.

There isn't anything to indicate Mattison is a star in the making, either, were he to sign with another team when he's eligible for free agency in 2023. He's averaging 4.2 yards per carry through four years and hasn't shown a lot as a pass-catcher (65 receptions, 501 yards and three touchdowns).

If you believe in Mattison's potential, it's a good time to trade for him because his outlook may improve slightly if he's in a different uniform. From the other side of the deal, though, that offers a good reason to wait because his value in the offseason can't be any lower than it is.

With fantasy trade deadlines happening this week for many leagues, it's a good time to explore the trade value of a few under-the-radar players. Here we'll look at two players orbiting around the otherworldly talent that is Justin Jefferson: Minnesota Vikings wideouts Adam Thielen and K.J. Osborn.

Thielen is nothing more than a weekly flex option and his value should reflect as much. He's only hit double-digit fantasy points in PPR leagues four times this season, though he has scored at least nine points seven times.

He'll consistently offer you some production, but his upside is pretty limited at this point. He probably has more short-term value than long-term upside in dynasty leagues, seeing as he's 32, so if you are trading for him keep that in mind as well.

If the goal is to win this year, well, there are probably more impactful options worth considering. If the goal is to fortify your team in the long run, well...there are still probably more impactful options worth considering.

Osborn is a tougher call. He emerged as the team's third receiver last year, catching 50 passes for 655 yards and seven scores. Another jump seemed likely in 2022 but hasn't materialized to this point.

He's the opposite of Thielen. In dynasty leagues, he has more long-term appeal because in the short-term he isn't worth trading for at all. But if you are looking for a long-term stash, only consider paying WR4 prices for him. The hope is that down the line he emerges as the WR2 behind Jefferson.

Because when it comes to Minnesota's passing game, it's all about Jefferson, with a sprinkling in of tight end T.J. Hockenson. Thielen and Osborn are further down the pecking order.

Tom Brady started the NFL slate on Sunday by leading his Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Germany, which gave him plenty of time to watch highlights from other games.

One catch, in particular, caught his eye.

"That has got to be one of the great catches in NFL history," he said on his Let's Go! podcast with Jim Gray (h/t Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times) when discussing Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson's 32-yard catch in the final two minutes of regulation during the NFC North team's 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills.

Jefferson finished with 10 receptions for 193 yards and one touchdown, but it was the one where he saved the game on 4th-and-18 down by snatching the ball from the defensive back's hands that stood out the most:

JUSTIN JEFFERSON OH MY GOODNESS 😱🤯

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/h71fuciUrv

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 13, 2022

Brady has certainly seen his fair share of catches during his illustrious career, including David Tyree's famous helmet catch that came against No. 12's New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

He also played with one of the best wide receivers of all time in Randy Moss.

Yet he was nothing but impressed by Jefferson's snag, which helped the Vikings improve to 8-1 on the season.

The Minnesota Vikings overcame improbable odds to beat the Buffalo Bills on Sunday while also overcoming poor officiating at the end of the 33-30 overtime win at Highmark Stadium.

The Bills defense had 12 players on the field during the Vikings' 1st-and-goal play from the 2-yard line in overtime, Kevin Seifert of ESPN confirmed.

As Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said last night, the Bills had 12 players on the field when they stopped Dalvin Cook for a 3-yard loss in OT yesterday. O'Connell did say: "I know it's moving pretty fast out there sometimes." pic.twitter.com/5Cc4sDNN7r

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) November 14, 2022

Dalvin Cook was stopped for a three-yard loss on the play, and the Vikings settled for a field goal three plays later.

"I do believe there was 12 players on the field. ... I know it's moving pretty fast out there sometimes," Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said after the game.

If the officials had caught the infraction, Minnesota would have gotten a 1st-and-goal from the 1-yard line and a better chance to end the game with a touchdown.

Instead, the goal-line stand helped Buffalo get another chance to tie or win. The Vikings still held on as Patrick Peterson intercepted Josh Allen on the next drive.

The missed call for too many men on the field wasn't the only officiating error that benefited the Bills late in the game.

After the Vikings took the lead in the final minute with a fumble recovered for a touchdown, Buffalo forced overtime with a five-play, 69-yard drive that resulted in a field goal. The biggest play on that drive was a 20-yard pass to Gabe Davis on the sideline.

The @BuffaloBills are in FG range after this catch

📺: #MINvsBUF on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/uRjde5F169 pic.twitter.com/97Bsd7MqxO

— NFL (@NFL) November 13, 2022

Other angles of the play showed that Davis did not complete the catch, but the officials did not review it before the Bills snapped the ball.

"We were able—several plays after—to look at all the angles," referee Walt Anderson told the pool reporter after the game. "It would have been reversed to an incomplete pass because he did not maintain control of the ball after he hit the ground and the ball touched the ground out of bounds."

In both cases, the officiating mistakes gave the Bills extra chances to win.

Minnesota still prevailed, fighting back from being down 17 points in the second half to beat one of the NFL's best teams on the road. The Vikings improved to 8-1 while showcasing impressive resilience.

No wide receiver has won the NFL's Most Valuable Player Award. Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson is doing his best to make history in 2022.

NBC Sports' Peter King listed his MVP favorites to this point in the season. Jefferson came in at fourth behind the Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts, the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes and the Miami Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa.

History isn't on Jefferson's side, and he's considered a bit of a long shot in the eyes of oddsmakers. DraftKings Sportsbook has him at +15000 to win MVP.

Los Angeles Rams star Cooper Kupp pulled off a triple crown in 2021, leading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches, and only managed a third-place finish in the AP MVP voting.

But Jefferson's value to the Vikings is evident to anybody who has watched one of Minnesota's games this year. Through nine games, he has caught 69 passes for 1,060 yards and four touchdowns. His 117.8 receiving yards per game are on pace to be the sixth-highest in a single season.

The two-time Pro Bowler's performance in a Week 10 33-30 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills was a perfect showcase. He hauled in 10 passes for 193 yards and one touchdown.

The Bills knew where Kirk Cousins wanted to go with the ball, but there was little they could do to stop him from connecting with Jefferson.

JUSTIN JEFFERSON ASDGJSKDNFGKSDF;K

📺: #MINvsBUF on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/uRjde5F169 pic.twitter.com/sxiLVx0NCi

— NFL (@NFL) November 13, 2022

Whether voters reward his efforts or not, Jefferson is having a season to remember and playing a key role in the Vikings' 8-1 start.

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Buffalo Bills 33-30 in overtime on Sunday at Highmark Stadium, and star wide receiver Justin Jefferson had the game of his life.

The 23-year-old caught 10 passes for 193 yards and one touchdown, and his biggest catch of the game came on 4th-and-18 from the Minnesota 27-yard line with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter with the Vikings trailing 27-23.

Jefferson jumped up and grabbed what likely would have been a Kirk Cousins interception and hauled it in with one hand to keep Minnesota's drive alive:

JUSTIN JEFFERSON OH MY GOODNESS 😱🤯

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/h71fuciUrv

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 13, 2022

After the game, Jefferson said he couldn't believe he made the grab, which has been dubbed the catch of the year.

"It felt like it was unreal. Like a movie,'' Jefferson said, per ESPN. "The big games, the big moments, when people are looking for you to make a play, that's what I like the most.''

Jefferson now has his third straight season with 1,000-plus receiving yards, and there are still eight games left for the star wideout to smash his career high of 1,616 yards, which he set last season.

The Vikings moved to 8-1 on the season with the win.

The Minnesota Vikings entered Week 10 with a stranglehold on first place in the NFC North. But despite a 7-1 record, they weren't getting a lot of run as a realistic threat to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LVII. Part of the reason was the lack of a statement win—Minnesota's victory over the Dolphins in Miami came with Tua Tagovailoa on the shelf, and Minnesota was throttled by the Eagles in Philadelphia in Week 2.

After storming back in the second half to knock off the Bills 33-30 (OT) in Buffalo, the Vikings have that signature victory. And while the Vikes have issues, taking out the Bills (6-3) for a seventh straight victory cements their status as a force to be reckoned with.

The Vikings have made a habit of living dangerously—Minnesota hasn't won by double digits since Week 1, and there have been a number of comeback victories. Sunday was no different. When Minnesota fell behind 27-10 in the third quarter, a blowout seemed more likely than a comeback.

But as has been the case all season, there was no quit in the Vikings. They scratched and clawed their way back into the game, and with a minute left they faced a 4th-and-goal from the half-yard line with a chance to take the lead.

And then…madness.

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins was stuffed, which seemingly clinched the game for the Bills. But as Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen attempted to sneak his way out of the end zone, a botched exchange was recovered in the end zone by Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks.

ERIC KENDRICKS TOUCHDOWN!

pic.twitter.com/u5Njb7yTLl

— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) November 13, 2022

Ballgame, right?

Wrong.

Allen drove the Bills the length of the field to set up a chip-shot field goal that tied the game. Then the Vikings answered with a field goal of their own on the first drive of overtime. Then Allen once again led the Bills into the red zone with less than two minutes left in overtime. But veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson's second interception of the day sealed the deal on one of the wilder wins in recent memory.

While speaking to Pam Oliver of Fox Sports after the game, Cousins credited the team for rallying around one another.

"It was a team win," Cousins said. "All eight of our wins have been that way. We beat ourselves up and then we find a way to claw back. We stay together. It's a tough team, and we keep showing it. We are battle-tested. Would like to win a little more convincingly than this, and there's so much to get better at. But thrilled to come out with a victory against a really good football team."

On some level, it's appropriate that Cousins credited his teammates because they rather bailed him out in this one.

There has long been a narrative surrounding Cousins that while he can pile up stats against bad teams, he withers in prime-time games or against formidable opponents. In some respects, Cousins' performance against the Bills fed into that narrative. Cousins did throw for 357 yards, but he completed just 60 percent of his passes, posted a passer rating of just 71.8 and threw a pair of interceptions.

But as has been the case all season, when one Viking falters, another steps up. On Sunday, it was Cousins' top two weapons who picked up the slack.

Running back Dalvin Cook was outstanding against one of the best run defenses in the league. Cook carried the ball just 14 times, but he piled up 119 yards doing so—including an 81-yard touchdown. He also added 27 yards on three catches.

As good as Cook was against the Bills, Justin Jefferson was awesome. Dominant. Domisome. Aweminant.

All Jefferson did against a Bills defense allowing just over 210 passing yards a game was amass 193 yards by himself. That career best in yardage came on 10 receptions, one of which was the catch of the year in the NFL.

JUSTIN JEFFERSON OH MY GOODNESS 😱🤯

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/h71fuciUrv

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 13, 2022

How did he do that?

The Vikings defense did its part as well. Yes, Minnesota's 29th-ranked defense allowed a whopping 486 yards of offense and 30 points. But it's hardly unusual for the Bills to light up an opposing defense, and the Vikings also sacked Allen twice and notched four takeaways.

That's the Minnesota defense in a nutshell. All season, the Vikings have allowed a lot of yards. But they rank in the top half of the league in points allowed, are tied with the Eagles for the most takeaways in the NFL with 18 and rank 10th in the NFL with 26 sacks.

Minnesota bends. But it doesn't break. And when a big play is needed, the Vikings come up with one.

Even in victory, the issues that could derail a deep playoff run by the Vikings were evident. They do indeed give up a lot of yardage. And for all the firepower the Vikings have offensively, at some point it's going to come down to Cousins having to rewrite that narrative surrounding him—to come up big when the pressure is at its highest.

Are the Vikings as complete a team as the undefeated Eagles? No. Minnesota doesn't have a dominant defense like the Dallas Cowboys or San Francisco 49ers. Cousins isn't Tom Brady, either.

But for all the flak that Cousins gets, he's a capable veteran quarterback. Cook and Jefferson are top-five options at their respective positions. The Vikings have an above-average offensive line. A pair of excellent pass-rushers in Za'Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter. An opportunistic defense that makes big plays when needed. And now the Vikings have demonstrated that they can go on the road and down a Super Bowl contender.

The Vikings might not be the best team in the NFL. Or even the best team in the NFC. But on Sunday, Minnesota served notice to the rest of the league.

The 2022 Vikings are for real. And those who underestimate them do so at their own peril.

The Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills went to overtime Sunday at Highmark Stadium after being tied 30-30 through four quarters, and Kevin O'Connell's team should be praising star wide receiver Justin Jefferson for a miraculous performance to help keep its winning hopes alive.

Jefferson caught eight passes for 156 yards and one touchdown before overtime, but his biggest play of the game came on 4th-and-18 from the Minnesota 27-yard line with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Down 27-23, it originally looked like Kirk Cousins had tossed an interception to Bills cornerback Cam Lewis, which would have likely ended the game, but Jefferson jumped up to instead make the catch of his life to keep the Vikings' hopes of winning alive.

JUSTIN JEFFERSON OH MY GOODNESS 😱🤯

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/h71fuciUrv

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 13, 2022

Jefferson's improbable catch set NFL Twitter ablaze, and many are dubbing it the "catch of the year":

My working theory is that the Justin Jefferson catch was so good that it opened up a portal to a parallel universe, and we’re now living in a bizarre alternate reality

— David Gardner (@byDavidGardner) November 13, 2022

Justin Jefferson catch on 4th down was the catch of the year in the best game of the week. #SKOL

— Bryant McFadden (@BMac_SportsTalk) November 13, 2022

JusHIM Jefferson !

— Mohamed Sanu Sr. (@Mo_12_Sanu) November 13, 2022

At this moment Justin Jefferson top receiver in league https://t.co/DaHX6WH0ia

— Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) November 13, 2022

Hall of fame performance by Jefferson. What an insane 4th qtr.

— Steve Micciche (@MitchBHavin) November 13, 2022

Justin Jefferson for greatest catch of all time?

— RØKKR Nero (@NEROPOlSON) November 13, 2022

I knew Justin Jefferson was a demon since LSU but I didn’t know he’d be this good

— Evan Hinsch (@EvanHinsch) November 13, 2022

That Justin Jefferson catch might have actually outdone Odell

— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) November 13, 2022

https://twitter.com/GIPHYSports/status/1591900881951555584

CATCH OF THE MILLENIUM FROM JUSTIN JEFFERSON 🤯 pic.twitter.com/qFsO7nSOg9

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) November 13, 2022

Justin Jefferson catch of the year.

— Bobby Thompson (@BThomps81) November 13, 2022

Jefferson entered Sunday's game second in the NFL with 867 receiving yards, sitting behind Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill, who has posted 1,104 yards.

The 23-year-old, who was selected 22nd overall in the 2020 NFL draft out of LSU, is on pace to post his third straight season with 1,000-plus receiving yards. With the way he's been playing to start his career, he'll surely be in for a massive contract extension when the time comes.

There's no chance the Minnesota Vikings would voluntarily trade star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. It might be a different story in the fantasy football realm.

Jefferson was widely considered one of the best players on the board coming into the season. Aside from a disappointing Week 3, he has delivered.

Through eight games, the two-time Pro Bowler has caught 59 passes for 867 yards and three touchdowns. He also had a three-yard touchdown run in a Week 4 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Jefferson has eclipsed the century mark in yardage in four of his last five games, though only hauling in one touchdown during that span has dragged his overall fantasy scoring down.

In standard leagues, you need to get a massive haul to consider trading him.

You are unlikely to get a wideout of equal value, so a straight-up swap makes little sense unless one of Stefon Diggs, Cooper Kupp or Tyreek Hill is coming the other way.

Jefferson could be leveraged to address other areas of your squad. Assuming you don't want to deplete your receiving corps, holding out for a lesser WR and a low-end RB1 is reasonable.

In super-flex formats, trading Jefferson would be a great way to upgrade at quarterback since it's doubtful the waiver wire will offer much help at that position the rest of the way.

If you have the 23-year-old in your squad, then it's a buyer's market. Maybe you can put together a trade that sacrifices some points at quarterback but leaves you better off overall. Absent that, keep Jefferson and watch the receptions and yards continue to pile up in the second half.