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NFL Expert Picks: Most View Vikings as Underdogs at Buccaneers

The Vikings kept their playoff hopes alive with a second consecutive come-from-behind victory in Week 13.

Minnesota (6-6) will likely have to play a better all-around game going forward, beginning Sunday in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers are 7-5 and coming off a bye.

As of now, both teams are in the NFC playoff picture, but both the Vikings and Buccaneers want to solidify their spots with a win in Week 14.

Let's see who the experts are picking to win the game, plus scroll below fo this week's playoff-clinching scenarios around the league:

Buccaneers 34, Vikings 26 — Gregg Rosenthal, NFL.com

Tom Brady's struggles have mostly come against top defenses that can disrupt him. That shouldn't be a problem this week. The Vikings offensive success has mostly come against defenses they could run against. That is unlikely to be an option this week. The Bucs sprint to the finish before being called "The Team No One Wants To Face In The Playoffs" starts now.

Buccaneers 30, Vikings 16 — Pete Prisco, CBS Sports

The Vikings still have playoff hopes, but they need this one to make that a reality. They didn't look good against Jacksonville last week and now face a Tampa Bay team coming off a bye and angry from the loss before it. Tom Brady will get back on track here. This will be a blowout.

Buccaneers 28, Vikings 21 — Bill Bender, Sporting News

The Vikings remain in the playoff hunt, but Dalvin Cook will be challenged by the league's top run defense. That will put pressure on Kirk Cousins. Tampa Bay had an extra week to prepare, and Tom Brady cleans up the turnovers at home.

Buccaneers 28, Vikings 20 — Michael David Smith, Pro Football Talk

The Vikings are still right in the thick of things in the NFC Wild Card race, and a win over the Buccaneers would be huge. But I just can't trust this Minnesota team, which has narrowly escaped against bad opponents in recent weeks, against a good opponent like Tampa Bay.

Buccaneers 28, Vikings 20 — Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk

The Vikings have been barely beating not-good teams. This one could go not too good for them.

Pre-game win probabilities: Vikings 34% — FiveThirtyEight.com

0 of 8 experts pick the Vikings, CBS Sports

2 of 6 experts pick the Vikings, The MMQB

2 of 9 experts pick the Vikings, ESPN

0 of 7 experts pick the Vikings, USA TODAY Sports

Look back at photos over the course of time featuring games between the Vikings and the Buccaneers.

As for clinching scenarios, this is what can happen this week:

NFC

Already clinched playoff spot: New Orleans

What can happen in Week 14?

Green Bay (9-3) at Detroit (5-7) | 3:25 p.m. (CT) Sunday

The Packers can clinch the NFC North with:

1. A Green Bay win and a Minnesota loss/tie OR

2. A Green Bay tie and a Minnesota loss

The Packers can clinch the NFC North with:

1. A Green Bay win and an Arizona loss/tie OR

2. A Green Bay win and a Los Angeles Rams loss/tie OR

3. A Green Bay win and a Seattle win or tie OR

4. A Green Bay tie and an Arizona loss OR

5. A Green Bay tie and a Los Angeles Rams loss and an Arizona

6. A Green Bay tie and a Seattle win or tie and an Arizona tie

New Orleans (10-2) at Philadelphia (3-8-1) | 3:25 p.m. (CT) Sunday

The Saints can clinch the NFC South with:

1. A New Orleans win OR

2. A Tampa Bay loss OR

3. A New Orleans tie and a Tampa Bay tie

AFC

Already clinched playoff spot: Kansas City

Pittsburgh (11-1) at Buffalo (9-3) | 7:20 p.m. (CT) Sunday

The Steelers clinch the AFC North with:

1. A Pittsburgh win AND a Cleveland loss

The Steelers clinch a playoff berth with:

1. A Pittsburgh win or tie OR

2. A Las Vegas loss or tie OR

3. A Miami loss or tie OR

4. A Tennessee loss

The Bills clinch a playoff berth with:

1. A Buffalo win AND a Baltimore loss AND a Miami loss AND a New England loss or tie

Kansas City (11-1) at Miami (8-4) | Noon (CT) Sunday

The Chiefs clinch the AFC West with:

1. A Kansas City win or tie OR

2. A Las Vegas loss or tie

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