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Best-case scenario: Their young players continue to shine and they make the playoffs. The Vikings would get in if the season ended today. But Sunday's win over the Jaguars was ugly. Minnesota has won its last two home games against Carolina and Jacksonville by a total of four points. Getting to the playoffs would be nice, but this year was always about a soft rebuild, and the results there have been encouraging. Justin Jefferson has 1,039 yards and is averaging 17 yards per reception. If he maintains his current pace (86.6 yards per game), he will set the NFL record (Super Bowl era) for receiving yards by a rookie, overtaking Anquan Boldin and Randy Moss. Meanwhile, rookie third-round pick Cameron Dantzler was terrific in Sunday's game. Getting to the postseason is always preferred, but this Vikings team isn't good enough to make a real playoff run. What they need is to find out which young guys can be a part of their core in 2021.

It wasn't pretty against the Jaguars, but a win is a win. They are still alive in the playoff chase.

Yes, they've moved into the NFC's final wild-card position, but Vikes hardly look formidable -- Exhibit A being Sunday's overtime escape against the lowly Jags.

Person with most at stake: QB Kirk Cousins

This might seem like a weird answer given that Cousins' contract absolutely makes him the starter in 2021. Cousins had the best passer rating (123.4) in November and orchestrated game-winning drives in Weeks 12 and 13 to keep the Vikings in the playoff hunt. Coming off their bye at 1-5 after Cousins threw 10 interceptions, the Vikings decided to run the offense through Dalvin Cook. That strategy got them to .500, but Cook is more banged up now than he was a month ago. Over the next four weeks, Cousins has an opportunity to prove he can win important games against top NFC talent (Buccaneers, Saints) without having to rely heavily on his running back. -- Courtney Cronin

It wasn't pretty, but Sunday's 27-24 overtime win over the Jaguars slid the Vikings into the seventh and final NFC playoff spot with four weeks to play. Not bad for a team that was left for dead at 1-5 in October. The Vikes did a nice job fattening up on the soft portion of their schedule, but their level of play will have to improve significantly ahead of Sunday's matchup against a rested Buccaneers team. They'll also need more of the same from Justin Jefferson, who on Sunday became the fifth rookie to reach 1,000 yards receiving in his first 12 games. Jefferson's meteoric rise to star status gives the Vikings a playmaker core that rivals that of any team in football.