After pounding the Detroit Lions on Sunday, the Vikings look like they could (should) be a playoff team.

As it sits, with four games left on the schedule, the Vikings are tied for the second Wild-Card spot in the NFC playoffs with the Lions and the Cardinals all at 6-6.

The Vikings have to play the 49ers (3-9), Bears (5-7), Redskins (5-7) and Broncos (5-7).

In my opinion, there is no reason the Vikings can’t run the table from here on out, go 10-6 and make the NFC playoffs.

It’s not going to be easy, but it would be a great run going into the playoffs.

The 49ers are horrible. On offense the 49ers rank 32nd in the league in points scored, yardage and passing yards and are 27th in rushing yards. On defense the 49ers don’t rank above 21st in any category.

If the Vikings don’t overlook the 49ers, it should be a win.

The Bears (5-7) are still clawing at a playoff spot, so that game should be the toughest one to win. But the game is at home, the Bears can’t stop the run and the Bears offense is as good as Grossman is which is not very good.

The Redskins (5-7) have a good defense, but can’t score and have a coach who doesn’t know he can’t call back-to-back timeouts to ice a kicker.

The Broncos just lost to the Raiders (enough said?).

The Broncos have a hard time stopping the run and their offense isn’t anything the Vikings defense can’t handle. It will be a tough road game with the cold and snowy conditions at Mile High in December, but I think the Vikings will have more to play for and I think they are a better team than the Broncos, this year.

Now for the other 6-6 teams…

The Cardinals have a tougher schedule to run as they have to play the Seahawks (8-4), who are playing well as of late, the Saints (5-7), who will need to win to stay in the playoff picture, the Falcons and the Rams who are both (3-9).

The Cardinals are looking good and have spoiled the Vikings playoff hopes before, but they have to win a couple tough games to make the playoffs and play spoiler once again.

The Lions (who I think are all but out of the picture) have to play the Cowboys (11-1), Chargers (7-5), Chiefs (4-8) and Packers (10-2). I don’t think you’re going to get those 10 wins this year, Kitna.

I see the Lions finishing last in the NFC North, with a record of 7-9.

As I see it, if Jackson can play relatively error-free football, make some plays down the field, scramble for a couple first downs and constantly give the ball to AD and Chester Taylor the offense should be able to score enough point to win out.

I would like to see the Vikings’ pass defense tighten-up a bit, but they are solid against the run.

If Jackson can affectively throw the slant routes and hit a deep one here and there, I think Rice, Allison and Wade can make some plays.

AD’s knee looked just fine in his first game back running for over a hundred yards and two TDs in about three quarters of work.

Did you see the move he put on the Lions DB for his second TD?

WOW!

Although most of the division races are all but sealed up, the Wild-Card spots should be interesting with three teams at 6-6 and five teams at 5-7. If the Giants continue to fall apart, it will be really interesting.

Do you think the Vikings can finish 10-6?

Do you think they will make the playoffs?

If not, who will make the playoffs?