With Vikings’ Playoff Loss, NFC North Once Again Isn’t Super

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin — Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers have failed to pull off big-game magic, including back-to-back NFC Championship Game losses in 2019 and 2020 and three straight season-ending losses at Lambeau Field.

Kirk Cousins should be the missing piece after Case Keenum led the Minnesota Vikings to the 2017 NFC Championship Game.

The Detroit Lions made Matthew Stafford the highest-paid player in NFL history in 2017.

The Chicago Bears drafted Mitchell Trubisky more than Patrick Mahomes in 2017 with the second overall pick.

After the Vikings were upset at home by the New York Giants in Sunday’s NFC wildcard playoffs, the NFC North will go without a Super Bowl competitor for the 12th straight year. No division team has made the Super Bowl since the Packers won the Lombardi Trophy in 2010.

This is the second longest partial drought. The AFC South has not had a Super Bowl representative since the Indianapolis Colts lost to the New Orleans Saints in 2009, and has not had a Super Bowl winner since the Colts beat the Bears for the championship in 2006.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are the AFC South representative in the playoffs. After driving past the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday, it’s +3000 to win the Super Bowl at FanDuel Sportsbook and +1300 to get to the Super Bowl.

The Vikings have walked away with a 13-4 record with the NFC North title this season but have been considered paper tigers with 16-point victories over Green Bay in Week 1 and Chicago in Week 18, while tallying a record 11 earned one-point wins.

This paper tiger hit a paper shredder on Sunday. Cousins had a great day, but the Vikings’ terrible defense was terrible once again. Giants quarterback Daniel Jones threw for 301 yards and rushed for 78. The receiving duo of Isaiah Hodgins and Darius Slayton — not exactly the best equals of Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams — combined for 12 receptions for 193 yards.

Former Packers star Za’Darius Smith, who the Vikings signed in the offseason, had three tackles, a pressure and an offside penalty in 52 mostly unseen snaps.

“This is probably the hardest loss I’ve had in my career,” Cousins said. “It hurts.”

Going forward, the Bears have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and a league-high $82.5 million in cap space, based on OverTheCap.com predictions. The Lions have two first-round picks, No. 6 overall for trading Stafford to the Rams and their own pick at No. 18, and $3.7 million in cap spot.

The Packers are about $20.2 million over the cap and the Vikings are even worse at $26.4 million.

Minnesota’s predicament and the unlikely prospects of the group coming back intact hit Cousins after the game.

“It’s hard to know there’s no guarantee they’re back with their amazing players and what they’ve been doing, what I’ve seen them at work,” he said. “It’s hard to know there’s a chance you won’t be able to play with them as you move forward.”

Super Bowl participants, by division, since 2011

NFC East

Winner: giants, eagles. Loser: Zero. In total: Two.

NFC North

Winner: Zero. Loser: Zero. In total: Zero.

NFC South

Winner: privateer. Loser: panthers, falcons. In total: Three.

NFC West

Winner: Seahawks, rams. Loser: 49ers (2), Seahawks, Rams. In total: Six.

AFC East

Winner: Patriots (3). Loser: Patriots (2). In total: Five.

AFC North

Winner: ravens Loser: Bengal. In total: Two.

AFC South

Winner: Zero. Loser: Zero. In total: Zero.

AFC West

Winner: Broncos, chiefs. Loser: Broncos, chiefs. In total: Four.

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