We’re into the last quarter of the 2018 NFL regular season Cheap Laquon Treadwell Jersey , folks, and that means it’s time to figure out which teams that aren’t the Minnesota Vikings we need to cheer for in order to get the purple into the NFC playoffs. To determine which games are the most important, I’ll be using the same New York Times tool that Ted uses when he does his playoff odds on Mondays.I first want to point out that, independent of the results of any of the games that happen on Sunday, the Vikings’ chances of making the 2018 NFC playoffs move to 81% with a victory over the Seahawks and drop to 39% if they lose in Seattle on Monday night.There are several games that could either enhance or diminish those chances, so let’s go over which games in particular those are.Games in the early windowCarolina Panthers at Cleveland BrownsCarolina is one of the Vikings’ primary challengers for a Wild Card spot in the NFC, but they’re reeling in a serious way, having dropped four in a row to fall to 6-6. Now word is filtering out that Cam Newton is dealing with a shoulder injury that will require surgery after the season. The Browns, under the leadership of noted human colostomy bag Gregg Williams, are actually showing some signs of life. They have a record of 4-7-1 this season, but they’re 3-2-1 at home and could pose a serious threat to the Panthers in this one.Verdict - Go Browns!New York Giants at Washington RedskinsLike the Panthers, the Redskins are another of the Vikings’ competitors for a potential Wild Card berth. However, they’re now on their third quarterback, as Colt McCoy (who replaced Alex Smith) suffered a broken leg during Washington’s loss on Monday night to Philadelphia, and will be replaced by Mark Sanchez. Woof. Not to be outdone, the Giants have announced that Odell Beckham, Jr. will not play on Sunday with a bruised quad, meaning that Eli Manning will have to miss other targets instead. This likely won’t be a pretty game, but the Giants could do us a solid here.Verdict - Go Giants!How could these two games affect the Vikings’ playoff chances? Well, independent of the other results on Sunday:CLE win, NYG win - Vikings 83% to make playoffs with win over SEA, 55% with loss to SEACLE win, WAS win - Vikings 80% to make playoffs with win over SEA, 39% with loss to SEACAR win, NYG win - Vikings 80% to make playoffs with win over SEA http://www.vikingscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-danielle-hunter-jersey , 38% with loss to SEACAR win, WAS win - Vikings 76% to make playoffs with win over SEA, 32% with loss to SEAGame in the late windowPhiladelphia Eagles at Dallas CowboysThe Cowboys could pretty much end the competitive portion of Philadelphia’s season with a win on Sunday, as they would have a head-to-head sweep over the Eagles in the NFC East race. It would also drop the Eagles to 6-7 on the year, and they have to head to Los Angeles to play the Rams in Week 15. I know a lot of old-school Vikings fans might not want to cheer for the Cowboys, but it really is for the best for the Vikings at this point if they win.Verdict - Go Cowboys!These are the three most important games for the Vikings, so let’s break down the potential combinations of results and see how they could affect the team’s playoff hopes.CLE win/NYG win/DAL win - 88% playoff chance with win, 52% with lossCLE win/NYG win/PHI win - 82% playoff chance with win, 46% with lossCLE win/WAS win/DAL win - 81% playoff chance with win, 46% with lossCAR win/NYG win/DAL win - 81% playoff chance with win, 40% with lossCAR win/NYG win/PHI win - 79% playoff chance with win, 36% with lossCLE win/WAS win/PHI win - 77% playoff chance with win, 38% with lossCAR win/WAS win/PHI win - 76% playoff chance with win, 31% with lossCAR win/WAS win/DAL win - 73% playoff chance with win, 32% with lossGame that potentially helps our division chances but not our playoff odds overallLos Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (Sunday night)Since the Vikings aren’t in the division lead at this point, a Bears loss on Sunday doesn’t really change their odds of making the playoffs. Independent of any other results on Sunday, a Rams win over the Bears would keep the Vikings’ playoff odds at 82% with a win over Seattle and 41% with a loss to the Seahawks, so it doesn’t move the proverbial needle that much. A Chicago loss coupled with a Minnesota win, however, would greatly enhance the Vikings’ chances of potentially winning the NFC North, particularly if both teams could hold serve until their rematch at U.S. Bank Stadium in Week 17.Games that don’t matter all that much but you’ll be paying attention to anywayNew Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay BuccaneersThe Buccaneers are still, technically, in the Wild Card hunt, but honestly. . .nobody knows what the heck is going on with that team from one minute to the next. The Saints are going to want to keep up with the Rams now that they’ve fallen to the #2 spot in the NFC. A New Orleans victory would give the Vikings a slight nudge, but not significant enough where you have to cheer for New Orleans if you feel dirty for doing so http://www.vikingscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-tom-compton-jersey , I don’t think.Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay PackersThis game has pretty much no effect on the Vikings’ playoff standing, but honestly. . .it’s not as though you were going to be cheering for Green Bay anyway, right? (You’ll probably have to do that next week, though.)Games that have absolutely no bearing on the Vikings’ playoff chancesNew York Jets at Buffalo BillsIndianapolis Colts at Houston TexansBaltimore Ravens at Kansas City ChiefsNew England Patriots at Miami DolphinsCincinnati Bengals at Los Angeles ChargersDenver Broncos at San Francisco 49ersDetroit Lions at Arizona CardinalsPittsburgh Steelers at Oakland RaidersAs you’d probably guessed.So, in review. . .go Cleveland, go New York Giants, go Dallas, go Los Angeles Rams, and go New Orleans (if you can bring yourself to do it). Obviously, it will be super helpful if the Vikings can take care of their own business on Monday night, but since we have to wait until then anyway, we could just as well have some cheering interests in the meantime. The competiveness of the NFL leaves little room for sentiment, not even for the most accomplished, respected or trusted players.Brian Robison and Terence Newman were the latest reminders of that, left off the regular-season roster by the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday when the deadline for reaching the 53-player limit arrived.The Vikings released Robison before his 12th season with the team was to begin. Then, they announced that Newman will retire and immediately join the coaching staff — three days before his 40th birthday.Robison, who's tied for ninth in Vikings history with 60 career sacks, was the longest-tenured player on the team. Drafted in the fourth round in 2007, he spent six of his 11 years with the Vikings as a full-time starter. Danielle Hunter moved ahead of him on the depth chart in 2017, and for the second straight offseason Robison took a pay cut to return in 2018.With Stephen Weatherly (third year) and Tashawn Bower (second year) performing well in the preseason as backups to Hunter and Everson Griffen, Robison's adjusted $1.1 million salary was still too much for the Vikings to carry considering the 35-year-old's reduced role."This one hurts, but it's not goodbye," Robison wrote in a thank-you message on his Twitter account . "More like see you later."The Vikings felt strongly enough about Robison that they included statements from owners Zygi and Mark Wilf, general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer in their announcement of his release."Brian has been one of the best leaders I've seen in my career, and I'm happy I got the opportunity to coach him http://www.thevikingsfootballauthentic.com/rashod-hill-jersey-authentic ," Zimmer said. "He's been such a great player for us and an even better help building the kind of culture we want with this team."Newman joined the Vikings in 2015, reuniting with Zimmer after playing for him with Dallas (four seasons) and Cincinnati (two seasons) when Zimmer was the defensive coordinator for those teams. The fifth overall pick in the 2003 draft, Newman has 42 career interceptions, which was the most among active players following the retirement this spring of DeAngelo Hall. With Newman's announcement, Carolina's Julius Peppers (age 38) becomes the oldest defensive player in the league.The Vikings said they'd provide more details on Newman's role on the coaching staff in the near future. In addition to serving as a valuable mentor to starters Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes, Newman stepped in capably in the slot as the nickel cornerback when Mackensie Alexander struggled. The Vikings drafted Mike Hughes in the first round, though, giving them plenty of depth.Robison and Newman were the only two players older than 30 on the roster. Strong safety Andrew Sendejo (Sept. 9), cornerback/punt returner Marcus Sherels (Sept. 30) and Griffen (Dec. 22) will turn 31 during the season.The Vikings cut seven wide receivers this weekend, including Chad Beebe, Cayleb Jones and Kendall Wright. Beebe, the son of former Buffalo folk hero Don Beebe, had a standout preseason but was out of action with an injury this week. Jones was charged with domestic assault and two other crimes this week for allegedly shoving his girlfriend during an argument at a hotel. Wright has 339 career catches, after playing his first five seasons in the NFL with Tennessee and last year for Chicago.The fifth and final wide receiver spot on the team went to Brandon Zylstra, a native of Spicer, Minnesota, who played at NCAA Division III Concordia College and played the last two seasons in the CFL.The Vikings placed backup linebacker and special teams contributor Kentrell Brothers on the suspended list, for a previously announced punishment from the NFL for violating the performance-enhancing substances policy.Center Pat Elflein was removed from the physically unable to perform list after being held out for the entire preseason following offseason ankle and shoulder surgeries. If he's not cleared to play in the season opener on Sept. 9 against San Francisco, either Brett Jones or Danny Isidora will play center. Cornelius Edison, who spent much of training camp as the first team center, was among the players released.