Brian Flores announcement that he is leaving the vikings now another significant issue for the team…

With a 0-3 start to the season and the loss of Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson for the bulk of it, the Vikings had plenty of reasons to give up this year.

Rather, following Jefferson’s placement on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury, Minnesota went on a five-game winning streak, which included two unlikely victories with Josh Dobbs following Cousins’ season-ending injury.

According to The Upshot’s playoff prediction engine, the Vikings are 6-6 on the season and have a 44% chance of making the postseason after two losses that were decided on the final drives in back-to-back weeks before their bye.

Facing the Detroit Lions (9-3) twice and the resurgent Green Bay Packers (6-6) squad in the final three weeks of the season will have heavy sway in the playoff race, prompting Flores to keep his defense engaged for the final stretch of the season.

“All the other stuff, I asked them to block it out, and I’m blocking it out myself because I think you got to lead by example. I know that that’s out there, I’m not blind to any of that. But I’m really focused on the task at hand. Like I said, my message to those guys was: We got five weeks. Let’s put everything into these five weeks and not come out of it with any regrets and saying, ‘Hey my focus is on this so it wasn’t on you guys,’ Flores added. “I think these guys work too hard, they’ve put a lot into the season already. I understand the question, but that is really not where I’m at right now.