How often do 5-0 teams miss the NFL playoffs?

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the New York Jets in London on Sunday to improve to 5-0 on the season after Stephon Gilmore’s interception of Aaron Rodgers prevented the Jets from attempting a comeback. The Kansas City Chiefs have a chance to join them later in the day as the last undefeated team in five weeks.

The Vikings entered Sunday with a one-game lead over the Detroit Lions in the NFC North and are in a strong position to qualify for the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. However, Minnesota has a difficult history. Teams that win their first five games in the regular season usually make the playoffs, but twice, dating back to 2003, the Vikings have gotten off to a good start.

The Vikings started the 2016 season 5-0 and started the 2003 season 6-0, and both times they failed to even make the wild card.

After the trip to London, farewells will begin and then the start of what many would consider a fairly light schedule. They host a tough Lions team in Week 7, but travel to face a banged-up Rams team in Week 8 and then take on the AFC South race against the Colts, Jaguars and Titans before heading to Chicago before Thanksgiving.

They likely won’t be undefeated after 12 weeks, but they could quickly pick up some key wins and move closer to a playoff spot.

Since 1990, there have been six times (including the two Vikings teams mentioned above) that started 5-0 and did not make the playoffs:

After sealing the win over the Jets in Week 5 with an interception, the odds are stacked against the Vikings making the playoffs. If they fail to do so, Minnesota fans may begin to hope for an early-season loss to avoid making their own history.