If I recall, after Goodell threw us under the bus, there was this lingering shadow hanging over the team. (Hell Vikings fans still use Bountygate as an excuse for beating Farve.)
We were getting some crap calls in just about every game from the referees. They were so ticky tack about anything. It wouldn't look good for the so called NFL shield if we went to the playoffs.
We won just enough to not have a high draft pick that year.