NFC playoff race update: Vikings still have chance but elimination lurks
Gone is the Minnesota Vikings' chance to win the NFC North after the Detroit Lions clinched the division with a 30-24 win at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday.
What's worse is that Seattle scored a late touchdown in Tennessee to beat the Titans and improve to 8-7, effectively pushing Minnesota into eighth place in the NFC playoff race. If you don't know, there are only seven playoff teams so the Vikings now need some help to make the postseason.
Joining the Vikings at 7-8 are the Packers, who won in Carolina, the Falcons, who dumped the Colts, and the Saints, who are 7-8 after losing to the Rams on Thursday night.
That's four teams tied at 7-8 with two weeks left in the regular season, and it could become five if the Buccaneers lose later Sunday to Jacksonville.
It’s simple for Minnesota: win out and hope the Rams or Seahawks lose at least once.
Dec 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions fans celebrate the win against the Minnesota Vikings after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. With the win the Detroit Lions clinched the NFC North.
Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
One of either the Bucs, Saints or Falcons will win the NFC South and secure the No. 4 seed, and it's best if it's the Bucs because the Bucs' win over the Vikings in Week 1 would give Tampa the tiebreaker in any such scenario with the Vikings. Minnesota beat the Saints and Falcons so a tiebreaker with either of them goes the Vikings' way.
If head-to-head isn't the tiebreaker, conference record will be huge. Minnesota is 6-4 against NFC teams, which is better all of the other 7-8 teams.
- Vikings: 6-4 in the NFC
- Packers: 5-5
- Saints: 4-6
- Falcons: 4-6
But now the Vikings don't just have to hold off the Packers Saints and Falcons, they have to chase down either the Rams or Seahawks. And even if the Vikings beat the Packers next Sunday night, they'll still be on the outside looking in unless the Rams lose to the Giants or the Seahawks fall at home to the Steelers.
Week 17 key matchups:
- Lions at Cowboys, 7:15 p.m. Saturday
- Falcons at Bears, 12 p.m. Sunday
- Rams at Giants, 12 p.m. Sunday
- Saints at Buccaneers, 12 p.m. Sunday
- Steelers at Seahawks, 3:05 p.m. Sunday
- Packers at Vikings, 7:20 p.m. Sunday
If the Vikings lose to Green Bay, they'll be 7-9 and would need the Rams or Seahawks to lose to avoid being eliminated from playoff contention.
If it comes down to Week 18, these could be the key games to monitor.
- Vikings at Lions
- Bears at Packers
- Falcons at Saints
- Seahawks at Cardinals
- Rams at 49ers
