The NFC North is easily the best division in football. Three of its four teams have already hit double-digit wins. Two of them have clinched a playoff spot, including the Minnesota Vikings. What needs to happen over the next few weeks for the Vikings to overtake the Lions as NFC North champions?
What Is the Minnesota Vikings’ Current Playoff Picture?
There is a good chance that the Vikings and Lions will meet in Week 18 to decide the No. 1 seed and the NFC North. The Lions defeated the Bears this week, and the Vikings matched that by defeating the Seahawks. What does that mean? Well, next week matters, but not nearly as much as Week 18 when the Lions and Vikings face off.
Since the Lions already defeated the Vikings and have a better division and conference record, there is no sequence of events that can result in the Vikings winning a tiebreaker over the Lions. They have to finish with a better record. Both teams have already clinched a playoff spot.
How Did a Vikings Win Impact their Playoff Seeding?
The Vikings are set to return to the playoffs after a one-year hiatus. Initially looking destined for a Wild Card spot, Minnesota now has a legitimate shot at winning the division. A Vikings win over the Seahawks keeps Minnesota’s destiny in their own hands. They need to finish with a better record since they cannot win any tiebreakers over the Lions.
The Vikings will play the Green Bay Packers next week and then take on the aforementioned Lions. If they win both those games, the North and No.1 seed is theirs. The Lions play against the 49ers next week, which is another game they would need to win.
The Vikings’ win against the Seahawks was beyond impressive. It was a back-and-forth battle, with two offenses throwing the ball all over the place. Sam Darnold became just the third quarterback in NFL history to win 13 games in his first season with a new team, joining Peyton Manning (Broncos) and Steve McNair (Ravens).
With every win, you can almost feel another zero being added to Darnold’s next contract, whether with the Vikings or another team.
Head over to PFN’s free NFL Playoff Predictor to test various scenarios and see how they change the playoff picture and the current NFL postseason bracket.
NFC Playoff Race | Week 18
1. Detroit Lions (14-2)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
5. Minnesota Vikings (14-2)
6. Washington Commanders (11-5)
7. Green Bay Packers (11-5)
In The Hunt
9. Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
Eliminated From Playoffs
8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
10. Dallas Cowboys (7-9)
11. Arizona Cardinals (7-9)
12. San Francisco 49ers (6-10)
13. New Orleans Saints (5-11)
14. Chicago Bears (4-12)
15. Carolina Panthers (4-12)
16. New York Giants (3-13)
