The 11-2 Minnesota Vikings are just one game (and a tiebreaker) behind the Detroit Lions for first place in the NFC North and first place overall in the NFC, but they can close that gap this weekend with a win and some help.
First thing is first, though. The Vikings can clinch a playoff berth in Week 15.
The Vikings could have clinched a playoff spot in Week 14 but didn’t get all the help they needed. This weekend, their magic number is down to one and they control their own destiny to a playoff spot.
Vikings playoff berth clinching scenarios
If the Vikings collect their 12th win, they clinch a spot with the teams out of a playoff spot in the NFC only able to get to 11-6 at best.
Minnesota could also back in with help from the NFC West before the Vikings even see the field on Monday. If the Rams lose on Thursday night, the best they can finish is 10-7, behind the Vikings. If the Seahawks lose Sunday, the best they can end the year is 11-6 which doesn’t scream “clinch” but with Seattle playing the Rams in Week 18, one of them will lose and one of them will win. That means one team would win the NFC West and the other would be behind the Vikings.
So there are three different ways the Vikings could clinch in three different nationally televised primetime games this weekend:
- Vikings win (Monday night)
– OR –
- Rams loss (Thursday night)
– OR –
- Seahawks loss (Sunday night)
The Rams are underdogs by three points on Thursday, the Seahawks are 2.5-point underdogs at home on Sunday, but the Vikings are a touchdown favorite on Monday according to our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook.
NFC standings entering Week 15
1. x-Detroit Lions (12-1)
2. x-Philadelphia Eagles (11-2)
3. Seattle Seahawks (8-5)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)
5. Minnesota Vikings (11-2)
6. Green Bay Packers (9-4)
7. Washington Commanders (8-5)
8. Los Angeles Rams (7-6)
9. Atlanta Falcons (6-7, 6-3 NFC)
10. Arizona Cardinals (6-7, win over SF, 3-6 NFC)
11. San Francisco 49ers (6-7, loss to ARI)
12. New Orleans Saints (5-8, win over DAL)
13. Dallas Cowboys (5-8, loss to NO)*
14. Chicago Bears (4-8, 2-5 NFC)*
15. Carolina Panthers (3-10)
16. New York Giants (2-11) — eliminated
