NFC Playoff Picture: Vikings Drop to No. 3 Seed Before Regular-Season Finale

EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings didn’t start the New Year on the right foot, as Minnesota struggled in all three phases in a 41-17 loss Sunday at Green Bay. The loss moved the Vikings (12-4) to the No. 3 seed in the NFC Playoff standings. San Francisco (12-4) took over the No. 2 seed with a 37-34 overtime victory against Las Vegas. Minnesota still has a chance to reclaim the No. 2 seed but needs a victory this week in Chicago and a 49ers loss to Arizona (4-12) to move back up. The No. 1 seed is also up for grabs for three teams after Philadelphia (13-3) dropped its second consecutive game Sunday. The Eagles, 49ers and Cowboys all have a shot at securing the No. 1 seed, which will be awarded home-field advantage throughout the postseason and a first-round bye. Since the NFL expanded the playoffs to include seven teams in each conference in 2020, No. 2 seeds will now play on Wild Card Weekend. Here’s a look at the current NFC playoff picture — with standings, postseason odds, and a status update — as we head into Week 18.1. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) Remaining Schedule 1/8/23 Giants (9-6-1) Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): Clinched playoff berth; 94% for winning division; 92% for first-round bye; 17% for winning Super Bowl Status: The Eagles fell to the Saints while playing without quarterback Jalen Hurts for a second consecutive week. Philadelphia can clinch the NFC East this week with a win or a Dallas loss. The Eagles can also earn the No. 1 seed with a win or a tie against the Giants, a Cowboys loss or tie at Washington or a 49ers loss or tie against Arizona. 2. San Francisco 49ers (12-4) Remaining Schedule 1/8/23 Cardinals (4-12) Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): Clinched playoff berth; won division; 7% for first-round bye; 11% for winning Super Bowl Status: San Francisco swapped spots with Minnesota by winning its ninth consecutive game. A victory at home against Arizona and a loss by the Eagles secures the No. 1 seed for the 49ers, regardless of what happens with the Cowboys.3. Minnesota Vikings (12-4) Remaining Schedule 1/8/23 @ Bears (3-13) Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): Clinched playoff berth; won division; eliminated from first-round bye; 2% for winning Super Bowl Status: Minnesota will look to bounce back in Chicago to close the regular season before hosting its first playoff game since January 2018, better known as the “Minneapolis Miracle” game. 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) Remaining Schedule 1/8/23 @ Falcons (6-10) Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): Clinched playoff berth; won division; eliminated from first-round bye; 0.8% for winning Super Bowl Status: Tampa Bay took care of Carolina Sunday, erasing a 21-10 deficit in the fourth quarter with 20 unanswered points, and clinched its second straight NFC South title.5. Dallas Cowboys (12-4) Remaining Schedule 1/8/23 @ Commanders (7-8-1) Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): Clinched playoff berth; 6% for winning division; 0.8% for first-round bye; 12% for winning Super Bowl Status: Dallas can clinch the NFC East with a win at Washington and an Eagles loss. The Cowboys would also need a 49ers loss or tie to get the No. 1 seed. 6. New York Giants (9-6-1) Remaining Schedule 1/8/23 @ Eagles (13-3) Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): Clinched playoff berth; eliminated from winning division; eliminated from first-round bye; 0.6% for winning Super Bowl Status: The Giants cruised past the Colts Sunday on their way to their first playoff berth since 2016.7. Seattle Seahawks (8-8) Remaining Schedule 1/8/23 Rams (5-11) Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 21% for making playoffs; eliminated from winning division; eliminated from first-round bye; less than 0.1% for winning Super Bowl Status: The Seahawks snapped their three-game losing streak with a convincing win over the Jets. Seattle can get the final Wild Card spot with a win against the Rams and a Green Bay loss or tie against Detroit. The Seahawks can also secure a berth with a tie against the Rams, a Packers-Lions tie and a Washington loss or tie against Dallas. 8. Detroit Lions (8-8) Remaining Schedule 1/8/23 @ Packers (8-8) Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 17% for making playoffs; eliminated from winning division; eliminated from first-round bye; 0.1% for winning Super Bowl Status: Similar to Seattle, Detroit needs some help to get into the postseason. The Lions can clinch the No. 7 seed three different ways: a win at Green Bay and a Seattle loss or tie against the Rams; a tie against the Packers and a Seahawks loss; a tie against Green Bay, a Rams-Seahawks tie and a Washington win against Dallas.9. Green Bay Packers (8-8) Remaining Schedule 1/8/23 Lions (8-8) Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 62% for making playoffs; eliminated from winning division; eliminated from first-round bye; 0.7% for winning Super Bowl Status: Unlike the aforementioned teams above, the Packers path to the postseason is simple: if they win Sunday, they’re in. 10. Washington Commanders (7-8-1) Remaining Schedule 1/8/23 Cowboys (12-4) Eliminated from making playoffs; eliminated from winning division; eliminated from first-round bye; eliminated from winning Super Bowl Status: The Commanders went from the No. 7 seed to eliminated from playoff contention with a 24-10 loss Sunday to Cleveland. Similar to the Giants, though, a win by Washington this week could disrupt the playoff picture.11. New Orleans Saints (7-9) Remaining Schedule 1/8/23 Panthers (6-10) Eliminated from making playoffs; eliminated from winning division; eliminated from first-round bye; eliminated from winning Super Bowl Status: The Saints were eliminated Sunday, but not before they handed the Eagles their third loss of the season. 12. Carolina Panthers (6-10) Remaining Schedule 1/8/23 @ Saints (7-9) Eliminated from making playoffs; eliminated from winning division; eliminated from first-round bye; eliminated from winning Super Bowl Status: The Panthers gave Tampa Bay a fight on Sunday but were the third NFC team over the weekend to be eliminated.13. Atlanta Falcons (6-10) Remaining Schedule 1/8/23 Buccaneers (8-8) Eliminated from making playoffs; eliminated from winning division; eliminated from first-round bye; eliminated from winning Super Bowl Status: Atlanta slipped past Arizona 20-19 on a 21-yard field goal from kicker Younghoe Koo as time expired. 14. Los Angeles Rams (5-11) Remaining Schedule 1/8/23 @ Seahawks (8-8) Eliminated from making playoffs; eliminated from winning division; eliminated from first-round bye; eliminated from winning Super Bowl Status: The Rams have a chance to end Seattle’s playoff hopes on Sunday with a win.15. Arizona Cardinals (4-12) Remaining Schedule 1/8/23 @ 49ers (12-4) Eliminated from making playoffs; eliminated from winning division; eliminated from first-round bye; eliminated from winning Super Bowl Status: The Cardinals dropped their sixth consecutive game with another tight loss. Arizona will try to break its streak — and San Francisco’s — with a win on Sunday. 16. Chicago Bears (3-13) Remaining Schedule 1/8/23 Vikings (12-4) Eliminated from making playoffs; eliminated from winning division; eliminated from first-round bye; eliminated from winning Super Bowl Status: The Bears struggled to contain Detroit on Sunday, allowing 41 points. Chicago will close its season with the first noon (CT) Sunday matchup against the Vikings at Soldier Field since 2015.

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