NFC Playoff Picture: Vikings Have Slim Hopes With 2 Games Left

EAGAN, Minn. — What a difference a week makes. Last week, Minnesota controlled its own playoff destiny. Yet after Sunday’s loss to the Rams and other Week 16 results, the Vikings are now 7-8 and need to win out plus get some help if they want to make the playoffs. According to analytics website FiveThirtyEight.com, the Vikings postseason chances now sit at just 13 percent. Minnesota will face a must-win scenario Sunday night at Lambeau Field if Philadelphia wins at Washington earlier in the day. Any combination of an Eagles win and Vikings loss over the next two weeks will eliminate Minnesota. “We’ve still got to win the last two games,” said Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr said Sunday. “We can’t really worry about scenarios and all that. “If we lose, we’re out, so we’ve got to go out and win these last two and let the chips fall where they may,” Barr added. A reminder that there are seven postseason berths in each conference and that only the No. 1 seed gets a first-round bye, a format the league adopted in 2020.Here’s the look at the NFC playoff picture — with standings, current playoff odds, and a status update — as we head into Week 17. 1. Green Bay Packers (12-3) Final 2 games 01/02 MIN (7-8) 01/09 @DET (2-12-1) Remaining foes’ combined records: 9-20-1 Opponents’ win percentage: .317 Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): Clinched NFC North title Status: The Packers have a step ahead in the march toward a potential No. 1 seed. Aaron Rodgers set Green Bay’s franchise record for touchdown passes in Week 16 to surpass Brett Favre’s 442, and also once again finds himself in the MVP discussion. With Border Battle No. 123 on tap, you know the Packers would relish the chance to eliminate the Vikings from playoff contention.2. Dallas Cowboys (11-4) Final 2 games 01/02 AZ (10-5) 01/09 @PHI (8-7) Remaining foes’ combined records: 18-12 Opponents’ win percentage: .600 Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): Clinched NFC East title Status: The Cowboys have won four straight games and made quite the statement Sunday night. Dallas dominated Washington in all three phases, putting up a 2021 league-high 56 points in a prime-time thrashing. The Cowboys are trying to claim the top seed, but they also look like a dangerous team as the playoffs near.3. Los Angeles Rams (10-4) Final 2 games 01/02 @BAL (8-7) 01/09 SF (8-7) Remaining foes’ combined records: 16-14 Opponents’ win percentage: .533 Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): Clinched playoff spot Status: The Rams weren’t at their best Sunday and were still able to win in more ways than one. Not only did Los Angeles clinch a playoff berth, but the Rams also moved ahead of the Cardinals for first place in the NFC West. The Rams can clinch the division Sunday with a win coupled with a Cardinals loss.4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-4) Final 2 games 01/02 @NYJ (4-11) 01/09 CAR (5-10) Remaining foes’ combined records: 9-21 Opponents’ win percentage: .300 Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): Clinched NFC South title Status: The Buccaneers clinched their first division title since 2007 on Sunday. The defending champs will again be a team to keep an eye on when the playoffs begin. Tampa Bay was without numerous key players in a win over Carolina, but the Bucs had depth players step up when needed. Tom Brady is in line to participate in the playoffs for the 19th time in his career (22 seasons).5. Arizona Cardinals (10-5) Final 2 games 01/02 @DAL (11-4) 01/09 SEA (5-10) Remaining foes’ combined records: 16-14 Opponents’ win percentage: .533 Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): Clinched playoff spot Status: Arizona’s losing streak is now at three games, and the Cardinals are trending in the wrong direction in late December. Perhaps the only cheer for Arizona at the moment is that it clinched a playoff spot over the weekend thanks to its 7-0 start. Once thought to be the league’s top team, the Cardinals might end up being in a Wild Card spot when all is said and done.6. San Francisco 49ers (8-7) Final 2 games 01/02 HOU (4-11) 01/09 @LAR (11-4) Remaining foes’ combined records: 15-15 Opponents’ win percentage: .500 Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 75 percent Status: The 49ers couldn’t hold a double-digit halftime lead and suffered a loss to the Titans on Thursday night. San Francisco is still in a good position to make the postseason, but the 49ers now find themselves in a fight for the No. 6 seed. The 49ers are looking to make the postseason for the first time since 2019 when they advanced to Super Bowl LIV. 7. Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) Final 2 games_ 01/02 @WASH (6-9) 01/09 DAL (11-4) Remaining foes’ combined records: 17-13 Opponents’ win percentage: .567 Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 68 percent Status: Philadelphia is officially red-hot, as the Eagles are in position for a playoff spot with two games to go. The Eagles, who have won six of eight, could take a big step toward cementing a postseason berth with over Washington. Philadelphia last made the postseason in 2019. 8. Minnesota Vikings (7-8) Final 2 games_ 01/02 @GB (12-3) 01/09 CHI (5-10) Remaining foes’ combined records: 17-13 Opponents’ win percentage: .567 Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 13 percent Status: The Vikings once again failed to get over .500 for the fourth time this season, and saw their playoff chances take a big hit. Minnesota now needs to win out and hope for some help. That won’t be easy given the Week 17 opponent — a Green Bay team that has plenty to play for. The Vikings are in danger of missing the playoffs for the second straight season for the first time in the Mike Zimmer era. 9. Atlanta Falcons (7-8) Final 2 games_ 01/02 @BUF (9-6) 01/09 NO (7-8) Remaining foes’ combined records: 16-14 Opponents’ win percentage: .533 Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 2 percent Status: The Falcons kept their faint playoff hopes alive with Sunday’s win over the Lions. Atlanta likely faces a must-win scenario again in Week 17 as it tries to get to .500 for the first time since Week 7. The Falcons have a tough test at the Bills, who are looking to stay in first place in the AFC East. 10. New Orleans Saints (7-8) Final 2 games_ 01/02 CAR (5-10) 01/09 @ATL (7-8) Remaining foes’ combined records: 12-18 Opponents’ win percentage: .400 Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 35 percent Status: New Orleans’ two-game win streak was halted on Monday night as the Saints — who started rookie Ian Book at quarterback — couldn’t keep pace in the NFC. New Orleans will look to stay alive in January as it closes out its season with a pair of division games. 11. Washington Football Team (6-9) Final 2 games_ 01/02 PHI (8-7) 01/09 @NYG (4-11) Remaining foes’ combined records: 12-18 Opponents’ win percentage: .400 Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 7 percent Status: Once in a Wild Card spot, Washington’s playoff hopes are all but gone after its third loss in a row. Washington was embarrassed with a 42-point road defeat by Dallas in Week 16 and now returns home to face a fellow division rival in Philadelphia. Washington will be eliminated if it loses one more game. 12. Carolina Panthers (5-10) Final 2 games_ 01/02 @NO (7-8) 01/09 @TB (11-4) Remaining foes’ combined records: 18-12 Opponents’ win percentage: .600 Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): Eliminated from playoff contention_ Status: Carolina will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season. 13. Chicago Bears (5-10) Final 2 games 01/02 NYG (4-11) 01/09 @MIN (7-8) Remaining foes’ combined records: 11-19 Opponents’ win percentage: .367 Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): Eliminated from playoff contention_ Status: The Bears picked up their fifth win of the season Sunday as they rallied to beat the Seahawks. Chicago was eliminated from the playoffs in Week 15. 14. Seattle Seahawks (5-10) Final 2 games 01/02 DET (2-12-1) 01/09 @AZ (10-5) Remaining foes’ combined records: 12-17-1 Opponents’ win percentage: .417 Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): Eliminated from playoff contention_ Status: It’s official: The Seahawks will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and for just the second time in the past nine seasons. 15. New York Giants (4-11) Final 2 games 01/02 @CHI (5-10) 01/09 WASH (6-9) Remaining foes’ combined records: 11-19 Opponents’ win percentage: .367 Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): Eliminated from playoff contention_ Status: The Giants have lost four straight games, all of them by double digits. 16. Detroit Lions (2-12-1) Final 2 games 01/02 @SEA (5-10) 01/09 GB (12-3) Remaining foes’ combined records: 17-13 Opponents’ win percentage: .567 Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): Eliminated from playoff contention_ Status: Detroit is currently in line for the No. 2 overall pick, a spot it last selected at in 2010.

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