EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings are still on the outside of the NFC playoff picture and are among five teams jumbled together at 6-7.
But Minnesota also moved up to the No. 8 spot after Week 14 was said and done.
Now it's time for a four-game sprint that should feature plenty of drama and intrigue.
"Everything is right there in front of us," said Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson. "We just have to go out and win the games that are on our schedule."
The Vikings are back in action on M_onday Night Football_ against the Bears. Kickoff is at 7:15 p.m. (CT) from Soldier Field in Chicago.
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.
Look back at photos over the course of time featuring games between the Vikings and the Bears.















































































































An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.

An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.

An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.

An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.

An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.

An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.

An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.

An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.

An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.

An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.

An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.

An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.

An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.

An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.

An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.

An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.

An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.

An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.

An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.

An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.

An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.

An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.

An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.

An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.

An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.

An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.

An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.

An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.

An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.

An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.

An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.

An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.

An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.

An image from September 29, 2019 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 6-16.

An image from September 29, 2019 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 6-16.

An image from September 29, 2019 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 6-16.

An image from September 29, 2019 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 6-16.

An image from September 29, 2019 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 6-16.

An image from September 29, 2019 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 6-16.

An image from September 29, 2019 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 6-16.

2020 - Monday Night Football

2020 - Monday Night Football

2020 - Monday Night Football

An image from December 20, 2020 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 27-33.

2020 - Monday Night Football

2020 - Monday Night Football

2020 - Monday Night Football

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2021 - Monday Night Football

2021 - Monday Night Football

2021 - Monday Night Football

2021 - Monday Night Football

2021 - Monday Night Football

2021 - Monday Night Football

2021 - Monday Night Football

2021 - Monday Night Football

2021 - Monday Night Football

2021 - Monday Night Football

2021 - Monday Night Football
Here's the look at the NFC playoff picture — with standings, current playoff odds, and a status update — as we head into Week 15.
1. Green Bay Packers (10-3)
Next 3 weeks
12/19 @BAL (8-5)
12/25 CLE (7-6)
01/02 MIN (6-7)
Remaining foes' combined records: 23-28-1
Opponents' win percentage: .452
Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 99-plus percent
Status: There is a change at the top, as the Packers are now the NFC's No. 1 seed after Green Bay won and Arizona lost in Week 14. The Packers, who moved into the top spot by virtue of their head-to-head win over the Cardinals, can clinch the NFC North with a win Sunday in Baltimore.
View the best photos from the Vikings game against the Steelers in Week 14 on Thursday Night Football at U.S. Bank Stadium, shot by Vikings seasonal photographers, Harrison Barden and Alli Rusco.































































































































2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-3)
Next 3 weeks
12/19 NO (6-7)
12/26 @CAR (6-7)
01/02 @NYJ (3-10)
Remaining foes' combined records: 19-33
Opponents' win percentage: .365
Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 99-plus percent
Status: The Buccaneers survived a late Bills rally to win in overtime and also moved up a spot in the NFC standings. As it stands now, Tampa Bay would host the third and final NFC Wild Card team … which could end up being Minnesota.
View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of Jan. 5, 2022.

1 K Greg Joseph

1 K Greg Joseph

3 P Jordan Berry

16 P Jordan Berry

7 CB Patrick Peterson

7 CB Patrick Peterson

8 QB Kirk Cousins

8 QB Kirk Cousins

11 QB Kellen Mond

11 QB Kellen Mond

12 WR Dede Westbrook

12 WR Dede Westbrook

14 QB Sean Mannion

14 QB Sean Mannion

15 WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette

15 WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette

17 WR K.J. Osborn

17 WR K.J. Osborn

18 WR Justin Jefferson

18 WR Justin Jefferson

20 CB Harrison Hand

20 CB Harrison Hand

22 S Harrison Smith

22 S Harrison Smith

23 S Xavier Woods

23 S Xavier Woods

24 CB Mackensie Alexander

24 CB Mackensie Alexander

2 RB Alexander Mattison

2 RB Alexander Mattison

26 RB Kene Nwangwu

26 RB Kene Nwangwu

3 CB Cameron Dantzler

27 CB Cameron Dantzler

29 CB Kris Boyd

29 CB Kris Boyd

30 FB C.J. Ham

30 FB C.J. Ham

31 RB Wayne Gallman

31 RB Wayne Gallman

4 RB Dalvin Cook

33 RB Dalvin Cook

35 TE Luke Stocker

35 TE Luke Stocker

41 LB Chazz Surratt

41 LB Chazz Surratt

42 LS Andrew DePaola

42 LS Andrew DePaola

44 S Josh Metellus

44 S Josh Metellus

45 LB Troy Dye

45 LB Troy Dye

48 LB Blake Lynch

48 LB Blake Lynch

52 G Wyatt Davis

52 G Wyatt Davis

55 LB Anthony Barr

55 LB Anthony Barr

56 C Garrett Bradbury

56 C Garett Bradbury

58 DT Michael Pierce

58 DT Michael Pierce

59 LB Nick Vigil

59 LB Nick Vigil

64 T Blake Brandel

64 T Blake Brandel

69 T Rashod Hill

69 T Rashod Hill

74 G Olisaemeka Udoh

74 G Olisaemeka Udoh

75 T Brian O'Neill

75 T Brian O'Neill

78 G Dakota Dozier

78 G Dakota Dozier

83 TE Tyler Conklin

83 TE Tyler Conklin

85 WR Dan Chisena

85 WR Dan Chisena

90 DT Sheldon Richardson

90 DT Sheldon Richardson

92 DT James Lynch

92 DT James Lynch

91 OLB Patrick Jones II

91 DE Patrick Jones II

94 DT Dalvin Tomlinson

94 DT Dalvin Tomlinson

96 DT Armon Watts

96 DT Armon Watts

98 DE D.J. Wonnum

98 DE D.J. Wonnum
3. Arizona Cardinals (10-3)
Next 3 weeks
12/19 @DET (1-11-1)
12/25 IND (7-6)
01/02 @DAL (9-4)
Remaining foes' combined records: 22-29-1
Opponents' win percentage: .433
Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 99-plus percent
Status: The Cardinals had a letdown on Monday night, and it cost them in a big way. Arizona is no longer the conference's top seed and will need some help down the stretch if it wants to reclaim that spot. After starting 7-0, the Cardinals have split their past six games.