Recreation consequence: The Vikings got here up brief in opposition to the Lions within the common season finale on Sunday, shedding out on the highest seed within the NFC over the 31-9 loss. Minnesota had a possibility to win the NFC North and safe a first-round bye in addition to home-field benefit within the postseason, however these spoils will go to the Lions.
As a substitute, the Vikings drop to the fifth seed and must journey within the wild card spherical. They’re set to face the Los Angeles Rams, winners of the NFC West, on Monday, Jan. 13. The Lions will wait and face the lowest-remaining seed within the divisional spherical.
The Minnesota Vikings boast the second-best document within the NFL, however they’re nonetheless preventing for playoff seeding going into the ultimate weekend of the common season. They’re set to face the rival Detroit Lions, additionally at 14-2 on the 12 months, within the closing recreation of Week 18 to find out the highest seed and winner of the NFC North.
That recreation is about for Sunday night at 8:20 p.m. ET, the ultimate Sunday Night time Soccer recreation of the season, in Detroit. The Lions took the primary assembly between the 2 groups earlier within the 12 months in Minnesota. The Lions are 2.5-point favorites for the sport, per FanDuel Sportsbook.
Minnesota Vikings NFC North clinching eventualities
It’s an actual easy scenario for the Vikings: they’re tied with the Lions and their earlier assembly doesn’t issue into the equation as a result of the winner of this recreation might be a recreation away from their rival. The Vikings can be 15-2 with a win, locking down home-field benefit and the highest seed within the postseason because the winners of the NFC North.
That will additionally give the Vikings a bye week, whereas the Lions would fall to the fifth seed. Meaning the loser can be on the street within the wild card spherical, touring to face the No. 4 seed, which may very well be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, or Los Angeles Rams. The winner would face the bottom remaining seed within the divisional spherical.
Vikings clinch NFC North, a first-round bye, and home-field benefit with:
Vikings eradicated from NFC North competition, clinching fifth seed with:
NFC standings getting into Week 18
1. x-Detroit Lions (14-2, win over MIN)
2. y-Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
3. y-Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
5. x-Minnesota Vikings (14-2, loss to DET)
6. x-Washington Commanders (11-5, 8-3 NFC)
7. x-Inexperienced Bay Packers (11-5, 6-5 NFC)
8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7) — eradicated
9. Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
10. Dallas Cowboys (7-9, 5-6 NFC) — eradicated
11. Arizona Cardinals (7-9, 3-8 NFC) — eradicated
12. San Francisco 49ers (6-9, win over DAL) — eradicated
13. New Orleans Saints (5-11) — eradicated
14. Chicago Bears (4-11, win over CAR) — eradicated
15. Carolina Panthers (4-12, loss to CHI) — eradicated
16. New York Giants (3-13) — eradicated
Groups with an asterisk (*) have been eradicated from divisional competition
Groups with an (x) have clinched a playoff spot
Groups with a (y) have clinched their division
Groups with a (z) have clinched the one seed, home-field benefit, and a first-round bye
