EAGAN, Minn. — The NFC Playoffs don't start this weekend.
If they did, the Vikings would be the No. 6 seed and in line for a return trip to face the Bears at Soldier Field.
Minnesota's 25-20 loss to Chicago on Sunday gave the Bears a 1.5-game lead in the NFC North.
Everyone in the division has six games remaining, beginning Thursday when the Bears (7-3) visit the Lions (4-6) for the first game of an NFL tripleheader.
The Vikings (5-4-1) will renew their Border Battle rivalry with the Packers (4-5-1) on NBC's Sunday Night Football.
Minnesota's remaining six opponents are a combined 32-27-1; Green Bay's are a combined 25-34-1.
Here's a look at the NFC standings, along with the remaining schedules, win percentages of upcoming opponents and a status update.
1. Los Angeles Rams (10-1)
11/25 BYE WEEK
12/2 @ DET (4-6)
12/9 @ CHI (7-3)
12/16 PHI (4-6)
12/23 @ AZ (2-8)
12/30 SF (2-8)
Remaining foes' combined records: (19-31)
Opponents' win percentage: .380
Status: The Rams can clinch the NFC West with one more win or one more loss by the Seahawks.
2. New Orleans Saints (9-1)
11/22 ATL (4-6)
11/29 @ DAL (5-5)
12/9 @ TB (3-7)
12/17 @ CAR (6-4)
12/23 PIT (7-2-1)
12/30 CAR (6-4)
Remaining foes' combined records: (31-28-1)
Opponents' win percentage: .525
Status: The Saints have the head-to-head tiebreaker if they finish with the same record as the Rams.
3. Chicago Bears (7-3)
11/22 @ DET (4-6)
12/2 @ NYG (3-7)
12/9 LAR (10-1)
12/16 GB (4-5-1)
12/23 @ SF (2-8)
12/30 @ MIN (5-4-1)
Remaining foes' combined records: (28-31-2)
Opponents' win percentage: .483
Status: The Bears have the inside track for their first NFC North title since 2010 but technically could still be passed by anyone in the division.
4. Washington Redskins (6-4)
11/22 @ DAL (5-5)
12/3 @ PHI (4-6)
12/9 NYG (3-7)
12/16 @ JAX (3-7)
12/22 @ TEN (5-5)
12/30 PHI (4-6)
Remaining foes' combined records: (24-36)
Opponents' win percentage: .400
Status: Based only on win percentage, the Redskins have the second-easiest remaining slate but must bounce back from the loss of QB Alex Smith. Colt McCoy replaced Smith last week, and the Redskins have added Mark Sanchez.
5. Carolina Panthers (6-4)
11/25 SEA (5-5)
12/2 @ TB (3-7)
12/9 @ CLE (3-6-1)
12/17 NO (9-1)
12/23 ATL (4-6)
12/30 @ NO (9-1)
Remaining foes' combined records: (33-26-1)
Opponents' win percentage: .558
Status: The Panthers have the toughest road of any team currently in the field but also have two matchups with the Saints in the final three weeks. Carolina still needs a little more help to try to claim the division, though.
6. Minnesota Vikings (5-4-1)
11/25 GB (4-5-1)
12/2 @ NE (7-3)
12/10 @ SEA (5-5)
12/16 MIA (5-5)
12/23 @ DET (4-6)
12/30 CHI (7-3)
Remaining foes' combined records: (32-27-1)
Opponents' win percentage: .542
Status: It won't be easy, but what did you expect? It's the NFC North. Minnesota, however, can control its own destiny for a Wild Card berth.
7. Seattle Seahawks (5-5)
11/25 @ CAR (6-4)
12/2 SF (2-8)
12/10 MIN (5-4-1)
12/16 @ SF (2-8)
12/23 KC (9-2)
12/30 AZ (2-8)
Remaining foes' combined records: (26-34)
Opponents' win percentage: .433
Status: The Seahawks have three division games remaining, but with the Rams hard to catch, their bid for a Wild Card spot could come down to Sunday against the Panthers and when they host the Vikings Dec. 10 on Monday Night Football.
8. Dallas Cowboys (5-5)
11/22 WAS (6-4)
11/29 NO (9-1)
12/9 PHI (4-6)
12/16 @ IND (5-5)
12/23 TB (3-7)
12/30 @ NYG (3-7)
Remaining foes' combined records: (30-30)
Opponents' win percentage: .500
Status: The Cowboys, who lost to the Redskins by three on Oct. 21, are trending up and can do themselves plenty of favors with back-to-back Thursday games.
9. Green Bay Packers (4-5-1)
11/25 @ MIN (5-4-1)
12/2 AZ (2-8)
12/9 ATL (4-6)
12/16 @ CHI (7-3)
12/23 @ NYJ (3-7)
12/30 DET (4-6)
Remaining foes' combined records: (25-34-1)
Opponents' win percentage: .425
Status: The Packers can move into second in the NFC North by beating the Vikings and set themselves up for a late-season surge.
10. Atlanta Falcons (4-6)
11/22 @ NO (9-1)
12/2 BAL (5-5)
12/9 @ GB (4-5-1)
12/16 AZ (2-8)
12/23 @ CAR (6-4)
12/30 @ TB (3-7)
Remaining foes' combined records: (29-30-1)
Opponents' win percentage: .492
Status: There's not much chance to dethrone the Saints from the division lead, but the Falcons are within striking distance for a playoff spot.
11. Detroit Lions (4-6)
11/22 CHI (7-3)
12/2 LAR (10-1)
12/9 @ AZ (2-8)
12/16 @ BUF (3-7)
12/23 MIN (5-4-1)
12/30 @ GB (4-5-1)
Remaining foes' combined records: (31-28-2)
Opponents' win percentage: .533
Status: The Lions bounced back from consecutive division losses to the Vikings and Bears to edge out the Panthers last week. Has Detroit fixed the troubles it experienced against Chicago just nine days ago?
12. Philadelphia Eagles (4-6)
11/25 NYG (3-7)
12/3 WAS (6-4)
12/9 @ DAL (5-5)
12/16 @ LAR (10-1)
12/23 HOU (7-3)
12/30 @ WAS (6-4)
Remaining foes' combined records: (37-24)
Opponents' win percentage: .607
Status: On paper, that appears to be a tough December but one filled with opportunity in an NFC East division that is the only one in the conference without a frontrunner.
13. New York Giants (3-7)
11/25 @ PHI (4-6)
12/2 CHI (7-3)
12/9 @ WAS (6-4)
12/16 TEN (5-5)
12/23 @ IND (5-5)
12/30 DAL (5-5)
Remaining foes' combined records: (32-28)
Opponents' win percentage: .533
Status: After dropping five in a row, the Giants have claimed the past two and have three division games remaining. Their shot at the division is mathematically possible.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-7)
11/25 SF (2-8)
12/2 CAR (6-4)
12/9 NO (9-1)
12/16 @ BAL (5-5)
12/23 @ DAL (5-5)
12/30 ATL (4-6)
Remaining foes' combined records: (31-29)
Opponents' win percentage: .517
Status: The Bucs beat the Saints and Eagles to start the season but have lost seven of eight.
15. Arizona Cardinals (2-8)
11/25 @LAC (7-3)
12/2 @ GB (4-5-1)
12/9 DET (4-6)
12/16 @ ATL (4-6)
12/23 LAR (10-1)
12/30 @ SEA (5-5)
Remaining foes' combined records: (34-26-1)
Opponents' win percentage: .575
Status: The Cardinals don't have another matchup with the 49ers, the source of both wins in 2018.
16. San Francisco 49ers (2-8)
11/25 @ TB (3-7)
12/2 @ SEA (5-5)
12/9 DEN (4-6)
12/16 SEA (5-5)
12/23 CHI (7-3)
12/30 @ LAR (10-1)
Remaining foes' combined records: (34-27)
Opponents' win percentage: .557
Status: Injuries have hit hard, but the remaining schedule doesn't seem to care.
