EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings bounced back from consecutive losses to defeat the Dolphins 41-17 in Week 15.
Minnesota (7-6-1) remains in control of its postseason destiny with two games left in the regular season.
The Vikings will visit the Lions (5-9) in Detroit at noon (CT) Sunday.
Minnesota enters Week 16 as the No. 6 seed in the NFC Playoffs.
1. New Orleans Saints (12-2)
12/23 PIT (8-5-1)
12/30 CAR (6-8)
Remaining foes' combined records: (14-13-1)
Opponents' win percentage: .518
Status: The Saints took a major step toward the No. 1 overall seed with a tight victory over the Panthers Monday, a night after the Rams fell at home to the Eagles. New Orleans has the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Rams, meaning the Saints can clinch the top spot with one more win or one more loss by Los Angeles.
2. Los Angeles Rams (11-3)
12/23 @ AZ (3-11)
12/30 SF (4-10)
Remaining foes' combined records: (7-21)
Opponents' win percentage: .250
Status: The Rams have lost consecutive games for the first time under Sean McVay and first time since dropping the final seven of the 2016 season. In addition to not doing themselves any favors toward the No. 1 seed, they also didn't help the Vikings by beating the Bears or the Eagles.
3. Chicago Bears (10-4)
12/23 @ SF (4-10)
12/30 @ MIN (7-6-1)
Remaining foes' combined records: (11-16-1)
Opponents' win percentage: .411
Status: The Bears clinched the NFC North over the weekend and eliminated the Packers from postseason contention in one swoop. Chicago is 3-3 in road games this season but could still make a push for the No. 2 seed. Regardless, the Bears will have at least one home playoff game.
4. Dallas Cowboys (8-6)
12/23 TB (5-9)
12/30 @ NYG (5-9)
Remaining foes' combined records: (10-18)
Opponents' win percentage: .357
Status: The Cowboys had their five-game winning streak come to an end with a 23-0 loss to the Colts on Sunday but can clinch the NFC East with a win or with losses by the Eagles and Redskins.
5. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
12/23 KC (11-3)
12/30 AZ (3-11)
Remaining foes' combined records: (14-14)
Opponents' win percentage: .500
Status: Seattle was upset by San Francisco but need just one more win to clinch a playoff spot. The Seahawks are highly likely to secure a spot, but a late-season swoon could cause them to miss the playoffs.
6. Minnesota Vikings (7-6-1)
12/23 @ DET (5-9)
12/30 CHI (10-4)
Remaining foes' combined records: (15-13)
Opponents' win percentage: .536
Status: Sunday will be the last road test of the regular season for the Vikings, who will have to make hay on the road if they make the playoffs. According to analytics site
**FiveThirtyEight.com**, Minnesota has a 58-percent chance of making the postseason at the moment. That likelihood jumps to 81 percent with a win and drops to 29 percent with a loss.
7. Philadelphia Eagles (7-7)
12/23 HOU (10-4)
12/30 @ WAS (7-7)
Remaining foes' combined records: (17-11)
Opponents' win percentage: .607
Status: Nick Foles led the Eagles to an upset of the Rams. Philadelphia will try to knock down another division leader against Houston, which is currently the No. 2 seed in the AFC.
8. Washington Redskins (7-7)
12/22 @ TEN (8-6)
12/30 PHI (7-7)
Remaining foes' combined records: (15-13)
Opponents' win percentage: .536
Status: The Redskins have an 11-percent chance of making the playoffs and will face a Titans squad that has a 46-percent likelihood of making a return trip to the postseason.
9. Carolina Panthers (6-8)
12/23 ATL (5-9)
12/30 @ NO (12-2)
Remaining foes' combined records: (17-11)
Opponents' win percentage: .607
Status: The Panthers will try to break a six-game losing streak against a Falcons squad that is already eliminated.
10. Green Bay Packers (5-8-1)
12/23 @ NYJ (4-10)
12/30 DET (5-9)
Remaining foes' combined records: (9-19)
Opponents' win percentage: .321
Status: The Packers are guaranteed a losing season for the second consecutive year. It's the first time that Green Bay has finished sub-.500 in back-to-back seasons since 1990-91.
11. Atlanta Falcons (5-9)
12/23 @ CAR (6-8)
12/30 @ TB (5-9)
Remaining foes' combined records: (11-17)
Opponents' win percentage: .393
Status: The Falcons had a bit of a get-well game against the Cardinals on Sunday, but it was too little too late in a frustrating season.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-9)
12/23 @ DAL (8-6)
12/30 ATL (5-9)
Remaining foes' combined records: (13-15)
Opponents' win percentage: .464
Status: The Buccaneers could finish anywhere from second-through-fourth in the NFC South. Whichever team does come in second place in the division will win a trip to Minnesota to face the Vikings in 2019.
13. New York Giants (5-8)
12/23 @ IND (8-6)
12/30 DAL (8-6)
Remaining foes' combined records: (16-12)
Opponents' win percentage: .571
Status: The Giants have the opportunity to affect the AFC and NFC playoffs in the final two weeks of the season.
14. Detroit Lions (5-9)
12/23 MIN (7-6-1)
12/30 @ GB (5-8-1)
Remaining foes' combined records: (12-14-2)
Opponents' win percentage: .446
Status: The Lions have lost six of eight games since opening the season 3-3.
15. San Francisco 49ers (4-10)
12/23 CHI (10-4)
12/30 @ LAR (11-3)
Remaining foes' combined records: (21-7)
Opponents' win percentage: .750
Status: The 49ers placed a speedbump in the Seahawks path to the postseason and now can affect which team earns the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
16. Arizona Cardinals (3-11)
12/23 LAR (11-3)
12/30 @ SEA (8-6)
Remaining foes' combined records: (19-9)
Opponents' win percentage: .679
Status: The Cardinals would be the first team on the clock if the 2019 NFL Draft was this week. Arizona is just ahead of Oakland, San Francisco, the New York Jets and Jacksonville.
