EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. —The Vikings will head south literally the next two weeks and aim to prevent a promising 2017 from going that direction figuratively.
Minnesota (9-2) built on its lead in the NFC North with a 30-23 win over Detroit (6-5) on Thanksgiving.
The Vikings players were able to refuel and rest for the final five games of the season, a stretch that starts with consecutive trips to Atlanta (7-4) and Carolina (8-3) to face the past two NFC Champions.
"We have a good little stretch coming up," running back Jerick McKinnon said. "We have to go to Atlanta and to Carolina, and both those teams are really good, so we've got our work cut out for us."
Vikings players used Sunday's opening to take a look around the NFL* *but were careful not to peer too far ahead.
"We haven't really talked about it," said Brian Robison, the longest-tenured Viking. "I think the thing that is great about this football team is we don't really concentrate on what could be, we don't concentrate on what has happened. We concentrate on the now, and for us, that's the task at-hand; whatever we're facing that week, that's what it's about.
"It's not about where we could be at the end of the week. It's not about where we've been in the past," Robison added. "It's about making sure we're focused on Atlanta and making sure we can win that ball game. We'll see where we are at the end of the year. The only way we can be where we want to be at the end of the year is by handling each task as it comes to us."
The Vikings have won seven consecutive games and are 4-1 on the road in 2017. The Falcons have won three in a row and are 3-2 inside their new home, Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Minnesota already has exceeded its win total from 2016 when the Vikings started 5-0 before finishing 8-8. Atlanta opened 2015 with a 5-0 mark before ending 8-8 and surging ahead to an 11-5 mark and appearance in Super Bowl LI last season.
Vikings players aren't drawing a parallel to the Falcons trajectory but are keeping in mind the importance of finishing games one at a time.
"I think it helped us focus this year and helps us realize it doesn't matter how many games you win, it can go south real quick if you don't stay focused," Robison said. "So for us, it's just about staying focused right now, making sure we do everything we can to complete the task at-hand, which for us this week, is Atlanta."
Robison said he wasn't even aware that the Panthers game is lurking on the other side of this Sunday's game.
Head Coach Mike Zimmer has stated multiple times that a golfer can't birdie them all until he or she birdies the first hole.
As the Vikings prepare for the current generation of "Dirty Birds," the NFC playoff picture has 12 teams that have records of 5-6 or better.
If the playoffs started today, Philadelphia (10-1) would have home-field advantage and would receive a first-round bye. Minnesota also would receive a first-round bye and be in line to host a Divisional game.
The Los Angeles Rams (8-3) would win the NFC West and be the No. 3 seed, and New Orleans (8-3) would win the NFC South and be the No. 4 seed after losing in Los Angeles Sunday. The Saints defeated the Panthers earlier this season, and the teams will meet again this week.
Carolina (8-3) would be the No. 5 seed, and Atlanta would nab the final spot.
Seattle (7-4), Detroit (6-5), Green Bay (5-6), Dallas (5-6), Washington (5-6) and Arizona (5-6) also are still in varying degrees of contention for a division title and/or playoff berth.
Tampa Bay (4-7) and Chicago (3-8) have not been mathematically eliminated from the postseason but would need a considerable amount of help beyond winning each of their five remaining games. The New York Giants (2-9) and San Francisco 49ers (1-10) were eliminated Sunday.
Below are the remaining schedules for the 12 NFC teams that are 5-6 or better, along with records of remaining opponents:
1. Philadelphia Eagles (10-1)
12/3 @ SEA (7-4)
12/10 @ LAR (8-3)
12/17 @ NYG (2-9)
12/25 OAK (5-6)
12/31 DAL (5-6)
Remaining foes' combined records: 27-28
2. Minnesota Vikings (9-2)
12/3 @ ATL (7-4)
12/10 @ CAR (8-3)
12/17 CIN (5-6)
12/23 @ GB (5-6)
12/31 CHI (3-8)
Remaining foes' combined records: 28-27
3. Los Angeles Rams (8-3)
12/3 @ AZ (5-6)
12/10 PHI (10-1)
12/17 @ SEA (7-4)
12/24 @ TEN (7-4)
12/31 SF (1-10)
Remaining foes' combined records: 30-25
4. New Orleans (8-3)
12/3 CAR (8-3)
12/7 @ ATL (7-4)
12/17 NYJ (4-7)
12/24 ATL (7-4)
12/31 @ TB (4-7)
Remaining foes' combined records: 30-25
5. Carolina Panthers (8-3)
12/3 @ NO (8-3)
12/10 MIN (9-2)
12/17 GB (5-6)
12/24 TB (4-7)
12/31 @ ATL (7-4)
Remaining foes' combined records: 33-22
6. Atlanta Falcons (7-4)
12/3 MIN (9-2)
12/7 NO (8-3)
12/18 @ TB (4-7)
12/24 @NO (8-3)
12/31 CAR (8-3)
Remaining foes' combined records: 37-18
7. Seattle Seahawks (7-4)
12/3 PHI (10-1)
12/10 @ JAX (7-4)
12/17 LAR (8-3)
12/24 @ DAL (5-6)
12/31 AZ (5-6)
Remaining foes' combined records: 35-20
8. Detroit Lions (6-5)
12/3 @ BAL (5-5)*
12/10 @ TB (4-7)
12/16 CHI (3-8)
12/24 @ CIN (5-6)
12/31 GB (5-6)
Remaining foes' combined records: 22-32
*Baltimore plays Houston Monday
9. Green Bay Packers (5-6)
12/3 TB (4-7)
12/10 @ CLE (0-11)
12/17 @ CAR (8-3)
12/23 MIN (9-2)
12/31 @ DET (6-5)
Remaining foes' combined records: 27-28
10. Dallas Cowboys (5-6)
11/30 WAS (5-6)
12/10 @ NYG (2-9)
12/17 @ OAK (5-6)
12/24 SEA (7-4)
12/31 @ PHI (10-1)
Remaining foes' combined records: 29-26
11. Washington Redskins (5-6)
11/30 @ DAL (5-6)
12/10 @ LAC (5-6)
12/17 AZ (5-6)
12/24 DEN (3-8)
12/31 @NYG (2-9)
Remaining foes' combined records: 20-35
12. Arizona Cardinals (5-6)
12/3 LAR (8-3)
12/10 TEN (7-4)
12/17 @ WAS (5-6)
12/24 NYG (2-9)
12/31 @ SEA (7-4)
Remaining foes' combined records: 29-26
