EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings have started a season 11-2 or better for the eighth time in franchise history and first instance since 2009.
This year's squad wants to finish the regular season stronger than that group, which went 1-2 in its final three of a 16-game schedule that included an overtime loss at the Bears. The late-season swoon relegated the Vikings to the No. 2 seed, which was still good enough for a bye.
Now, the league plays 17 regular-season games and has added a seventh playoff team for each conference, so only the No. 1 seed from each conference gets a bye.
Minnesota will try to stay within striking distance of the NFC North title when hosting Chicago (4-9) in Week 15 on Monday Night Football.
One more Vikings win or tie at any point during the final four games will secure a playoff berth, regardless of anything else happening, but Minnesota has put itself in position to play for more than that — if the Vikings get some help from someone else against the Lions (12-1) and are able to continue winning games.
The top four seeds in the AFC and NFC go to division winners. If the season ended today, the Vikings would be the No. 5 seed in the NFC Playoffs (this is the same status the team had last week when we fired up this series).
Fifteen of the 32 NFL teams are at 7-6 or better with four weeks remaining in the regular season.
Seven squads have officially been eliminated from making the playoffs. The Patriots (3-10), Jaguars (3-10), Raiders (2-11) and Giants (2-11) were eliminated before Week 14. The Browns (3-10), Jets (3-10) and Titans (3-10) joined the group jockeying for position in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Since the NFL expanded the playoffs in 2020, No. 2 seeds now play on Super Wild Card Weekend.
If the postseason started today, Philadelphia would host Washington in the 2-7 matchup, Seattle would host Green Bay in the 3-6, and Tampa Bay would host Minnesota in the 4-5.
Here's a look at the current NFC playoff picture — with conference standings and a status update — as we head into Week 15.
Already Punched a Ticket
1. Detroit Lions (12-1)
Remaining Schedule
12/15 Bills (10-3)
12/22 @ Bears (4-9)
12/30 @ 49ers (6-7)
1/5/25 Vikings (11-2)
Status: Detroit has won 11 consecutive games, including the past two against division foes Chicago and Green Bay. The Lions clinched their playoff berth by opening Week 14 with a 34-31 win over the Packers and remained in the driver's seat for the No. 1 overall seed. It will be interesting to see how the Bills rebound from a 44-42 loss at the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (11-2)
Remaining Schedule
12/15 Steelers (10-3)
12/22 @ Commanders (8-5)
12/29 Cowboys (5-8)
1/5/25 Giants (2-11)
Status: Although the Eagles enter Week 15 with the same record as the Vikings, Philadelphia already clinched a playoff spot thanks to its win and losses by the Falcons and Cardinals. Philadelphia became the eighth NFL team to win nine consecutive games after a bye week (byes were introduced in 1990), per Elias Sports.
Can clinch division with …
An Eagles win + Commanders loss or tie
An Eagles tie + Commanders loss
Current Division Leaders
3. Seattle Seahawks (8-5)
Remaining Schedule
12/15 Packers (9-4)
12/22 Vikings (11-2)
12/26 @ Bears (4-9)
1/5/25 @ Rams (7-6)
Status: The Seahawks have joined the Eagles in finding success after a bye. Seattle's Week 10 break has been followed by a 4-0 record built on a stingier defense that has allowed 15.5 points per game. Seattle allowed 29.7 per contest in its six games that preceded the bye. A win against Green Bay could provide an important tiebreaker should the Seahawks not claim the West.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)
Remaining Schedule
12/15 @ Chargers (8-5)
12/22 @ Cowboys (5-8)
12/29 Panthers (3-10)
1/5/25 Saints (5-8)
Status: According to Next Gen Stats, the Bucs now have a 72-percent change to make the playoffs after passing the Falcons for the NFC South lead, despite Atlanta sweeping Tampa Bay. The Bucs can't finish with the same record as the Falcons because of that tiebreaker.
Current Wild Card Teams
5. Minnesota Vikings (11-2)
Remaining Schedule
12/16 Bears (4-9)
12/22 @ Seahawks (8-5)
12/29 Packers (9-4)
1/5/25 @ Lions (12-1)
Status: The Vikings outscored the Falcons 21-0 in the final 15 minutes of Sunday's game to extend their winning streak to six games. This is the second time in franchise history for Minnesota to have two win streaks of at least five games in one season (1998 featured seven- and eight-game streaks on the way to a 15-1 record.
In the playoffs with…
A Vikings win or tie
A Rams loss or tie (they play Thursday at San Francisco)
A Seahawks loss or tie (they host the Packers on Sunday Night Football)
The New York Times calculates the chance of Minnesota making the playoffs at greater than 99 percent.
6. Green Bay Packers (9-4)
Remaining Schedule
12/15 @ Seahawks (8-5)
12/23 Saints (5-8)
12/29 @ Vikings (11-2)
1/5/25 Bears (4-9)
Status: The pitfall for the Packers last week was allowing the Lions to go 4-for-5 on fourth downs, a run of success that included two touchdowns by Detroit. Green Bay entered the game with opponents succeeding at a 13-for-22 clip on fourth downs.
In the playoffs with …
A Packers win + Falcons loss or tie + a 49ers and Rams tie
7. Washington Commanders (8-5)
Remaining Schedule
12/15 @ Saints (5-8)
12/22 Eagles (11-2)
12/28 (TBD) Falcons (6-7)
1/5/25 @ Cowboys (5-8)
Status: Washington was one of four 8-5 teams among the six total who had Week 14 byes. The Commanders stopped a three-game skid with a win over the Titans to open December but need some help to challenge the Eagles in the NFC East.
In the Hunt
8. Los Angeles Rams (7-6)
Remaining Schedule
12/12 @ 49ers (6-7)
12/22 @ Jets (3-10)
12/28 (TBD) Cardinals (6-7)
1/5/25 Seahawks (8-5)
Status: The Rams had not scored more than 31 in a game this season until exploding for 44 against the Bills. The 86 points between the teams are the most in an NFL game all-time when neither team committed a turnover. The NFC West could be in for a wild finish.
9. Atlanta Falcons (6-7)
Remaining Schedule
12/16 @ Raiders (2-11)
12/22 Giants (2-11)
12/28 (TBD) @ Commanders (8-5)
1/5/25 Panthers (3-10)
Status: The Falcons racked up 496 yards of offense but only reached the end zone two times in their fourth consecutive loss, which dropped them to second in the NFC South. The schedule softens a bit for Atlanta during the final stretch.
10. Arizona Cardinals (6-7)
Remaining Schedule
12/15 Patriots (3-10)
12/22 @ Panthers (3-10)
12/28 @ Rams (7-6)
1/5/25 49ers (6-7)
Status: The Cardinals entered their Week 11 bye at 6-4 and leading the division, but three consecutive losses in which Kyler Murray has totaled five interceptions have moved Arizona to third place in the division. An opportunity still exists, but the flight plan must change course.
11. San Francisco 49ers (6-7)
Remaining Schedule
12/12 Rams (7-6)
12/22 @ Dolphins (6-7)
12/30 Lions (12-1)
1/5/25 @ Cardinals (6-7)
Status: Down Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason to injuries, the Niners turned to Isaac Guerendo, who rushed for 78 yards and two scores and caught two passes for 50 yards. George Kittle (151 yards) and Jauan Jennings (90 and two touchdowns) made the most of their 13 receptions to help San Francisco stay within striking distance in the NFC West.
The Math Could Still Math
12. New Orleans Saints (5-8)
Remaining Schedule
12/15 Commanders (8-5)
12/23 @ Packers (9-4)
12/29 Raiders (2-11)
1/5/25 @ Buccaneers (7-6)
Status: Saints 2023 first-rounder Bryan Bresee blocked a 35-yard field goal attempt with 11 seconds remaining to prevent overtime and preserve a 14-11 win against the Giants. It marked the third time in 2024 for a team to block a field goal with 15 or fewer seconds remaining in a game that resulted in the blocking team's win. This tied 2014 for the most such instances in one season (record tracked since 1991).
13. Dallas Cowboys (5-8)
Remaining Schedule
12/15 @ Panthers (3-10)
12/22 Buccaneers (7-6)
12/29 @ Eagles (11-2)
1/5/25 Commanders (8-5)
Status: D'oh! Ironically, Homer Simpson's catchphrase is appropriate after Dallas failed to corral (or at least avoid touching) a blocked punt late against the Bengals in a contest that also featured a broadcast version with animations from The Simpsons.
Lloyd Christmas Says There's a Chance
14. Chicago Bears (4-9)
Remaining Schedule
12/16 @ Vikings (11-2)
12/22 Lions (12-1)
12/26 Seahawks (8-5)
1/5/25 @ Packers (9-4)
Status: The Bears fell behind 24-0 at halftime after getting outgained by 315 yards (319 to 4) in the first half at San Francisco. Chicago never trailed by fewer than 18 points in the second half.
15. Carolina Panthers (3-10)
Remaining Schedule
12/15 Cowboys (5-8)
12/22 Cardinals (6-7)
12/29 @ Buccaneers (7-6)
1/5/25 @ Falcons (6-7)
Status: The Panthers fought to the finish — and came up just shy of an upset — for the second consecutive week. Adam Thielen surpassed 8,000 career receiving yards (8,063) with 102 on nine receptions.
Eliminated
16. New York Giants (2-11)
Remaining Schedule
12/15 Ravens (8-5)
12/22 @ Falcons (6-7)
12/28 (TBD) Colts (6-7)
1/5/25 @ Eagles (11-2)
Status: Drew Lock's pass attempts (49) exceeded his passer rating (48.6). His long pass of 23 yards exceeded his completions total (21), and he threw one interception but no touchdowns.
