EAGAN, Minn. — Minnesota's Week 17 home game against Chicago has been flexed to 3:25 p.m. (CT) on Dec. 30, the NFL announced Sunday.
The Vikings (8-6-1) will face a "win and definitely in" the NFC Playoffs scenario in hosting the Bears (11-4) in the regular-season finale for both teams.
Minnesota entered Week 16 as the No. 6 seed and maintained its status of being in line for a postseason berth by defeating Detroit 27-9. The Vikings could still leap-frog Seattle for the No. 5 seed if the Seahawks lose one of their final two games (Seattle is playing Kansas City at the time of this post) and Minnesota defeats Chicago.
New Orleans (13-2) clinched the No. 1 seed on Sunday.
The Los Angeles Rams (12-3) enter the final week of the 2018 season in the No. 2 spot, but would lose a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Bears (11-4) if the teams finish with identical records.
Chicago is currently the No. 3 seed, and Dallas (9-6) is locked into the No. 4 seed. The Cowboys won the NFC East but can't catch any team ahead of them in the standings.
Seattle entered Sunday night's matchup with an 8-6 record.
Philadelphia (8-7) kept its hopes of returning to the postseason alive with a last-second win against Houston.
The league moved the timing of kickoffs for games that have interconnected playoff implications.
Week 17 Schedule
Noon (CT) Games
Atlanta (6-9) at Tampa Bay (5-10)
Carolina (6-9) at New Orleans (13-2)
Dallas (9-6) at New York Giants (5-10)
Detroit (5-10) at Green Bay (6-8-1)
Jacksonville (5-10) at Houston (10-5)
Miami (7-8) at Buffalo (5-10)
New York Jets (4-11) at New England (10-5)
Oakland (3-11) at Kansas City (11-3) * pending Sunday night's result
3:25 p.m. (CT) Games
Chicago (11-4) at Minnesota (8-6-1)
Arizona (3-12) at Seattle (8-6)
Cincinnati (6-9) at Pittsburgh (8-6-1)
Cleveland (7-7-1) at Baltimore (9-6)
Los Angeles Chargers (11-4) at Denver (6-8)
Philadelphia (8-7) at Washington (7-8)
San Francisco (4-11) at Los Angeles Rams (12-3)
7:20 p.m. (CT) Sunday Game
Indianapolis (9-6) at Tennessee (9-6)
