EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Vikings clinched their second division title in three seasons, nabbed a berth in the postseason and guaranteed at least one home game with a 34-7 win over the Bengals on Sunday.
The particulars, however, remain to be determined.
Tonight's game between Atlanta and Tampa Bay and the final two weeks of the regular season will have significant impact on the developing playoff picture.
Minnesota (11-3) can finish anywhere from No. 1 through 4 in the seeding for the NFC Playoffs. The Vikings will play the Packers (7-7) on Saturday night in Green Bay and close the regular season at home against Chicago (4-10).
Philadelphia (12-2) on Sunday clinched a first-round bye and either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed for the playoffs with a win over the New York Giants.
The Eagles will close with games against the Raiders (6-8) and Cowboys (8-6) and can clinch the top seed with one more win.
The Los Angeles Rams (10-4) are the No. 3 seed and need one more win or one more loss by Seattle (8-6) to secure the NFC West.
The NFC South, which has provided the past two conference champs (Carolina in 2015 and Atlanta in 2016), is a little more complicated.
New Orleans (10-4) is leading the pack and already defeated Carolina (10-4) twice. Atlanta (9-5) can still win the division by winning out because it closes with the Saints and Panthers.
New Orleans currently has the No. 4 seed, and Carolina has the No. 5 seed. Atlanta is in the final spot, ahead of Detroit (8-6), Seattle (8-6) Dallas (8-6) and Green Bay.
Washington, Arizona, Tampa Bay, San Francisco, Chicago and the New York Giants have all been eliminated.
Click **here** to view all of the NFL's tiebreaking procedures.
Below are the remaining schedules for the 10 NFC teams who still have a shot at the playoffs, along with records and win percentages of remaining opponents:
1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2) xyz
12/25 OAK (6-8)
12/31 DAL (8-6)
Remaining foes' combined records: 14-14 (.500)
2. Minnesota Vikings (11-3) xy
12/23 @ GB (7-7)
12/31 CHI (4-10)
Remaining foes' combined records: 11-17 (.393)
3. Los Angeles Rams (10-4)
12/24 @ TEN (8-6)
12/31 SF (4-10)
Remaining foes' combined records: 12-16 (.429)
4. New Orleans (10-4)
12/24 ATL (8-5)#
12/31 @ TB (4-9)#
Remaining foes' combined records: 12-14 (.462)
5. Carolina Panthers (9-4)
12/24 TB (4-9)#
12/31 @ ATL (8-5)#
Remaining foes' combined records: 12-14 (.462)
6. Atlanta Falcons (9-5)
12/24 @NO (10-4)
12/31 CAR (10-4)
Remaining foes' combined records: 20-8
7. Detroit Lions (8-6)
12/24 @ CIN (5-9)
12/31 GB (7-7)
Remaining foes' combined records: 12-16 (.429)
8. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
12/24 @ DAL (8-6)
12/31 AZ (6-8)
Remaining foes' combined records: 14-14 (.500)
9. Dallas Cowboys (8-6)
12/24 SEA (8-6)
12/31 @ PHI (12-2)
Remaining foes' combined records: 20-8 (.714)
10. Green Bay Packers (7-7)
12/23 MIN (11-3)
12/31 @ DET (8-6)
Remaining foes' combined records: 19-9 (.679)
Key
x-clinched playoff berth
y-clinched division title
z-clinched first-round bye
*-clinched home-field advantage
