Sport consequence: The Rams received on Thursday evening, however the Seahawks misplaced Sunday evening, which clinched a plyoff spot for the Vikings earlier than they even took the sphere. Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings will play within the postseason and so they have a shot on the NFC North division crown and the one seed after the Lions’ loss.
The 11-2 Minnesota Vikings are only one sport (and a tiebreaker) behind the Detroit Lions for first place within the NFC North and first place general within the NFC, however they’ll shut that hole this weekend with a win and a few assist.
Very first thing is first, although. The Vikings can clinch a playoff berth in Week 15.
The Vikings might have clinched a playoff spot in Week 14 however didn’t get all the assistance they wanted. This weekend, their magic quantity is down to at least one and so they management their very own future to a playoff spot.
Vikings clinch playoff berth with Seahawks’ loss
With the Seattle Seahawks loss to the Inexperienced Bay Packers on Sunday Night time Soccer, Minnesota has clinched a playoff spot.
As outlined beneath, there have been a number of pathways accessible for the Vikings to clinch a playoff spot earlier than they play the Chicago Bears on Monday Night time Soccer. A loss by the Los Angeles Rams would have seen Minnesota clinch, however the Rams defeated the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday evening.
The opposite path was a loss by the Seahawks to Inexperienced Bay.
That got here to fruition on Sunday evening, so Minnesota is formally within the playoffs.
Vikings playoff berth clinching situations
If the Vikings accumulate their twelfth win, they clinch a spot with the groups out of a playoff spot within the NFC solely in a position to get to 11-6 at finest.
Minnesota might additionally again in with assist from the NFC West earlier than the Vikings even see the sphere on Monday. If the Rams lose on Thursday evening, the most effective they’ll end is 10-7, behind the Vikings. If the Seahawks lose Sunday, the most effective they’ll finish the yr is 11-6 which doesn’t scream “clinch” however with Seattle enjoying the Rams in Week 18, considered one of them will lose and considered one of them will win. Meaning one workforce would win the NFC West and the opposite could be behind the Vikings.
So there are three alternative ways the Vikings might clinch in three totally different nationally televised primetime video games this weekend:
- Vikings win (Monday evening)
– OR –
- Rams loss (Thursday evening)
– OR –
- Seahawks loss (Sunday evening)
The Rams are underdogs by three factors on Thursday, the Seahawks are 2.5-point underdogs at house on Sunday, however the Vikings are a landing favourite on Monday in keeping with our pals at FanDuel Sportsbook.
NFC standings coming into Week 15
1. x-Detroit Lions (12-1)
2. x-Philadelphia Eagles (11-2)
3. Seattle Seahawks (8-5)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)
5. Minnesota Vikings (11-2)
6. Inexperienced Bay Packers (9-4)
7. Washington Commanders (8-5)
8. Los Angeles Rams (7-6)
9. Atlanta Falcons (6-7, 6-3 NFC)
10. Arizona Cardinals (6-7, win over SF, 3-6 NFC)
11. San Francisco 49ers (6-7, loss to ARI)
12. New Orleans Saints (5-8, win over DAL)
13. Dallas Cowboys (5-8, loss to NO)*
14. Chicago Bears (4-8, 2-5 NFC)*
15. Carolina Panthers (3-10)
16. New York Giants (2-11) — eradicated