NFC Standings Update, Vikings' Playoff Odds Heading Into Bye Week

The Vikings are still in the seventh spot in the NFC postseason field — for now.

The Vikings' ugly loss against the Bears on Monday night, their second consecutive defeat by two points or fewer, dropped them to 6-6 on the season as they head into their bye week. Suddenly, the Josh Dobbs story has crashed back to earth and Minnesota's five-game winning streak feels like a long time ago.

The good news for the Vikings is that they're still currently holding the seventh seed in the NFC postseason picture. The bad news is that they no longer have any sort of cushion over the teams behind them. The Packers, Rams, and Saints are all right on the Vikings' heels at 5-6.

The NFC playoff picture through 12 weeks / NFL GSIS

The Vikings are guaranteed to at least remain in the seventh seed after Week 13. They have head-to-head wins over the Packers and Saints and a better conference record than the Rams, so they'd win those tiebreakers at 6-6. Minnesota will actually move up to the sixth spot if the Seahawks lose in Dallas against the red-hot Cowboys on Thursday night (due to conference record).

More good news for the Vikings: the Saints host the 8-3 Lions this weekend, the Packers host the 8-3 Chiefs, and the Rams host the 7-4 Browns (without Deshaun Watson).

Still, the Vikings have work to do. Finishing 9-8, which requires going 3-2 down the stretch, would likely get them in, but nothing is guaranteed. That rematch against the Packers in Week 17 has a chance to be huge if Green Bay keeps playing good football.

ESPN's Football Power Index gives the Vikings a 58.4 percent chance to make the playoffs. It can be done, as long as they stop turning the ball over so much. The defense has been consistently excellent and getting Justin Jefferson back should provide a spark for the offense.

Now Kevin O'Connell just needs to make a decision at quarterback.

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