Sep 11, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings may not have played on Sunday, but they saw their playoff fate get sealed for them.
It came by virtue of one of their most hated rivals, the Green Bay Packers, earning a win over the Seattle Seahawks on the road, dropping the Seahawks to a record of 8-6, out of the lead in the NFC West, and out of the NFC playoff race entirely.
Green Bay dominated against Seattle on Sunday Night Football, winning by a score of 30-13 at Lumen Field.
The Packers jumped out to a 20-3 lead by halftime by virtue of some strong running from RB Josh Jacobs, which allowed them to cruise to the finish line without much of a sweat. QB Jordan Love also finished the day with 229 yards and a pair of touchdown passes.
With the win, the Vikings are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs because of their 11-2 record, and with the Rams and Seahawks already having six losses, even if the Vikings were to lose each of their final four games, they cannot finish with a worse record than either team.
The Rams and Seahawks also have another head-to-head matchup later this season in Week 17, thus meaning one of those teams will not finish with 11 wins.
With Green Bay’s victory over Seattle, the Vikings became the seventh team to clinch a playoff berth in the NFL, thus solidifying half of the 14-team playoff field. Minnesota is also the first non-division leader to clinch a playoff spot.
It marks the 32nd time in the Vikings’ 64-year franchise history that they have clinched a playoff spot, meaning they have officially made the playoffs in 50% of their total seasons.
Now, the Vikings will play host to the Chicago Bears in less than 24 hours with a chance to advance to 12-2 on the season and tie the Detroit Lions for the top spot in the NFC North after Detroit fell to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Minnesota’s path to its second NFC North crown in three years is simple: win out.
Easier said than done with three of their final four games coming against division rivals, but certainly possible.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via ESPN and Pro Football Reference.