Vikings in No. 6 Seed

7. New Orleans Saints (5-5)

Remaining foes’ combined records: 35-37

Opponents’ win percentage: .486

Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 34 percent

Status: New Orleans is currently one of three teams in the NFC at 5-5, but the Saints have slid recently with three straight losses. New Orleans will look to get back on track quickly in a Thanksgiving night game against Buffalo at home. The Saints could be boosted by the return of running back Alvin Kamara, who has missed the past two games with a knee injury.

8. San Francisco 49ers (5-5)

Remaining foes’ combined records: 35-36

Opponents’ win percentage: .493

Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 49 percent

Status: Much like the Vikings, the 49ers have managed to rebound and stay afloat in the playoff picture despite a rocky start. San Francisco opened its season 2-4, but has won three of its past four games to get back in the race. Not only does the winner of Sunday’s game get an edge in the win column, but they would also have the head-to-head tiebreaker if the teams were to finish with the same record at the end of the season. Sunday is a big one by the Bay.

9. Philadelphia Eagles (5-6)

Remaining foes’ combined records: 23-37

Opponents’ win percentage: .383

Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 40 percent

Status: Philadelphia, winners of three of its past four games, has climbed back into the playoff chase in November. And the Eagles might be a team to watch down the stretch considering their favorable schedule, which features just one team with a winning record the rest of the way.

10. Carolina Panthers (5-6)

Remaining foes’ combined records: 33-28

Opponents’ win percentage: .541

Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 15 percent

Status: Like most teams battling for an NFC Wild Card spot, the Panthers have endured a topsy-turvy season. Carolina started hot at 3-0, but then lost four straight games before splitting its past four contests. Quarterback Sam Darnold appears out for the season, as the team has turned to old friend Cam Newton in that spot. It’s worth noting the Vikings have the head-to-head win over the Panthers because of their Week 6 victory.

11. Washington Football Team (4-6)

Remaining foes’ combined records: 35-37

Opponents’ win percentage: .486

Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 25 percent

Status: Here’s another NFC East team that has given itself a chance to make a run with two straight wins. Washington has seven games remaining, beginning with games against Seattle and Las Vegas. But it’s all division foes the rest of the way, including two games apiece against Dallas and Philadelphia. Those contests should help decide the division and also separate some teams in the Wild Card chase.

12. Atlanta Falcons (4-6)

Remaining foes’ combined records: 30-40-1

Opponents’ win percentage: .430

Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 4 percent

Status: The Falcons are coming off a pair of back-to-back rough losses, falling to the Cowboys and Patriots by a combined score of 68-3. If Atlanta can hang tough and navigate road games against San Francisco and Buffalo, its Week 18 matchup against New Orleans could be pivotal in the NFC playoff picture if both teams are still in contention.

13. New York Giants (3-7)

Remaining foes’ combined records: 34-39

Opponents’ win percentage: .466

Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 2 percent

Status: The Giants have split their past four games, but are also trying to recover from a rough 1-5 start. New York hung close with Tampa Bay through halftime on Monday Night Football, but the Giants were shut out in the second half. Former Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph has 17 catches for 147 yards and a score in his first season in the Big Apple.

Remaining foes’ combined records: 33-28-1

Opponents’ win percentage: .540

Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 1 percent

Status: The Vikings haven’t seen the Bears yet this season, as the division rivals will meet twice in the final four weeks of the regular season. Chicago has a tough slate before then, with a short week coming up against Detroit on Thanksgiving, followed by back-to-back games against Arizona and Green Bay. Quarterback Justin Fields has shown flashes of potential in his rookie season, but the No. 10 overall pick is also banged up right now. Minnesota’s (seemingly annual) regular-season finale against Chicago could be a win-and-in situation for the Vikings in Week 18.

15. Seattle Seahawks (3-7)

Remaining foes’ combined records: 30-40-1

Opponents’ win percentage: .430

Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 4 percent

Status: It’s certainly strange to see the Seahawks, a team that has made the postseason eight of the past 10 seasons, down near the bottom of the conference standings. Russell Wilson’s finger injury played a part in Seattle’s slow start, but the team has also lost the past two games in which Wilson has played. The Seahawks only play two teams with a winning record the rest of the way, so perhaps a late-season charge is possible, but Seattle will have to make up a lot of ground at this point. And keep in mind, the Vikings hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Seahawks, too.

16. Detroit Lions (0-9-1)

Remaining foes’ combined records: 35-35

Opponents’ win percentage: .500

Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): Less than 1 percent

Status: The Lions are no longer defeated, as they earned a tie against the Steelers in Week 10. But Detroit and first-year head coach Dan Campbell are still searching for their first win. The Lions next two games are back-to-back home tilts against division foes. Detroit currently ranks 27th overall in yards gained (312.0) and allowed (376.7) per game.