Vikings on Outside Looking In After Week 12

8. Minnesota Vikings (5-6)

Remaining foes’ combined records: 29-36-2

Opponents’ win percentage: .448

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

Status: The Vikings missed a golden chance to stamp themselves as NFC playoff contenders in Week 12 and now find themselves on the outside looking in of the postseason picture. Minnesota will now face an uphill battle to get above .500 and also get into the playoffs. Through 11 games, the Vikings have proven that every game will likely be close. Remember, this is a team that needed a walk-off, 54-yard field goal to beat the winless Lions at home. Minnesota heads to Detroit this week and will need to take care of business to stay alive in the Wild Card chase. It is worth noting that the Vikings currently hold the best odds of all the 5-6 teams to get into the playoffs, even if that’s only a coin flip.

Remaining foes’ combined records: 31-35-1

Opponents’ win percentage: .470

Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 8 percent

Status: The Falcons snapped a two-game skid in Week 12 to keep themselves around in the playoff race. Atlanta gets a chance to prove how long it will stay in the race beginning Sunday with a home game against Tampa Bay. The Falcons offense is led by Cordarrelle Patterson, as the former Viking has 911 total offensive yards and nine combined scores.

10. New Orleans Saints (5-6)

Remaining foes’ combined records: 33-35

Opponents’ win percentage: .485

Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 24 percent

Status: New Orleans’ skid continued in Week 12 as the Saints suffered their fourth straight loss. Things don’t get easier coming up, as division leaders such as Dallas and Tampa Bay are on deck in the next three weeks. If the Saints can get a win or two there, they would position themselves to be in contention heading into the final few weeks against fellow Wild Card hopefuls.

11. Philadelphia Eagles (5-7)

Remaining foes’ combined records: 24-31

Opponents’ win percentage: .436

Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 22 percent

Status: Much like the Vikings, the Eagles missed a chance to gain ground in the Wild Card race. Philadelphia suffered a dismal 13-7 road loss against the New York Giants as the offense sputtered with four turnovers. The Eagles schedule is still favorable the rest of the way, but at this point, Philadelphia is one of many teams in the NFC Wild Card race that can’t fully be trusted.

12. Carolina Panthers (5-7)

Remaining foes’ combined records: 33-22

Opponents’ win percentage: .600

Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 5 percent

Status: Carolina heads into its bye heading in the wrong direction, as the Panthers have lost two straight games and three of four overall. The Panthers will now try to make a playoff push without perhaps their best player, as the team announced Monday that running back Christian McCaffrey is out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury. Carolina last made the playoffs in 2017.

13. New York Giants (4-7)

Remaining foes’ combined records: 32-36

Opponents’ win percentage: .471

Current playoff odds (via FiveThirtyEight.com): 5 percent

Status: New York is part of a crowded NFC field of Wild Card hopefuls, as the Giants are just a single game out of the current playoff picture. New York got a division win Sunday against Philadelphia thanks to its defense, which forced four turnovers and limited the Eagles to just seven points.

Remaining foes’ combined records: 35-32

Opponents’ win percentage: .522

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

Status: The Bears ended a five-game losing streak with a narrow 16-13 win on Thanksgiving Day over the Lions. Chicago is just one game out of the NFC Wild Card race, but its schedule is about to get rough. The Bears face the Cardinals and Packers over the next two weeks before the Vikings come to town.

15. Seattle Seahawks (3-8)

Remaining foes’ combined records: 28-37-1

Opponents’ win percentage: .432

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

Status: The Seahawks have been one of the NFL’s most consistent (and successful) teams over the past decade, winning nine-plus games in nine straight seasons and making eight playoff appearances in that stretch. But after Monday night’s close loss to Washington, it appears Seattle has finally hit a down season. Seattle’s offense has averaged just 295.7 yards per game this season, which ranks 31st overall. And the Seahawks defense ranks dead last at 399.0 yards allowed per game.

16. Detroit Lions (0-10-1)

Remaining foes’ combined records: 37-28

Opponents’ win percentage: .569

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

Status: The Lions were oh so close to their first win, but let it slip away on Thanksgiving Day against the Bears. Detroit will now try again as Minnesota comes to town. The Lions haven’t had an answer for Kirk Cousins since he joined the Vikings, as the quarterback is a perfect 7-0 as Minnesota’s starter against Detroit since 2018.