Following Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season, where do the Minnesota Vikings fall in terms of the NFC North and NFC standings?
With some help from the Dallas Cowboys, the possibility of the Minnesota Vikings surpassing the Philadelphia Eagles as the No. 1 seed in the NFC just got a little more believable.
A 40-34 loss to the Cowboys on Saturday reduced the Eagles’ current record to 13-2, meaning the Vikings are now just 1.5 games behind the top spot in the NFC.
Minnesota still needs to win the final two matchups on their 2022 regular-season schedule in addition to Philadelphia losing both of their remaining games in order for a change to take place at the top of the conference. But, at the very least, the possibility of the upcoming NFC playoffs having to go through U.S. Bank Stadium continues to exist.
NFC North Standings after Week 16
- 1. Minnesota Vikings (12-3)*
- 2. Detroit Lions (7-8)
- 3. Green Bay Packers (7-8)
- 4. Chicago Bears (3-12)
*Clinched division title
After everyone in the National media fell in love with the Detroit Lions during the last few weeks, the second-best team in the NFC North fell flat on their face on Saturday when they suffered a 37-23 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
The loss is just the Lions’ second in their last eight matchups, but their likelihood of making the playoffs this season certainly went down due to the results on Saturday.
Speaking of the playoffs, the Green Bay Packers‘ chances of a postseason berth went from ultra-slim to slim after they were able to pull off an upset over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
The Packers still need a lot of help from other teams in addition to winning both of the remaining games on their schedule (including next week against the Vikings). But, unfortunately, Green Bay’s win on Sunday still has them in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs.
NFC Standings after Week 16
- 1. Philadelphia Eagles (13-2)*
- 2. Minnesota Vikings (12-3)**
- 3. San Francisco 49ers (11-4)**
- 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)*
- 5. Dallas Cowboys (11-4)
- 6. New York Giants (8-6-1)
- 7. Washington Commanders (7-7-1)
* Division Leader
** Clinched division
Playoff Matchups if the Season ended after Week 16
Wild-Card Round*
- Minnesota Vikings (2) vs. Washington Commanders (7)
- San Francisco 49ers (3) vs. New York Giants (6)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4) vs. Dallas Cowboys (5)
*Philadelphia Eagles get a first-round bye
The Rest
- 8. Seattle Seahawks (7-8)
- 9. Detroit Lions (7-8)
- 10. Green Bay Packers (7-8)
- 11. Carolina Panthers (6-9)
- 12. New Orleans Saints (6-9)
- 13. Los Angeles Rams (5-10)
- 14. Atlanta Falcons (5-10)
- 15. Arizona Cardinals (4-11)
- 16. Chicago Bears (3-12)
A big statement was made by the Cowboys on Saturday when they were able to hand the Eagles their second loss of the 2022 season. Philadelphia was without Jalen Hurts under center, but the victory should still give Dallas a good amount of confidence before the playoffs begin in a few weeks.
The dreaded NFC South race can finally come to a close in Week 17 as Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can clinch the division by defeating the Panthers next Sunday. It’s a task that is easier said than done, however, since Carolina is coming off an impressive win over the Lions, and the Bucs needed overtime to beat a four-win Arizona Cardinals team on Sunday night.