NFL Playoff Picture: How the Vikings can earn the one seed in the NFC

Sitting at 11-2 should have you on an inside track to getting the top overall seed in the NFC Playoffs. However, that's no the reality of where the Minnesota Vikings currently sit. They have yet to clinch a playoff spot with four games to go, needing either a win/tie over the Chicago Bears or a […]

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer

Dec 10, 2024 1:11 PM EST

Dec 8, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) celebrates his running touchdown with quarterback Sam Darnold (14) during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Sitting at 11-2 should have you on an inside track to getting the top overall seed in the NFC Playoffs. However, that's no the reality of where the Minnesota Vikings currently sit.

They have yet to clinch a playoff spot with four games to go, needing either a win/tie over the Chicago Bears or a loss/tie by the Los Angeles Rams or Seattle Seahawks to secure it.

Even with needing to clinch a playoff spot, the Vikings still will need some help to get there.

How the Vikings can clinch the number one seed

Let's start by talking about how the Vikings can overcome the Detroit Lions to get the number one seed. This is the first step to getting the number one seed.

If they end up tied, here is how the tiebreaker scenarios work.

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory in all games.
6. Strength of schedule in all games
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss

Right now, the common games is where the Vikings would lose, as they have lost to the Rams while the Lions beat them in week one. If the Lions ended up losing to the San Francisco 49ers and they still ended up tying for the division, it would likely go down to strength of victory. That would essentially split up the different opponents both teams had.

The Vikings different opponents this season are: New York Giants (2-11), Atlanta Falcons (6-7) and New York Jets (3-10). All of them are wins, but they all sit below 0.500.

The Lions played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6), Dallas Cowboys (5-8) and Buffalo Bills. They lost to the Buccaneers and will play the Bills this Sunday on 10 days rest.

That could get messy, but could swing in the Vikings' favor if a few things fall their way over the next few weeks.

Luckily, the way things fall with the Eagles, the Vikings hold the tiebreaker over them when it comes to common opponents if they both win out. The Vikings will have beaten the Green Bay Packers twice, which would give them a 0.5 game lead in that department.

Essentially, here is the easiest path for the Vikings to get the one seed:

The Vikings win out
The Lions two games

There are other ways to get there, but the path is relatively clear for the Vikings. Handle your business and hope either Josh Allen or Brock Purdy gives you a nice Christmas gift.