It hasn’t been particularly pretty in recent weeks — and Sunday’s game in Chicago was no exception — but the Minnesota Vikings have quietly become the best team that nobody’s talking about in regards to the NFC playoff picture.
Minnesota did it again in Week 12, surviving the Bears in overtime to improve to 9-2 in the NFC North. The Vikings kept pace with their division rival Detroit Lions (10-1), who prevailed in a somewhat difficult spot on the road in Indianapolis five days before their big afternoon home game on Thanksgiving. The Vikes will remain the No. 5 seed entering Week 13, but they’re still very much in the hunt for the No. 1 seed, with a head-to-head game at Detroit in Week 18.
The Vikings were also able to apply some pressure on the Philadelphia Eagles , the current No. 2 seed who take an 8-2 record into Sunday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams (5-5). A Philadelphia loss at SoFi stadium would boost the Vikings’ chances at the top seed, which sat at 14% entering Week 12 …