Where Do Vikings Stand in NFC Playoff Picture After Win vs Jaguars?

The Minnesota Vikings just pulled off a tight 12-7 win over the Jaguars in Jacksonville, bringing their record to 7-2. Even though they’re still one game behind the 8-1 Detroit Lions in the NFC North, the Vikings are looking solid for a playoff spot… but not a very high seed.

Minnesota Vikings playoff chances

As of now, the Vikings would land the 5th seed, on the NFC side of the NFL playoff bracket. The 5-seed in each conference is reserved for the top Wildcard, after the four division winners on each side (North, South, East, West).

If the playoffs started today, Minnesota would matchup vs the NFC West leading, Arizona Cardinals, in the “Wildcard Round”. There is one bye, for the top team from each conference. As of today, that’s the Detroit Lions, in the NFC.

Where we will stand after 10 weeks of NFL football pic.twitter.com/VfdpREfn7Y

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 11, 2024

So, how likely are the Vikings to make the playoffs? Right now, NFL.com’s Next Gen Stats have them sitting at a solid 91% chance of clinching a playoff spot.

In terms of betting odds, according to DraftKings, the Vikings are sitting -900 to make the playoffs, meaning you’d have to bet $900, just to win $100. Meanwhile, they are +600 to miss the postseason (bet $100, win $600). Basically, they’re nearly a playoff lock… but still have work to do.

Related: 5 Metrics That Shaped Minnesota Vikings Victory Over Jaguars

With the season just over half done, the Minnesota Vikings would have to go 3-5, in their remaining games, to finish 10-7, a record that would put them on the playoff bubble, given how good the NFC is this season.

11 wins would get them in for sure. But let’s be real, 3-5 or 4-5 down the stretch would still feel pretty disappointing, especially being that the back-half of their schedule is much easier than the front-half was.

Minnesota Vikings NFC North odds

With one game still remaining against the division-leading Detroit Lions, the Minnesota Vikings are still very much in the hunt to win the NFC North, just one game behind. And the battle for the NFC North currently looks like the battle for top seed (and a bye) in the Wildcard round.

Currently, DraftKings has the Lions as -425 favorites to win the NFC North, meaning they don’t like the Vikings’ chances (+400) to take control of the North, be regular season’s end. Behind both Minnesota and Detroit, Green Bay is a distant +1200 to win the division. The Bears are waaaaaay back (+25000).

Related: Minnesota Vikings Open as Big Favorites in Week 11

As of Monay morning, the Lions are -185 to take the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Philadelphia Eagles sit right behind them, at +450. The Vikings have the third best odds, at +600. If they can manage to tie the Lions’ recor, by the time they play each other in the season finale, week 18 could decide, not just the NFC North, but the entire outlook of the NFC playoff bracket.