NFC Playoff Picture: Minnesota Vikings Now A Wild Card Team

After Sunday's embarrassment at TCF Bank Stadium, the Minnesota Vikings are still firmly entrenched in the NFC playoff picture, though their position isn't nearly as nice as it was at this time last week.

If the post-season were to start today, the Minnesota Vikings would be the #5 seed in the NFC playoffs, as they now hold the first Wild Card spot at 7-3. Their reward for being the #5 seed would be a trip to play the NFC East winner, which would be the New York Football Giants if the season ended today.

The other matchup on Wild Card weekend would feature Minnesota's opponent this weekend, the Atlanta Falcons, making the trip north to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers. The Packers, also at 7-3, would win the NFC North thanks to the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Vikings.

Your first-round byes in the NFC would go to the Arizona Cardinals, with the #2 seed, and the top-seeded Carolina Panthers. The road to Santa Clara looks like it's going to run right through Charlotte, barring something weird happening over the final six weeks of the season.

In the AFC, the road would run through Foxboro, as the New England Patriots currently hold the #1 seed. Despite two consecutive losses, the Cincinnati Bengals would claim the #2 seed and the other first-round bye. Your games on Wild Card weekend would see the Buffalo Bills traveling to take on the Denver Broncos, and the Indianapolis Colts hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers.

We'll get more into what the Minnesota Vikings need to do over the final six weeks in just a little bit here. But, for now, the Vikings are still a playoff team, despite yesterday's disappointment.