The Vikings Motto: Win and You're In

When the Minnesota Vikings do battle with the Washington Redskins, it's for a playoff spot. If Minnesota can defeat Washington and the New Orleans Saints lose, Minnesota is in the playoffs and both Washington and New Orleans are eliminated. The other scenario is if Minnesota loses to Washington, then New Orleans must lose to either Philadelphia or Chicago, and Washington must lose to Dallas in week 17, while Minnesota must beat Denver in their last game.

The NFC playoff race is almost set. All the division champions are determined, and if everything goes well this weekend, the final two Wild card spots will be filled as well. Then all that's left is who will be seated where. Below is a list of the current placements of the teams so far, and what needs to happen for them to win the higher seed or playoff birth.

1. Dallas Cowboys (12-2): For Dallas to keep the number one seed they must keep pace with Green Bay. If Green Bay wins then Dallas must win. Dallas holds the tie breaker over Green Bay due to the head to head win over Green Bay. Dallas still plays December 23rd @ Carolina and December 30th @ Washington

2. Green Bay Packers (12-2): For the Packers to win the number one seed, they must win out and have Dallas lose one. For the Packers to have the number one seed, they need a better record than Dallas. Green Bay still plays December 23rd @ Chicago and December 30th Detroit.

3. Seattle Seahawks (9-5): For the Seahawks to retain the third seed they must keep pace with Tampa Bay. Seattle has the tie breaker over Tampa Bay due to winning the head to head competition. Seattle still plays on December 23rd Baltimore and December 30th @ Atlanta.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5): For the Buccaneers to be seeded third they must win out and hope Seattle loses to either Baltimore or Atlanta. Tampa Bay must have a better record than Seattle to be seeded third. Tampa Bay could lose one game, but then Seattle must lose out for tampa bay to gain a seed. Tampa Bay still plays on December 23rd @ San Francisco and December 30th Carolina.

5. New York Giants (9-5): For the New York Giants to keep one of the Wild card spots they must win one game. The Giants are two games ahead of both Washington and New Orleans and one ahead of Minnesota. The Giants can clinch a playoff birth with one win. New York still plays on December 23rd @ Buffalo and December 29th New England.

6. Minnesota Vikings (8-6): For the Vikings to clinch a playoff birth, they must win one and hope that Washington and New Orleans lose one. Minnesota is currently one game ahead of both Washington and New Orleans.

If Minnesota defeats Washington and New Orleans loses this weekend, then Minnesota Clinches.

If Minnesota loses to Washington, then they must defeat Denver in week 17, and hope that New Orleans loses to either Philadelphia or Chicago and Washington loses to Dallas in week 17. If this scenario happens, Minnesota will still make the playoffs. Minnesota plays on December 23rd Washington (Sunday Night) and December 30th @ Denver.

BEST CASE SCENARIO WIN OUT!!!!

7. New Orleans (7-7): For New Orleans to make the playoffs they must win out and hope Minnesota loses one or New York loses two. The Saints hold the tie breaker over Minnesota with a better conference record. Any combination of a Minnesota win and New Orleans loss will eliminate the Saints. New Orleans still plays on December 23rd Philadelphia and December 30th @ Chicago

8. Washington Redskins (7-7): For the Redskins to make the playoffs they must win out and hope New Orleans loses one. Washington must have a better record than New Orleans but holds the tie breaker over Minnesota with a win over them. One Washington lose and they are eliminated. Washington still plays on December 23rd @ Minnesota (Sunday Night) and December 30th Dallas.

9. Carolina Panthers (6-8): The Panthers can still make the playoffs but must win out, and hope Minnesota loses out, Washington loses to Dallas and New Orleans loses to either Philadelphia or Chicago. Carolina holds the tie breaker over New Orleans and Washington because of a better conference record. One Carolina loss, one Minnesota win, or Washington or New Orleans wins out, Carolina is eliminated. Carolina still plays on December 23rd Dallas and December 30th @ Tampa Bay.