The Minnesota Vikings have secured a spot in the playoffs thanks to their rival Green Bay Packers.

A Packers win over the Seattle Seahawks helped the Vikings clinch a postseason berth, although Minnesota has yet to play its Week 15 game against the Chicago Bears.

Here’s a look at the latest playoff rounds and standings from Sunday’s games. Note that the group will be reseeded after the wildcard round, with the highest seeded team hosting the lowest seeded team.

Current NFC playoff series

1. Detroit Lions (Wild Card Round Bye)

7. Washington Commanders at 2. Philadelphia Eagles

6. Green Bay Packers and 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

5. Minnesota Vikings at 4. Los Angeles Rams

2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)

4. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)

5. Minnesota Vikings (11-2)

6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)

7. Washington Commanders (9-5)

8. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)

9. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)

10. Atlanta Falcons (6-7)

11. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)

13. New Orleans Saints (5-9)

15. Carolina Panthers (3-11)

16. New York Giants (2-12)

1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1) – won AFC West

2. Buffalo Bills (11-3) – won AFC East

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) – clinched playoff spot

4. Houston Texans (9-5) – Won AFC South

5. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)

7. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)

8. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)

10.Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)

12. Cleveland Browns (3-11)

13. New England Patriots (3-11)

14. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)

15. Tennessee Titans (3-11)

16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)

The Vikings have had a great season. Thanks to a balanced team with a top 10 offense and defense.

At the helm, head coach Kevin O’Connell has proven he is the real deal, leading the team to the playoffs in two of his three seasons. He also helped Minnesota turn around impressively after a disappointing 7-10 season last year in which the team lost Kirk Cousins ​​to a torn Achilles tendon midway through the season.

The 2024 Vikings have lived on the sidelines a bit, winning seven of their games by one. But ultimately it was an impressive group with fantastic performances on both sides of the ball.

Notably, quarterback Sam Darnold was a revelation after being brought in as a veteran bridge until rookie JJ McCarthy, the 10th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, was ready to play. But Darnold further established himself as the QB1 after McCarthy unfortunately suffered a torn meniscus during a preseason game that sidelined him for all of 2024.

Darnold is on his fifth team since entering the NFL as the No. 3 pick of the New York Jets in 2018. Things didn’t work out at Gang Green, and his chance to find a home in Carolina as a starter was also lost along the way. A year as Brock Purdy’s backup in San Francisco in 2023 gave him a new opportunity with Minnesota, and he ran with it on the path to great success with the Vikings.

Running back Aaron Jones and wide receiver Justin Jefferson carry the Vikings’ offense, each having 1,000-yard seasons. The Vikings also got a midseason boost with the return of tight end TJ Hockenson, who also suffered a torn ACL and ACL.

On defense, the Vikings dealt with the devastating blow of losing star pass rusher Danielle Hunter to the Houston Texans in free agency earlier this season. But they did it well, thanks largely to the efforts of Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Patrick Jones II. Van Ginkel, a free agent from the Miami Dolphins, also authored two pick-sixes.

The secondary was also a playmaking group, with Byron Murphy looking like a surefire Pro Bowler and potential All-Pro. 35-year-old Harrison Smith is still the backbone of the Vikings defense in his 13th NFL season (all with Minnesota).

Ultimately, the Vikings have positioned themselves as a formidable threat this year and a shadow horse that could potentially win the first Super Bowl in franchise history.