It’s been a dream season for Sam Darnold and the Vikings, but the year could still end with some sour luck.
Despite winning 14 games, Minnesota is still at risk of starting the playoffs on the road. A Week 18 showdown with the Lions will determine whether the Vikings will get the No. 1 overall seed and a week off or have to play on the road on wild-card weekend.
At this point, anything seems possible for the Vikings. A team that had tempered expectations even before J.J. McCarthy went down with a torn meniscus just can’t stop winning, and the way they are winning seems much more sustainable than it was in 2022.
Now, a win over the Lions could make the Vikings’ Super Bowl dreams much more realistic.
Here’s a look at the Vikings’ playoff outlook and what can change in Week 18.
MORE NFL WEEK 18: Live NFL standings | NFL playoff scenarios | NFL Draft order
NFL playoff bracket 2025
Vikings playoff picture
NFC North standings
| Position | Team | Record |
| 1 | Detroit Lions | 15-2 |
| 2 | Minnesota Vikings | 14-3 |
| 3 | Green Bay Packers | 11-6 |
| 4 | Chicago Bears | 5-12 |
The Vikings’ loss to the Lions in Week 18 gave the NFC North title to Detroit and knocked Minnesota down to the No. 5 seed in the NFC.
NFC playoff standings
| Position | Team | Record |
| 1 | Detroit Lions | 15-2 |
| 2 | Philadelphia Eagles | 14-3 |
| 3 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 10-7 |
| 4 | Los Angeles Rams | 10-7 |
| 5 | Minnesota Vikings | 14-3 |
| 6 | Washington Commanders | 12-5 |
| 7 | Green Bay Packers | 11-6 |
Wild-card teams can earn no higher than the No. 5 seed, so the Vikings dropped all the way to No. 5 in the NFC despite finishing four games better than the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds.
As the No. 5 seed, the Vikings will go on the road to face the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Monday, Jan. 13. The Rams are the only team other than the Lions to defeat the Vikings this season.
MORE NFL WEEK 18:
Vikings remaining schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time |
| Jan. 5 | at Detroit Lions | 8:15 p.m. ET |
The Vikingsfaced the Lions in the final game of the NFL regular season. Minnesota previously lost to Detroit in October in a tight 31-29 game.
Vikings updated playoff chances
ESPN’s Football Power Index gave the Vikings a 35% chance of winning the NFC North and earning a first-round bye entering Week 18.
