When the NFC North champion is finally crowned, the division title will have been earned.
The Minnesota Vikings pulled even with the Detroit Lions atop the North and clinched a playoff berth with a 30-12 victory over the Chicago Bears on Monday night.
The Vikings (12-2), who have won seven consecutive games, play Sunday at Seattle (8-6), then close the season with divisional games against Green Bay (10-4) and at Detroit (12-2) with home-field advantage in the playoffs up for grabs in the conference.
“It’s going to be incredibly competitive down the stretch,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “We’re going to have to play well and continue to improve, chasing our best football.”
The Vikings didn’t overlook the Bears and know they’re in for a tougher time in Seattle, where they’ve lost five in a row dating to 2006.
“Just the maturity, people understanding how to handle success,” said linebacker Jonathan Greenard, whose first-quarter sack forced a fumble that led to a touchdown against Chicago, referring to the team’s recent surge. “Just making sure we give everybody the same respect as the best team in the league, because anybody can get beat on any given play or any given day, so we’re always going to give that same respect and bring that same fire.”
Aaron Jones and Cam Akers scored to give the Vikings two rushing touchdowns in a game for the first time this season. Justin Jefferson had seven catches for 73 yards, including a TD from Sam Darnold. Jefferson has 82 receptions for 1,243 and eight touchdowns this season, drawing attention that has opened up the field for No. 2 receiver Jordan Addison. He has 27 catches in the past four games.
“Just seeing us stacking the plays, stacking the good games together is really good to see,” Jefferson said. “Our potential is so high. Every game we’re expecting the offense to be the best on that field.”
There is much to be decided in the NFC West, too.
The Seahawks coughed up the division lead and had a four-game winning streak snapped in a 30-13 loss to Green Bay last Sunday night. Seattle is chasing the Rams and has been uncharacteristically fragile at home (3-5) in 2024, but 5-1 on the road.
“We know what type of team we are. We know what the goal is, what we’re trying to accomplish. Playoff ball is just putting the emphasis on what we said early in the year that we wanted to get done,” Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV said. “That’s win the division, go into the playoffs, get a home playoff game, one or two, or whatever the case may be.”
A 3-0 finish against Seattle, the Packers and Lions comes with a steep degree of difficulty but the reward for the Vikings would be the No. 1 seed and home field in the NFC playoffs.
The Seahawks stand in the way with expectations of their own.
“Everything is still in front of us. All of our goals,” Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba said. “We just have to get ready for (Sunday). Be ready for Minnesota and get a win.”
The Seahawks are one back of the Rams in the win column with a Week 18 trip to Los Angeles left as a potential division-deciding date next month.
Another window remains open to the Seahawks that could equate to sending the team on the road for the postseason. The Seahawks trail the current No. 7 seed Washington (9-5) by a game in the wild-card chase. Seattle holds a tiebreaker over the Falcons (7-7) because of a 34-14 win at Atlanta and swept the season series from the Cardinals (7-7). San Francisco (6-8) is not yet mathematically eliminated from the playoff picture but would lose a tiebreaker with Seattle because of a 1-4 record against the NFC West. The Seahawks are 3-2.
Seattle has another North opponent on deck. The Seahawks play at Chicago on a short week next Thursday, the day after Christmas.
Seattle was without leading rusher Kenneth Walker III (calf) for the second straight game and quarterback Geno Smith suffered a right knee injury midway through the third quarter and didn’t return in the loss to the Packers. Sam Howell struggled in Smith’s place, completing just 5 of 14 passes for 24 yards and an interception.
Coach Mike Macdonald said tests on Smith’s knee didn’t reveal anything major and the veteran was able to take the field for practice to start the week.
“We’re fortunate,” Macdonald said. “A lot of positive, optimistic signs coming out of the tests. Geno’s a beast, man. He’s in here working out in the morning, working through it. I know he’s still feeling it, but this guy is tough as nails and hopefully we’ll see him practice throughout the week, and optimistic that he’ll be ready for the game.”
Walker and Zach Charbonnet (oblique) sat out Wednesday’s practice along with tight end Brady Russell (foot), wide receiver DK Metcalf (shoulder), center Olu Oluwatimi (knee) and cornerback Tre Brown (hamstring).
Vikings defensive end Jalen Redmond (concussion) and cornerback Fabian Moreau (hip) were the only players to miss practice on Wednesday.
–Field Level Media
