VIKINGS PLAYOFF SCENARIO
• The Vikings can clinch a playoff spot with a victory; a Seattle victory; an Atlanta loss; or with a tie by any of the three teams.
• The Vikings can win the NFC North with two victories. If Green Bay loses at Arizona on Sunday, it doesn't matter what the Vikings do against the Giants for their NFC North hopes.
WHY THE VIKINGS LOSE A THREE-WAY TIE
• The Seahawks and Vikings are 9-5; the Falcons (7-7) are the only other team that figures in the wild-card picture. If the three all end up 9-7, Atlanta and Seattle will earn the wild-card bids.
• In the NFL's three-team tiebreaker, the first tiebreaker applies to teams within the same division. The second is a head-to-head sweep, which is not applicable. The third is won-loss percentage in the conference; all three teams would finish 6-6. The fourth is won-lost percentage in common games, minimum of four, and there are not enough common games. The fifth tiebreaker is strength of victory — the combined victories of your opponents. Atlanta (which plays unbeaten Carolina twice) would win that tiebreaker and get the fifth seed.
• That would leave Seattle and Vikings vying for the sixth seed, and in a two-team tie, head-to-head is the first criteria. Seattle beat the Vikings, and would get the No. 6 seed.
WEEK 16 PLAYOFF SCENARIOS (assuming no ties)
NFC
East: Washington (8-7) clinched the East and the NFC's No. 4 seed by winning at Philadelphia 38-24 on Saturday night.
South: Carolina (14-0) has clinched the South and a first-round bye. It can clinch home field through the playoffs with a victory at Atlanta or a loss by Arizona.
North: Green Bay (10-4) has clinched a playoff berth. It can clinch the North with a victory at Arizona and a loss by the Vikings.