1. Detroit Lions (13-2; lead NFC North; clinched playoff berth)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3; lead NFC East; clinched playoff berth)

3. Los Angeles Rams (9-6; lead NFC West)

4. Atlanta Falcons (8-7; lead NFC South)

5. Minnesota Vikings (13-2, clinched playoff berth)

6. Green Bay Packers (11-4, clinched playoff berth)

7. Washington Commanders (10-5)

8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

11. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)

12. San Francisco 49ers (6-9)

13. New Orleans Saints (5-10)

14. Carolina Panthers (4-11)

16. New York Giants (2-13)

There’s a real chance the Vikings could be playing for the NFC North crown and the conference’s top seed when they visit the Lions next week. Minnesota must first get through a Green Bay team that has won five of its last six to ensure those Week 18 stakes are in place.

The Vikings enter this game even hotter, though, having won eight consecutive contests. Sam Darnold is scorching hot (15 passing touchdowns against a single interception in his last six games), and their defense continues to create chaos.

Green Bay will still be a tricky matchup, and if Minnesota loses, Detroit could seal the division and the conference with a win in San Francisco on Monday night.

Elsewhere, the Eagles can lock up the NFC East title with a home win over the Cowboys or a Commanders loss to the Falcons on Sunday night. Dallas won’t have star wideout CeeDee Lamb, though, so Philadelphia shouldn’t need help.

The Rams remain on a win-and-you’re-in path, as triumphs over the Cardinals on Saturday and the Seahawks next week would give L.A. the NFC West title. The Falcons could take the NFC South crown this weekend with a win over the Commanders and a Buccaneers loss to the Panthers.

If either conference’s playoff picture changes, this will be on the one to do it, probably with Tampa Bay tracking down Atlanta. It still seems more likely than not this will be how the final playoff bracket shakes out.