NFL playoff picture: What does Packers-Vikings mean for NFC standings in Week 18

The Green Bay Packers travel to face the Minnesota Vikings in a Week 18 matchup that will likely see a fair number of backups playing. The Packers are locked into their playoff seeding while the Vikings were already eliminated from playoff contention.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported last week on Sunday morning that the Packers were expected to rest key players this week against the Vikings. The team has since decided to start Clayton Tune at quarterback, giving Jordan Love a week to rest up for the team’s Wild Card game. We can expect other starters to sit and some to start but not finish the game.

The Vikings were eliminated from playoff contention in mid-December, although that result was expected for several weeks before after a four-game losing streak dropped Minnesota to 4-8. They have since won four straight games to climb back to 8-8 to finish the season strong.

The Packers clinched a playoff berth in Week 17 after the Lions lost to the Vikings. Green Bay had a shot at the division title in December, but three straight losses dropped them out of the division picture. They are the No. 7 seed in the NFC bracket and cannot improve on that.

Green Bay will face the No. 2 seed in the Wild Card round. The Bears currently hold that spot thanks to their head-to-head tiebreaker over the Eagles. If the Bears beat the Lions or the Eagles lose to the Commanders, Chicago will claim the No. 2 seed. If the Bears lose AND the Eagles win, Philadelphia would claim the No. 2 seed.

The Vikings currently hold the No. 17 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. If they win, they would move no worse than the No. 18 pick. If they lose, they could improve their pick to as high as No. 13, depending on how the strength of schedule numbers move.

No implications.