NFC Playoff Picture: Where are the Vikings in the conference standings of Week 7?

Minnesota notched its record to 3-3 with a victory over Carolina in Week 6. The Vikings have their flaws, but the team’s knack for late-game heroics has placed them squarely in the NFC playoff picture.

So where does that leave Minnesota specifically? Take a look here:

NFC Playoff Picture after Week 6:

1. Arizona Cardinals (6-0)
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1)
3. Green Bay Packers (5-1)
4. Dallas Cowboys (5-1)
5. Los Angeles Rams (5-1)
6. New Orleans Saints (3-2)
7. Minnesota Vikings (3-3)

In the hunt:

• Chicago Bears (3-3)
• Carolina Panthers (3-3)
• San Francisco 49ers (2-3)
• Atlanta Falcons (2-3)
• Washington Football Team (2-4)
• Philadelphia Eagles (2-4)
• Seattle Seahawks (2-4)

NFC playoff matchups if the season ended today:

• No. 2 Buccaneers vs. No. 7 Vikings
• No. 3 Packers vs. No. 6 Saints
• No. 4 Cowboys vs. No. 5 Rams

The Buccaneers would be a tough first-round adversary for the Vikings. Last year, the two teams faced off in a game with huge playoff implications. Fair or not, Tampa Bay got the better of Minnesota. The two teams’ seasons went in opposite directions after that. The Vikings finished 7-9 and missed the postseason. And the Buccaneers, of course, won the Super Bowl.