The Rams fell to the 49ers thanks to a last-second field goal from Robbie Gould on Saturday night.
That loss eliminated the Rams from the playoff picture a season after making the Super Bowl, and also guaranteed that the Vikings will have a spot in postseason play before even playing in Week 15.
The Vikings will be part of an NFC group that will also include the Seahawks, Packers, Saints and 49ers. It will either be the Eagles or Cowboys out of the NFC East.
Minnesota plays the Packers in Week 16 at U.S. Bank Stadium on Monday Night Football. If the Vikings win out (vs. Green Bay, vs. Chicago) and the Packers lose out (at Minnesota, at Detroit), the Vikings will clinch the NFC North.
The site FiveThirtyEight gives the Vikings a 10 percent chance to win the NFC North and a two-percent chance to get a first-round bye.
One step at a time here.
Right now, the Vikings are locked in as the second wild card team, but that could change depending on what happens the rest of the way.
This will mark Kirk Cousins’ third career trip to the postseason and his first with the Vikings.
It’s Mike Zimmer’s third trip to the postseason in six seasons as coach of the Vikings.
