Vikings playoff scenarios: Yes, the Vikings could still win homefield advantage

They beat the Bengals next Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

They win their remaining three games (vs. Cincinnati, at Green Bay, vs. Chicago) and Philadelphia (11-2) loses at least two of its remaining three games (at New York Giants, vs. Oakland, vs. Dallas). If Philadelphia loses out and Carolina (9-4) loses once more, the Vikings could go 2-1 and still claim home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. If Philadelphia wins its next two games, the Vikings can't claim the No. 1 seed, since they'd lose the common-opponents tiebreaker with the Eagles.

They have one fewer loss than the Panthers (9-4), since Carolina is the contender below the Vikings holding the tiebreaker. However, Carolina would need to win the NFC South. If the Vikings get to 12 wins, they'll knock New Orleans (9-4) and the Los Angeles Rams (9-4) out of contention for the No. 2 seed. At that point, Carolina's record is the only potential pitfall to losing a first-round bye in the playoffs. By virtue of conference records, the Vikings and Eagles would win a three-way tie for first-round byes between 12-4 Eagles, Panthers and Vikings teams.

They go 1-2 in the final three games, finishing 11-5, and get leapfrogged by the Panthers, Saints and/or Rams. If the Vikings go 0-3, they could still win the NFC North if the Packers (7-6) and Detroit Lions (7-6) both lose again. By virtue of conference records, the Vikings and Eagles would win a three-way tie for first-round byes between 12-4 Eagles, Panthers and Vikings teams.

For more on NFL tie-breaking procedures, click here