NFC Playoff Picture, Week 10: Vikings in Top Wild Card Spot

We've made it to the halfway point of the 2024 NFL regular season, and while we're waiting for any potential trade deadline news for the Minnesota Vikings to come down, it's probably time to start taking an early look at the playoff picture in the NFC and where the purple fit into it.

Here's a quick look at how the postseason field would shake out if the season were to end today. Yes, there's a long way to go, but we're going to find that there's a short time to get there.

Yes, the Lions are atop the conference as things stand right now, having run off six consecutive victories and looking very solid on offense. Their defense still has issues in the wake of the Aidan Hutchinson injury, but they have just traded for Za'Darius Smith. You may remember Smith as the guy who completely disappeared in the second half of the 2022 season for the Vikings. . .then again, that was Ed Donatell's defense, so it's tough to blame Smith. There's still a lot of football to be played, but the Lions are in the driver's seat right now.

Week 10 opponent: at Houston (Sunday Night Football)

Another surprise is that the Washington Commanders are atop the NFC East, thanks in large part to the play of Jayden Daniels. Daniels is, honestly, in the MVP discussion at this point, never mind Rookie of the Year (which he's basically wrapped up already, barring injury). The vibes in the nation's capital are pretty immaculate right not when it comes to the football team, although they're going to face a tough challenge from Philadelphia, who they still have to face twice.

Week 10 opponent: vs Pittsburgh

Well, look at that, would you? Kirko Chainz has the Atlanta Falcons on top of the NFC South at the midway point of the season and Atlanta has already swept the only team in the division that could potentially present them a serious challenge in Tampa Bay (because New Orleans and Carolina are both terrible). In fact, the Falcons have already won four division games and appear to be ready to cruise to a division title. It looks like it's just a matter of which of the top four seeds the Falcons will settle into when the smoke clears.

Week 10 opponent: at New Orleans

You're reading that correctly. . .if the 2024 NFL season ended today, the Arizona Cardinals would be in the playoffs. Not only that, but they would host our Minnesota Vikings on Super Wild Card Weekend. The Cardinals' offense has been very good thus far, with Kyler Murray having one of his best seasons, and the defense seems to be coming around. The NFC West is a bit of a log jam. . .Seattle is currently in last place in the division with a 4-5 record. . .but as things stand right now the Cardinals are in the top spot.

Week 10 opponent: vs New York (A)

The Vikings are sitting in a pretty good position right now, all things considered. They got the ship righted on Sunday Night Football against Indianapolis and now they've got a few games in a row that appear to be a chance to build some momentum for a second-half push. Not that the Vikings will make it easy on themselves, because they never do, but in theory this team is actually in a pretty good place.

Week 10 opponent: at Jacksonville

The Eagles tried their best to give away their game last Sunday against Jacksonville, but the Jags just refused to take it from them. That allowed them to at least attempt to keep pace with Washington in an NFC East that has quickly turned into a two-team race. As we mentioned above, the Eagles will get two shots at the Commanders over the second half of the year, and it's quite possible that those two games will decide who walks away with the division title.

Week 10 opponent: at Dallas

The Packers did themselves no favors with their performance against Detroit this past week, and Jordan Love was outright terrible for most of the afternoon and might be hurt again. Honestly, the Packers have been better on offense with Malik Willis behind center, as strange as that sounds, but they'll probably keep pushing Love out there so he can continue to throw awful interceptions in crucial situations. Apparently $50 million/year doesn't get you quite what it used to.

Week 10 opponent: Bye

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