The Vikings don’t play until Monday night this week, but they can already punch their ticket to the postseason.
With Seattle’s loss to Green Bay on Sunday night, Minnesota has officially clinched a playoff berth.
This was one of three ways the Vikings could clinch a spot in Week 15. The other two were a Minnesota victory or a Rams loss. Los Angeles winning on Thursday night took that scenario out of play.
While the Vikings entered this weekend second in the NFC North at 11-2, they now control their own outcome in the division race because Detroit fell to Buffalo.
If the Vikings and Lions continue to win for the next few weeks, they’ll play for the division crown — and a potential No. 1 seed and the conference’s only bye — in Week 18.
The Packers were able to withstand a mid-game lull to come away with a decisive 30-13 victory over the Seahawks on Sunday.
But Seattle has a bigger concern than just a loss, as quarterback Geno Smith suffered a knee injury midway through the third quarter and did not return.
Green Bay got off to a hot start, scoring touchdowns on their first two drives with a Josh Jacobs 1-yard score and Romeo Doubs’ 13-yard catch.
Brandon McManus connected on three field goals in the second and third quarters before Romeo Doubs caught a 22-yard touchdown from Jordan Love with 4:59 left in the fourth period to effectively put the game away.
Love finished 22-of-27 for 229 yards with two touchdowns. Jacobs rushed for 94 yards on 26 carries with a touchdown and caught four passes for 42 yards. Doubs finished with three catches for 40 yards with two TDs.
Smith went out after he was hit low while in the air on an incomplete pass. His night ended 15-of-19 for 149 yards with an interception.
Sam Howell came in to replace him and was 5-of-14 for 24 yards with an interception that led to Doubs’ second touchdown. He was also sacked four times.
With the win, the Packers are now 10-4 and in the driver’s seat for the NFC’s No. 6 seed. Green Bay will host the Saints next Monday night with a chance to clinch a postseason berth.
The Seahawks are now 8-6 and have fallen out of a postseason spot and back into the hunt. Seattle will host Minnesota next Sunday afternoon.
Things have been going well for the Packers on Sunday night but a rare mistake by Josh Jacobs may have gotten the Seahawks back in it.
Jacobs fumbled for just the third time this season with the Seahawks recovering the loose ball.
Zach Charbonnet made the takeaway count, as he took a carry for a 24-yard touchdown.
That made the score 23-13, Seahawks, with 11:16 remaining in the contest.
Jacobs was running to his left when he stumbled and had the ball punched out by Earnest Jones near midfield. Julian Love recovered the loose ball and ran for a 6-yard return to the Green Bay 45.
Sam Howell remains in at quarterback, with Geno Smith officially questionable to return with a knee injury.
The Seahawks have an injury concern with their quarterback.
Geno Smith has come out midway through the third quarter after suffering a knee injury on an incomplete pass.
He is questionable to return.
Smith had just put the Seahawks in scoring position with a 22-yard pass to Tyler Lockett. But on first-and-10 from the Green Bay 24, Smith jumped up as he delivered an incomplete pass. He was hit low by linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. But as explained by NBC rules analyst Terry McAuley, because Smith was in the air, there is no foul for a low hit on the quarterback.
Smith was able to leave the field under his own power. He subsequently walked to the locker room.
Sam Howell came in to replace Smith for the next two plays, completing a pass for -2 yards to Jaxon Smith-Njigba before firing incomplete to Noah Fant on third-and-12.
Jason Myers put a 45-yard field goal through the uprights to make the score 20-6, Packers, with 6:20 left in the third quarter.
Additionally, Green Bay linebacker Quay Walker has been downgraded to out with an ankle injury.
The Packers came out hot and kept the pressure on the Seahawks throughout the first 30 minutes, taking a 20-3 lead into halftime.
Green Bay scored on all four of its first-half possessions with a pair of touchdowns and two field goals. Jordan Love started the game 9-of-9 for 108 yards with a touchdown, ending the first half 12-of-13 for 142 yards with a TD. His one incompletion looked like a miscommunication in the end zone between him and Romeo Doubs.
But Doubs had already caught a 13-yard touchdown, powering his way into the end zone after getting the ball at the 7-yard line.
Josh Jacobs also had a terrific first half, leading the team in both rushing with 73 yards and receiving with 38 yards on three catches. He opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown to cap Green Bay’s first drive. Jacobs had nine touches on that 10-play drive.
Green Bay ended the first half with 15 first downs, 235 total yards, and 3-of-4 on fourth down.
Conversely, Seattle scored a 48-yard field goal early in the second quarter and had another chance to score later in that same period. But quarterback Geno Smith threw a bad interception to cornerback Carrington Valentine in the end zone to end that threat.
Smith is 11-of-13 for 100 yards with a pick. Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads with 60 yards on six catches. Zach Charbonnet has 19 yards on four carries.
Seattle center Olu Oluwatimi is doubtful to return with a knee injury suffered in the first half. The club put in rookie Jalen Sundell to replace Oluwatimi at the position.
Packers linebacker Quay Walker had to exit the game late in the second quarter, which is significant as the team’s leading tackler. He is questionable to return with an ankle injury.
The Seahawks will receive the second-half kickoff.
