Three of the seven seeds in the NFC playoffs have been claimed — the West champion 49ers and the two 10-win teams in the East, Dallas and Philadelphia — with three games to go. The rest? It’s a muddled mess. The good news for fans of the 7-7 Vikings is that their favorite team still, somehow, controls its destiny with only NFC foes — the Lions twice and Packers in between — the rest of the way.
NFC division leaders
The four division winners get the top four seeds regardless of record. The No. 1 seed gets a first-round playoff bye; the other six seeds play on the opening weekend of the playoffs (Jan. 13-15, which includes a “Monday Night Football” playoff game).
49ers, 11-3: Clinched the NFC West.
Eagles and Cowboys, 10-4: Both East leaders have clinched a playoff spot.
Lions, 10-4: Would clinch North with one more win.
Buccaneers and Saints, 7-7: Who will be the best of the worst in the NFC South?
NFC wild-card contenders
Vikings, 7-7: Still in North hunt.
Rams, 7-7: 4-1 in their past five.
Buccaneers, 7-7: Play host to Saints on 12/31.
Saints, 7-7: Two wins in a row.
Seahawks, 7-7: Crazy victory over Eagles on Monday.
Falcons, 6-8: Two losses in a row.