8. Minnesota Vikings (10-4)
Recap: Holding a 19-10 lead going into the second half, the Vikings’ defense buckled down against the Chargers and didn’t allow a single point the rest of the way. Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins and Co. would seal the win with 20 unanswered points in the final two quarters. The only concern now is the shoulder injury to Dalvin Cook.
Outlook: The Vikings have now won four of their last five and kept pace with the Packers for the NFC North ahead of a huge Week 16 showdown. Even if the Vikings win, they’ll still trail the Packers due to the divisional record tiebreaker, so Minnesota will have to win out and Green Bay will have to lose its next two games for the Vikings to take the division. The good news is that the only way the Vikings can lose their wild card spot to the Rams is if they lose both remaining games while the Rams win both of theirs.
7. Green Bay Packers (11-3)
Recap: The Packers looked to be cruising to a victory over the Bears in Week 15, however Chicago was able to work its way back into the game in the fourth quarter. Up just 21-13 in the final frame, the Packers got three stops by their defense to secure the victory.
Outlook: With the win, the Packers remain a game ahead of the Vikings going into the pair’s Week 16 matchup. Green Bay will remain in first place even with a loss to Minnesota, as it owns the division record tiebreaker. Should the Packers win, they will wrap up first place in the NFC North. Also, the loss by the Rams in Week 15 clinched a playoff berth for Green Bay.