Vikings lose in overtime 36-30, playoff picture murky

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CHICAGO - The Chicago Bears improved to 6-and-9 after their 36-30 overtime win over Minnesota last night. Jay Cutler threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Devin Aromashodu nearly six minutes into the OT.

The Vikings were down by 17 at one point, and Brett Favre almost got his first career victory in that predicament. But he fell short despite throwing for 321 yards and two touchdowns. Adrian Peterson ran for 94 yards and two scores for the Vikes – but he fumbled in overtime to set up Chicago’s winning touchdown. Cutler threw for 273 yards and a season-high four touchdowns, with one interception.

Minnesota, still the NFC North champion, drops to 11-4. This all but scrambles the playoff picture in the NFC even though the final six teams are known before the final regular season game.

The Packers would still get the number-five NFC playoff seed – and a guaranteed first-round match-up at Arizona – if they beat those same Cardinals on Sunday in their regular season finale. But if the Packers lose this week, the odds of returning to Minneapolis for the Wild Card round got a little better after last night. The Vikings lost any chance of getting the NFC’s best record, thus giving New Orleans home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Vikings also lost their advantage for the number-two seed and a first-round bye. Philadelphia is in the driver’s seat for that spot now, and the Eagles can nail down the two-seed with a win at Dallas on Sunday. That would drop Minnesota to the third spot, and a Wild Card match-up with the number-six seed – which would be the Packers if they, the Vikings, and Dallas all lose this week. Minnesota hosts the New York Giants on Sunday. A Packer loss could also put them in Dallas for the first playoff round, depending on what happens throughout the league this weekend.

Tags: mn sports, vikings