:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71762186/1166828905.0.jpg "NFL playoff picture: What does Vikings-Colts mean for NFC, AFC playoff standings")
The Minnesota Vikings and Indianapolis Colts face off on Saturday of Week 15 as the NFL opens a two-week stretch of extended weekend football. The college football regular season is finished and so the NFL is diving in for Saturday football in Week 15 and Week 16. This game kicks off at 1 p.m. ET and the Vikings are four-point favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Vikings playoff picture
Minnesota is 10-3 and sits in first place in the NFC North with a four-game lead on the Lions. They currently are two games back in the conference of the first place Eagles and a half game up on the third place 49ers.
If the Vikings beat the Colts, they'll clinch the NFC North title. If they lose, they can still clinch the title if the Lions lose or tie the Jets on Sunday. However, if they lose, they would drop into third place in the conference. They would be tied with the 49ers, but San Francisco would have the conference record tiebreaker.
Colts playoff picture
The Colts are 4-8-1 and are in the midst of a three-game losing streak. They are in third place in the AFC South, a half game back of the Jaguars and approximately three games back of the first-place Titans. They are in 14th place in the overall conference standings.
If the Colts lose, they would be knocked out of AFC South title contention with a Titans win or tie. They would be knocked out of all playoff contention with a loss and either a Titans win/tie and Jets win/tie OR a Titans win/tie and a Patriots win.
Tiebreaker implications
This has no impact on Minnesota's tiebreakers. The Colts are a common opponent for the Vikings with the Eagles, but Philadelphia already holds the head-to-head tiebreaker. Theoretically this could impact the Colts common opponent tiebreakers, but it's unlikely the Colts are in position at the end of Week 18 for that to matter.