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The Seattle Seahawks beat the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football in Week 13, 37-30.
The outcome meant more to the playoff standings than to just the Seahawks’ and Vikings’ fortunes.
It re-shaped the entire NFC playoff landscape:
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The win catapults the Seahawks to the top of the NFC West thanks to their win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10. They’ll meet again in the final week of the regular season, but Seattle’s loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 3 means Seattle catapults into the #2 seed with the Saints now atop the NFC. The Vikings’ loss means the Green Bay Packers are your NFC North leader with the Dallas Cowboys leading the NFC East at 6-6 setting your top four seeds. The Niners have the best record from a team not in the divisional lead with the Vikings in sixth at 8-4...just one game in front of the Los Angeles Rams at 7-5.
And now, the Rams’ path to the 2020 NFL Playoffs is set. Sure, the Seahawks and Niners could mathematically end up 10-6. Yes, the Packers could fall apart.
But as it stands after tonight, the Rams are chasing the Vikings to get into the playoffs.
Let the games begin.