MINNEAPOLIS -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' loss to the St. Louis Rams on Thursday night means the Minnesota Vikings can clinch a playoff spot on Sunday, with a win over the Chicago Bears and some help in a couple of other games.

The Vikings, who enter the game at 8-5, will be in the playoffs with a victory and any of the following four combinations:

There also are scenarios where the Vikings can clinch with a tie against the Bears and some help, but we won't bore you with those.

All things considered, the most likely combination is probably losses from the Giants and Falcons, since New York plays host to the undefeated Panthers and the Falcons (losers of six straight) face a Jaguars team that has won three of five. Falcons coach Dan Quinn replaced Jaguars coach Gus Bradley as the Seahawks' defensive coordinator in 2013, so both men will know plenty about the other as their teams face off Sunday. Losses from the Redskins and Falcons also are conceivable if the Giants manage to topple the Panthers, but the easiest way in would be courtesy of a 13-0 team and a crumbling Falcons club.

If the Vikings don't clinch a playoff spot this week, of course, they can lock things up with wins this week and next Sunday night against the Giants. They'll also have to keep winning to gain ground on the Green Bay Packers, who are a game ahead of them in the NFC North. But by the time they're in the locker room on Sunday afternoon, the Vikings could be celebrating the end of their three-year playoff drought.