Those other times when things went wrong — we’re talking four Super Bowl losses plus 1998, 2000, 2009 and 2017 — weren’t solid opportunities. This time, the NFC playoff field is flawed.

On the eve of the NFL playoffs, the oddsmakers have made their thoughts clear: There are five clear Super Bowl contenders, and then there’s everyone else. As of the morning of Jan. 9, the Lions, Chiefs,

After losing the first regular-season game in league history pitting teams with a combined 28 victories, the Vikings (14-3) hit the road for wild-card weekend, visiting the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams (10-7) on Monday night as the most accomplished fifth seed in NFL history.

The Minnesota Vikings are the No. 5 seed in the NFC and will need to exact revenge against the Los Angeles Rams in order to advance to the divisional round of the postseason. From there, they could be looking at a rematch with the Detroit Lions or a trip to Philadelphia to face the Eagles.

The Vikings will be facing the Los Angeles Rams in the opening round of the playoffs. What other matchups have formed?

Here's who NFC teams want to see—and don't want to see—for their best chance at lifting the Lombardi Trophy next month.

The Detroit Lions are the team to beat in the NFC, but this conference's wild-card teams put up more fight than their AFC counterparts.

While the regular season suggests a Detroit Lions-Kansas City Chiefs clash for Super Bowl 59, everyone is vulnerable -- especially in a league where a dozen teams have to fight their way up from the Wild Card round.