Vikings can clinch NFC North today

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - The Minnesota Vikings fully expected to be in the middle of the playoff picture, though they may have taken an unexpected route to this position.

The Atlanta Falcons? It was just about this time last year that coach Bobby Petrino abandoned them and their star quarterback, Michael Vick, was incarcerated for dogfighting.

Nevertheless, when the Falcons (9-5) travel to the Metrodome to face the Vikings (9-5) today, there will be plenty on the line for both teams as the season draws to a close.

With a win or a Bears loss to Green Bay on Monday night, the Vikings will clinch their first division title since 2000. And Minnesota still has a shot at the NFC's second seed and the first-round bye that comes with it.

"It's right here and right in front of our face," Vikings receiver Bobby Wade said. "We talk about having control over our own destiny and right now we definitely have control over that with a win."

The Vikings will give Tarvaris Jackson his second straight start at quarterback. He filled in superbly when Gus Frerotte went down with a lower back injury two weeks ago, and he had a big day last week at Arizona.

Atlanta drafted quarterback Matt Ryan with the No. 3 overall pick and he, along with first-year coach Mike Smith and the addition of running back Michael Turner, have been the stabilizing force behing Falcons becoming one of the surprise teams in the league.

"Really it's been a process, and we really haven't looked at where we are going or where we have been," Smith said. "We are just kind of taking it game by game and we've set milestones and we have been able to reach them."