"Obviously, it would have been nice to know that we could just clinch the playoff (spot)," Leber said. "But that's what happens when you leave it in other people's hands. We blew a golden opportunity."

Recent history isn't with the Vikings.

Just last season, with a chance to clinch the playoffs on the line, the Vikings ended a five-game winning streak with an ugly 32-21 loss at the Metrodome to the Washington Redskins in the second-to-last regular-season game. On Sunday, despite outplaying the Atlanta Falcons on numerous fronts, the Vikings lost four of seven fumbles in a 24-17 loss at the Metrodome.

"It could have been the perfect ending," Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield said Sunday. "We just didn't do enough. Just too many errors."

The Packers had their share of mistakes down the stretch Monday night, namely on a potential game-winning 38-yard field goal in the final 30 seconds. The Packers allowed the Bears to get too much penetration, and defensive end Alex Brown blocked Mason Crosby's line-drive kick.

Then, after the coin toss at midfield went off Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher's helmet, the home team marched down Soldier Field and lined up for a 38-yard game-winner that Robbie Gould convincingly converted for the 20-17 victory.

"It seemed it was the Packers' game to win or lose," Leber said. "They outplayed (the Bears), except for the special teams.

"All around, it was just a crazy game. It was just all predestined that they were going to win."

Winfield reiterated after the Bears' victory that he still liked the Vikings' position, noting the number of veterans on Minnesota's roster.

"I like where we're at," Winfield said. "We handle our business, we get in. That's it, plain and simple."

The Vikings win the NFC North with a victory over the New York Giants or a Bears loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday.

The Vikings don't want to back into the playoffs, as they did in 2004, when they lost their final two games of the regular season.

"We control our own destiny," tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said. "If we win, we're in. We've got to really focus this week."

Although the Giants have nothing to gain in terms of postseason position by beating the Vikings, coach Tom Coughlin insisted his team will come to play and win.

No matter, Shiancoe said.

"The way Coughlin is, he doesn't play around," said Shiancoe, who spent his first four NFL seasons with the Giants. "We've got to expect everybody to play. We can't expect them to lay down. They're going to try to win their last game.

"I don't know if they're going to play their starters or not, but it doesn't matter. We've got to go and play the Giants like it's the most important game of the season."

Leber said there was never a choice.

"It didn't matter, because I feel we need to win regardless if we had clinched the division or not," he said. "Just for our own well-being. It doesn't change my mind-set."

That's because of how the Vikings played against the Falcons, who clinched a playoff spot on Sunday.

"Coming off the game where we just played, you want to be fundamentally sound, and you want to all those things dotted and crossed," Leber said. "To have the defensive penalties we had in key situations and to cough up the ball seven times and lose four of them is not what you want heading into the playoffs. Given what happened (Sunday), we need to polish our game before heading into the postseason."

Kicker Ryan Longwell said the Vikings should be pumped about their position. Unlike the Bears, who need plenty of help to make the postseason, even if they win, the Vikings control their situation.

"We should be excited to have a chance in Week 17 to play our way in and not have to rely on anyone else. It's everything you want," he said. "Win and we're in."

Staff writer Rick Alonzo contributed to this report.