GREEN BAY – Despite the blown lead in Chicago on Saturday night, the Packers actually got closer to a playoff spot last weekend.
Thanks to Pittsburgh's win at Detroit, Green Bay's clinching scenario in Week 17 heading into its home game with Baltimore on Saturday night is now this:
One Packers win OR one Lions loss secures a playoff spot
At 11-4, Chicago is now in control of the NFC North over 9-5-1 Green Bay, but the division race is not over. With two games left, the Packers could still take the division with the following:
Two Packers wins AND two Bears losses flips the NFC North
Six of the seven playoff spots in the NFC are essentially spoken for. Three NFC West teams – the Seahawks, Rams and 49ers – plus the NFC East champ Eagles and NFC North-leading Bears have all clinched postseason berths, with seeding still TBD. Meanwhile the NFC South champ, either the Panthers or Buccaneers, will likely get the No. 4 seed.
So with all that in mind, here's the rundown on Week 17 and the potential implications involving the Packers:
Detroit (8-7) at Minnesota (7-8) – A Lions loss on Christmas Day would clinch a playoff spot for the Packers before Green Bay even plays on Saturday, so root for the Vikings to hand the Lions their third straight defeat and eliminate them.
Seattle (12-3) at Carolina (8-7) – This game doesn't really have any direct impact on the Packers' fortunes. But if you'd like to see someone other than the Seahawks win the NFC West and/or want Carolina to have a shot at overtaking the Eagles in the playoff seeding, cheer for the Panthers. If you'd rather see Tampa Bay win the NFC South instead of Carolina, root for the Seahawks.
Philadelphia (10-5) at Buffalo (11-4) – The Packers still have a shot at the NFC North, and any losses by Philly would help the NFC North winner finish with a better seed than the NFC East winner, so pull for the Bills to knock off the Eagles.
Chicago (11-4) at San Francisco (11-4) – The Sunday night game will kick off nearly 24 hours after the Packers' result against the Ravens, and Saturday night's game at Lambeau determines the rooting interest. If the Packers win to stay alive in the NFC North race, cheer for the 49ers to beat the Bears. But if the Packers lose and can only get a wild card if they get into the playoffs, it could help Green Bay's potential seed if the Bears win this one.
L.A. Rams (11-4) at Atlanta (6-9) – If the Rams don't win the NFC West and are in the wild-card picture, the Packers could be fighting for seeding position with them, so cheer for a Falcons upset of the Rams on Monday night.
