The Green Bay Packers are on the verge of clinching a playoff spot for the second consecutive year. With a win over the Detroit Lions and some help on Sunday, the Packers can clinch a playoff berth or even win the NFC North outright in Week 14.
Welcome to the Packers playoff rooting guide.
The Packers can clinch a playoff spot on Sunday with a win over the Lions and one of the following results:
– Arizona Cardinals loss or tie to the New York Giants
– Seattle Seahawks win or tie over the New York Jets
The preferred scenario here is actually for the Packers to win and the Cardinals and Seahawks to lose. Matt LaFleur’s team would clinch without the Seahawks gaining another win.
The Packers can also clinch the NFC North title with either of these two scenarios:
– Win over the Lions and a Minnesota Vikings loss or tie to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
– Tie with Lions and a Vikings loss to the Buccaneers
No one wants a tie. The first scenario is clearly the preferred option.
Another important factor: the race for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
The Packers trail the New Orleans Saints (10-2) by a single game for the top spot but hold the head-to-head tiebreaker via their Week 3 win. If the Packers win out and the Saints lose one game, the Packers are the No. 1 seed. The obvious rooting interest here is hoping for an Eagles win over the Saints on Sunday in Philadelphia.
