The Seattle Seahawks gave the Green Bay Packers a big hand when they delivered a 37-30 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.
The loss dropped the Vikings to 8-4 after 12 games and clarified the Packers’ path to the NFC North crown.
Matt LaFleur’s team can now win three out of their final four games, even if the one loss is Dec. 23 in Minnesota, and still win the NFC North.
Of course, the Packers can simply win the next three games – including the Week 16 matchup against the Vikings – and secure the division before entering Week 17.
The Packers finish the season with home games against the Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears and road games in Minnesota and Detroit. Any combination of three wins out of those four games will make the Packers the NFC North champions.
The key now is division record, the second tiebreaker. The Packers are 3-0, with a head-to-head win over the Vikings, who are 1-2 against the NFC North. If both teams finish 12-4, the Packers will have a better division record.
According to the New York Times playoff predictor simulator, the Packers have roughly an 80 percent chance of winning the division entering Week 14.
NFC North standings
1. Packers (9-3)
2. Vikings (8-3)
3. Bears (6-6)
4. Lions (3-8-1)
Current NFC standings
1. Saints (10-2)
2. Seahawks (10-2)
3. Packers (9-3)
4. Cowboys (6-6)
5. 49ers (10-2)
6. Vikings (8-4)
7. Rams (7-5)
8. Bears (6-6)
9. Eagles (6-7)
