With the Detroit Lions falling to the Cowboys in Dallas Monday night 42-21, it sets up a winner take all match for the NFC North Division when the Packers travel to Ford Field for the now flexed, 7:30 PM kickoff in the final game of the regular season.
Both teams now stand at 9-6. The winner will earn a division title, the Packers are looking to capture their 5th championship in the last six years, the Lions are aiming for their first NFC North crown since 1993. The winner also earns a home playoff game as no worse than the number four seed in the NFC but a lot can change based on what happens prior to the Green Bay-Detroit showdown.
Dallas has clinched the number one seed and homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs by virtue of their now 13-2 record.
The Atlanta Falcons, at 10-5, currently hold the number two seed as the NFC South winner. They’ll clinch a first round bye with a season ending victory at home versus New Orleans. A loss could drop them behind Seattle.
Seattle is for now, the number three seed. The NFC West winners are 9-5-1 finishing on the road at 2-13 San Francisco. A victory would lock the Seahawks in at number three and they would host the lowest seeded Wild Card team next weekend.
The Packers-Lions winner would be number four and the New York Giants, at 10-5, are locked in as the number five seed and first Wild Card team.
The Giants game with the Washington Redskins will have the biggest influence on the final matchups. The Redskins are 8-6-1 and that tie will be very beneficial if they defeat the Giants at FedEx Field in a 12:00 PM start. Washington will climb above the Packers-Lions loser for the final wild card spot. If the Giants win, the Redskins will be eliminated and put both Green Bay and Detroit in the playoffs.
I know the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are mathematically alive but you’d have to be Einstein to understand the possiblities. In short, the Bucs had the first step go their way with the Dallas victory Monday night. But they must also beat Carolina, and have the Colts, Cowboys, Lions, Titans and 49ers ALL win on the final Sunday, plus have the Redskins-Giants game end in a tie. Good luck with that.
So let’s say the Packers beat Detroit and return home as North champs and the number 4 seed. They would then host the Giants on the opening playoff weekend.
If Detroit wins, but the Packers still earn a wild card slot with New York’s help, the Green Bay would travel to Seattle most likely, or possibly Atlanta.
Simple solution, take the probabilities out of the equation and beat Detroit.
