GREEN BAY – We've put it off long enough. "Path to the playoffs" is back, and all the Packers need is a win to get in.
Green Bay's seed in the NFC field and potential wild-card opponent would be dependent on other results, though, so we'll lay out those possibilities.
Seed-wise, both the No. 6 and 7 spots are in play for the Packers, while three possible opponents/destinations await should Green Bay make the field – Detroit, Dallas or Philadelphia. The other games that factor into the Packers' picture are Rams-49ers, Cowboys-Commanders, Eagles-Giants and (maybe) Vikings-Lions.
The Rams (9-7) are in the playoffs but are jousting with the Packers (8-8) for the 6-7 seeds, with the Packers owning the head-to-head tiebreaker should they finish with the same record.
Whoever gets the No. 6 seed would travel to the No. 3 seed, which will be either Detroit (11-5) or Dallas (11-5).
The No. 7 seed would then travel to the No. 2 seed, which could be Dallas, Philadelphia (11-5) or Detroit.
The Cowboys and Eagles are fighting for their division title, with the runner-up dropping to the No. 5 seed. As long as one of them wins this week, the NFC East winner gets the 2, and the Cowboys have the tiebreaker if they finish even based on a better conference record.
The only way for the Lions to get the No. 2 seed would be for them to win and have both the Cowboys and Eagles lose.
So, here's how it breaks down as far as the Packers' possibilities.
To earn the No. 6 seed and travel to No. 3 Detroit:
- Packers win, Rams lose, Cowboys or Eagles win
OR
- Packers win, Rams lose, Cowboys lose, Eagles lose, Lions lose
To earn the No. 6 seed and travel to No. 3 Dallas
- Packers win, Rams lose, Cowboys lose, Eagles lose, Lions win
To earn the No. 7 seed and travel to No. 2 Dallas:
- Packers win, Rams win, Cowboys win
To earn the No. 7 seed and travel to No. 2 Philadelphia:
- Packers win, Rams win, Cowboys lose, Eagles win
To earn the No. 7 seed and travel to No. 2 Detroit:
- Packers win, Rams win, Cowboys lose, Eagles lose, Lions win
Most importantly, Sunday's game at Lambeau Field against the Bears is Green Bay's direct ticket to the postseason. The rest is out of the Packers' hands. Defeat Chicago, and the Packers are in.
There is still a chance of making the playoffs as the No. 7 seed with a loss, but that brings a handful of other games into play (Vikings-Lions, Seahawks-Cardinals, Buccaneers-Panthers, Falcons-Saints).
The Packers don't want to rest their hopes on the stars aligning should they lose, but here's what would need to happen.
To earn the No. 7 seed despite loss to Chicago:
- Vikings lose, Seahawks lose, AND Buccaneers OR Saints lose
That's a lot that would have to go Green Bay's way. So just beat the Bears, and see where the chips fall.
