Green Bay Packers Can Clinch 2019 NFC North By Beating Minnesota Vikings, Playoff Bye A Possibility
The Green Bay Packers are one of eight teams that have secured their spot in the NFL playoffs. They’ve still got plenty to play for in the final two weeks of the 2019 regular season with the NFC North championship and a first-round bye on the line.
Green Bay picked up a key victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 15. They maintained a one-game lead in the division over the Minnesota Vikings, who routed the Los Angeles Chargers 39-10.
The Packers can clinch the NFC North title by defeating the Minnesota Vikings on the road in Week 16. Even if Green Bay loses and the two teams enter Week 17 with the same record, the Packers will be in the driver’s seat.
A perfect 4-0 record in the division gives Green Bay the tiebreaker over Minnesota. The Vikings lost to both the Packers and Bears within the first four weeks of the season.
A win over Minnesota or the Detroit Lions in the season finale would give the Packers the NFC title. If Green Bay loses its final two games, the Vikings still need to beat the Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium in Week 17 in order to win the division.
If the New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts on “Monday Night Football” to close out Week 15, the Packers will be one of four NFC teams with an 11-3 record. With the Saints, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks also searching for a playoff bye, the Packers control their own destiny.
A 13-3 record would guarantee Green Bay no worse than the No.2 seed. The Packers are 8-2 in the conference, giving them the current tiebreaker over the Saints.
Landing the No.1 seed and home-field advantage until the Super Bowl is a possibility. San Francisco owns the tiebreaker over Green Bay because of their head-to-head meeting a few weeks ago. Seattle has the tiebreaker because of their record against common opponents.
The 49ers and Seahawks will meet in Seattle in Week 17.
Green Bay last won the NFC North in the 2016 season. They reached the NFC Championship Game that year.
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