Brett Hundley and the Arizona Cardinals delivered the Green Bay Packers an early Christmas gift on Sunday in Seattle.
Hundley, the former Packers quarterback, took over for an injured Kyler Murray and helped the Cardinals beat the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field, providing the first step in a logical path to the Packers obtaining the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
Now, if the Packers win out and the Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17, the Packers will clinch the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.
The Packers needed two wins and at least one loss each from the Seahawks and 49ers to have a chance to get the No. 1 seed. The 49ers beat the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night, but the Cardinals’ win over the Seahawks opened the door for both NFC West teams to finish 12-4.
The Seahawks (11-3) and 49ers (12-3) play next Sunday night in Seattle. A Seahawks win or tie would be enough to clear the path to No. 1 for the Packers, granted they beat the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions to end the year.
Even if the New Orleans Saints finish the season at 13-3, the Packers would be the No. 1 seed via conference record if they also finish 13-3.
Hundley completed four passes for 49 yards and rushed six times for 35 yards. He helped put the game away with a 78-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter.
A fifth-round pick of the Packers in 2015, Hundley started nine games in place of Aaron Rodgers in 2017. GM Brian Gutekunst traded him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick in 2018.
[lawrence-related id=37001]