The Green Bay Packers only need three different results over the next two weeks to clinch the NFC North title.
One of the results is unlikely, but Packers fans should be huge Detroit Lions fans on Sunday.
Here’s how the Packers can clinch the division by Week 15:
– Packers beat Redskins on Sunday
– Lions beat Vikings on Sunday
– Packers beat Bears next Sunday
No other result is required. Wins over the Redskins and Bears would get the Packers to 4-0 in the division and 11 wins overall. If the Vikings lost to the Lions on Sunday, they’d have five losses and a win ceiling of 11. But they’d also have three division losses, making it impossible for Mike Zimmer’s team to catch the Packers in division record, the first tiebreaker after head-to-head record.
In this scenario, the Packers’ visit to U.S. Bank Stadium to play the Vikings on Dec. 23 wouldn’t have any meaning on the division race. If the Packers won and Vikings lost on Sunday, the Packers could clinch the division with a win over the Bears at Lambeau Field on Dec. 15.
A Lions win without quarterback Matthew Stafford on Sunday just isn’t very likely.
While the Packers are 13-point favorites over the Redskins, the Vikings are also 13-point favorites over the Lions. Minnesota hasn’t yet lost at U.S. Bank Stadium this season, winning all five games, although the underdog Denver Broncos nearly shocked them in Minneapolis last month.
The Lions have lost five straight games by one score. Matt Patricia’s team will start David Blough for a second straight game. Can they give the Packers a huge hand on Sunday?