NFL playoff picture: Packers clinch postseason berth, hold inside track for No. 2 seed

The Packers clinched a playoff berth and have the inside track at the NFC North title and No. 2 seed in the NFC after beating the Bears.

The Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff berth and maintained their inside track for the NFC North title and the No. 2 seed in the NFC postseason field by knocking off the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

After 14 games and 15 weeks, the Packers are 11-3 and trailing only the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC standings. Matt LaFleur’s team is one of three NFC teams with at least 11 wins and one of five with 10 or more wins.

The Packers can now clinch the NFC North title with a win over the Minnesota Vikings next Monday night or a win over the Detroit Lions in Week 17. Just one win in the final two games will clinch the division title for the Packers.

Wins against both the Vikings and Lions will clinch at least the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye for the Packers.

NFC standings

1. Seahawks (11-3, still to play: vs. ARI, vs. SF)
2. Packers (11-3, still to play: at MIN, at DET)
3. Saints (10-3, still to play: vs. IND, at TEN, at CAR)
4. Cowboys (7-7, still to play: at PHI, vs. WAS
5. 49ers (11-3, still to play: vs. LAR, at SEA )
6. Vikings (10-4, still to play: vs. GB, vs CHI)

In the hunt:

Rams (8-6, still to play: at SF, vs. ARI)
Eagles (7-7, still to play: vs. DAL, at NYG)

The Packers have guaranteed at least a wildcard berth in the playoffs. If they can win one more game, they’ll guarantee a home playoff game, and the Packers finished 7-1 at Lambeau Field this season.

“We’re 7-1 at home and we have an inside track at the No. 2 seed,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said after Sunday’s win. “Obviously, we have an opportunity to wrap up the division next week, which guarantees a home game and the third seed, at worst. I like our chances. I like our football team.”

NFC North standings

1. Packers (11-3, 4-0 vs. division)
2. Vikings (10-4, 2-2 vs. division)
3. Bears (7-7, 3-2 vs. division)
8. Lions (3-10-1, 0-5 vs. division)

The Packers’ win over the Bears eliminated Chicago from playoff contention.

One of the toughest games on the schedule is coming up next week, but the Packers understand the potential prize – winning the NFC North for the first time since 2016 – is available next Monday night in Minneapolis.

“Our goal is to win the North. Right now that is still out in front of us,” LaFleur said Sunday. “We know we’re going to go into a pretty hostile environment next week in Minnesota. That place is a tough place to go play against a really good football team, one of the top teams in the National Football League. They’re good in all three phases so we’ve got a big challenge in front of us. We’re going to have to get to work and make sure that our process is on point in order to go up there and try to get a victory.”