The Minnesota Vikings’ win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night removed any possibility of the Green Bay Packers clinching the NFC North title this week, but Matt LaFleur’s team can still clinch a playoff spot with a win and some help.
The Packers have two different clinching scenarios in Week 14:
– Packers win + Saints loss or tie + 49ers loss
OR
– Packers win + Saints loss or tie + Rams loss + 49ers tie
The Packers host the Chicago Bears (4-8) on Sunday night at 7:20.
The Saints go on the road to play the New York Jets (3-9) on Sunday at noon.
The 49ers go on the road to play the Cincinnati Bengals (7-5) on Sunday at 3:25.
The Rams go on the road to play the Arizona Cardinals (9-2) on Monday night at 7:15.
The first scenario provides the chance for the Packers to know a clinching scenario exists going into Sunday night.
All in all, the playoff-clinching scenarios aren’t all that important to the Packers, who are 9-3, in control of the division and almost guaranteed of a playoff spot with five games to go. The team’s magic number for clinching the NFC North is just two, meaning any combination of wins by the Packers and losses by the Vikings equaling two will clinch the title.
According to the New York Times’ playoff predictor, the Packers’ chances of making the postseason are over 99 percent, even after the Vikings win.
Although not officially, a win over the Bears would effectively clinch a playoff spot for LaFleur’s team. Barring the most unlikely of scenarios, the Packers are making the postseason with at least 10 wins.
Also, if the Packers beat the Bears on Sunday night, LaFleur’s team could clinch the NFC North title officially next Sunday in Baltimore.
The Packers have made the postseason in 11 of the last 14 seasons dating back to 2007. A win and some help this week will make it 12 of the last 15.
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