The Green Bay Packers beat the Washington Redskins and got some help from others around the NFC, moving Matt LaFleur’s team into the No. 2 seed in the conference after 14 weeks.
The Packers’ win over the Redskins improved their record to 10-3. The help came via the San Francisco 49ers, who beat the New Orleans in a classic shootout at the Superdome, and the Los Angeles Rams, who took down the Seattle Seahawks at the Memorial Coliseum on “Sunday Night Football.”
The Saints and Seahawks are also 10-3. The Seahawks dropped a game below the 49ers in the NFC West and into the No. 5 slot as the top wild card, while the Packers win a tiebreaker over the Saints based on win percentage in conference games. The Packers are 7-2 (.778) against the NFC; the Saints are 8-3 (.727).
The Packers can clinch a first-round bye in the postseason by winning their final three games of the 2019 season. LaFleur’s team plays the Bears at home in Week 15, the Vikings on the road in Week 16 and the Lions on the road in Week 17.
The Packers can also clinch the NFC North crown with any combination of two wins over the final three games. They’ll clinch a playoff spot officially with a win over the Bears and a Rams loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15.
NFC standings
1. 49ers (11-2)
2. Packers (10-3)
3. Saints (10-3)
4. Cowboys (6-7)
5. Seahawks (10-3)
6. Vikings (9-4)
7. Rams (8-5)
8. Bears (7-6)
9. Buccaneers (6-7)
10. Eagles (5-7)*
*Play Monday night vs. Giants
NFC North standings
1. Packers (10-3, 3-0 vs. division)
2. Vikings (9-4, 2-2 vs. division)
3. Bears (7-6, 3-1 vs. division)
4. Lions (3-9-1, 0-5 vs. division)