The Green Bay Packers have two different paths to clinching the No. 1 seed in the NFC during Week 16.
The Packers, now 11-3, play the Tennessee Titans at Lambeau Field on “Sunday Night Football.” In terms of clinching scenarios for Matt LaFleur’s team, the other two games to keep track of are the Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints, and the Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks.
The Packers can lock in the No. 1 seed with the following two results this week:
1. GB win and SEA loss or tie
2. GB tie and NO loss or tie and SEA loss or tie (NO and SEA can’t both tie)
Ties are always unlikely. The easiest and most plausible path here is a Packers win over the Titans and a Seahawks loss to the Rams.
The Packers need another Seahawks loss to prevent a potential three-way tie scenario. Green Bay holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over New Orleans.
The Packers cannot clinch the top seed if they lose to the Titans. However, the Packers can clinch in Week 17 by simply beating the Chicago Bears, even if they lose to the Titans on Sunday night.
The Packers can also clinch if they beat the Titans and get a win by the San Francisco 49ers over the Seahawks in Week 17.
Games to watch in Week 16
Friday, Dec. 25: Minnesota Vikings (6-8) at New Orleans Saints (10-4)
Sunday, Dec. 27: Los Angeles Rams (9-5) at Seattle Seahawks (10-4)
Sunday, Dec. 27: Tennessee Titans (10-4) at Green Bay Packers (11-3)
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