Saturday’s win over the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s results around the NFC – especially losses to the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams – really simplified the Green Bay Packers’ road to No. 1 in the conference.
The Packers (11-3) can now take first place in one of three fairly simple ways in the last two weeks of the 2020 season:
1. Win over the Chicago Bears in Week 17
2. Win Tenansee Titans in Week 16 AND Los Angeles Rams win Seattle Seahawks in Week 16
3. Win Tenansee Titans in Week 16 AND San Francisco 49ers win Seattle Seahawks in Week 17
There are ways in which the Packers can lose both games and remain number 1, but the scenarios involve many different results and are somewhat impractical to consider.
Of course, the Packers can win and guarantee number 1. All teams in the NFC, except the Packers, currently have at least four losses.
In scenarios where the Packers defeat the Titans but lose to the Bears, Matt LaFleur’s team needs at least one loss by the Seahawks to make sure there is no tie.
According to the New York Times playoff simulator, the Packers now have an 82% chance of being No. 1.