Sunday’s results eliminated the opportunity for the Green Bay Packers to reach No. 1 in the NFC in Week 16 and set an important end to the season against the Bears in Chicago.
The Packers needed a Los Angeles Rams win over the Seattle Seahawks to have a chance of winning Sunday night with a win over the Tennessee Titans, but Pete Carroll’s team had other plans, delivering a 20-9 victory over the Rams. NFC Western title and kept the Seahawks alive for No. 1.
The path to the playoffs is now simple for the Packers: defeat the Bears next Sunday, and the number 1 will belong to Green Bay.
Sunday night is not necessarily meaningless for the Packers. If they beat the Titans, Matt LaFleur’s team would only need a loss to the Seahawks to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17 to win No. 1, providing another path to first place.
The Titans have a lot to play on Sunday night. Thanks to the loss of the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the Titans can win the AFC South title with a victory over the Packers.
The Bears, now 8-7, will fight for seventh and final place in the playoffs in week 17. A win over the Packers in the final would get a post-season spot.
The Packers can win the No. 1 seed and help eliminate the Bears from the playoffs by winning at Soldier Field next week.