The Green Bay Packers (11-5) lost to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, eliminating the possibility of securing the No. 5 seed and locking the Packers into either the No. 6 or No. 7 seed in the NFC playoff field.
After the Washington Commanders clinched a playoff berth with a win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night, the Packers are now the No. 7 seed based on tie breaker (conference record) entering Week 18.
So, who could the Packers face in the NFC Wild Card Round in two weeks?
Three different teams are still possibilities.
If the 6th seed…
…the Packers would go on the road to play one of two teams. The Los Angeles Rams clinched the NFC West title and are currently the No. 3 seed. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers can still win the NFC South and be the No. 3 seed. The Falcons are also capable of winning the NFC South but can finish no higher than the No. 4 seed. The Packers previously beat the Rams on the road this season.
If the 7th seed…
…the Packers would go to Philadelphia to play the Eagles. Philadelphia won the NFC East and is locked in as the No. 2 seed. The Packers lost to the Eagles in Brazil to open the season in September.
Who can’t the Packers play in first round?
Both the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings are out of play in the first round. The winner of Lions-Vikings will be the NFC North champion and No. 1 seed in the NFC, granting a first-round bye, while the loser will drop to the No. 5 seed. The Falcons can only be the No. 4 seed as the NFC South winner, so they are out. The Packers also can’t play the Washington Commanders in the first round. The Seattle Seahawks were eliminated on Sunday.
Current NFC standings (before MNF)
1. Minnesota Vikings (14-2)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
5. Detroit Lions (13-2)
6. Washington Commanders (11-5)
7. Green Bay Packers (11-5)
Still in hunt: Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
Detroit Lions play San Francisco 49ers on “Monday Night Football” to finish week 17.
