NFL playoff picture: Breaking down Packers seeding scenarios for NFC bracket

Vinnie Iyer

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NFL playoff picture: Breaking down Packers seeding scenarios for NFC bracket image

The Packers (12-3) will be returning to the NFC playoffs as NFC North champions for the first time in three seasons. With one week left in the 2019 NFL regular season, they are now looking to have the strongest possible playoff position.

The Packers clinched the division by beating the Vikings (10-5) in Minnesota, 23-10, to end Week 16 on Monday night. With the victory, the Packers stayed as the No. 2 seed, nestled between the 49ers (12-3) and Saints (12-3), who both won in Week 16.

MORE: Projecting the NFL playoff seeds and matchups

Here's a breakdown of their seeding scenarios for Week 17:

How Packers can clinch No. 1 or No. 2 seed

The Packers likely need to win out (at the Lions) to move up to No. 1 and earn home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs with the 49ers and the Saints having the same record.

If the Packers finish 2-0, they would at least be No. 2, because that would ensure they keep the conference tiebreaker over the Saints. Getting No. 1 then would require the Seahawks losing to the Cardinals in Week 16 (which happened) before beating the 49ers in Week 17.

Going 1-1 won't cut it for the Packers for No. 1, because either the Seahawks or the 49ers, whoever wins the NFC West, would be ahead of them.

If the Seahawks win that division and at worst stay even with the Packers at 12-4, both teams would have the same 9-3 conference record. Then it would come down to the common-games tiebreaker. The Seahawks (4-0) have the edge there because they have beaten the 49ers, Eagles, Vikings and Panthers, while the Packers (2-2) have beaten the Vikings and Panthers but lost to the 49ers and Eagles.

How Packers can clinch No. 3 seed

All that is before even factoring in the Saints. If the Packers go 1-1 to finish 12-4, the Saints could win in Week 17 and pass them at 13-3. Then the NFC West champions and the Saints, the clinched NFC South champions, would push the Packers down one spot. 

But what if the Packers and Saints finish 1-1 to both be 12-4? Say the Saints lose to the Panthers to match the Packers at 12-4. In that case, the Packers would have the better conference record (9-3 vs. 8-4) to stay ahead of the Saints.

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Vinnie Iyer

Vinnie Iyer Photo

Vinnie Iyer, has been with TSN since 1999, not long after graduating from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He has produced NFL content for more than 20 years, turning his attention to full-time writing in 2007. A native of St. Louis, Mo. but now a long-time resident of Charlotte, N.C. Vinnie’s top two professional sports teams are Cardinals and Blues, but he also carries purple pride for all things Northwestern Wildcats. He covers every aspect of the NFL for TSN including player evaluations, gambling and fantasy football, where he is a key contributor. Vinnie represents TSN as host of the “Locked On Fantasy Football” podcast on the Locked On network. Over his many years at TSN, he’s also written about MLB, NBA, NASCAR, college football, tennis, horse racing, film and television. His can’t-miss program remains “Jeopardy!”, where he was once a three-day champion and he is still avid about crossword puzzles and trivia games. When not watching sports or his favorite game show, Vinnie is probably watching a DC, Marvel or Star Wars-related TV or movie.