How the Packers can clinch NFC North title next week

An unexpected loss by the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in Detroit set up a scenario in which the Green Bay Packers can clinch the NFC North title next week. What needs to happen?

If the Vikings lose on Thursday night at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Packers can clinch the division title by beating the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field in primetime on Sunday night.

The Vikings are now 5-7 after losing, 29-27, at Ford Field in Week 13. Another loss would make it impossible for Minnesota to catch the Packers if Matt LaFleur’s team can improve to 10-3 against the Bears.

The Packers clinched the NFC North title on Dec. 13 last season. Next Sunday is Dec. 12.

Even if both results don’t hit next week, the Packers are still the overwhelming favorite to win the division. The team’s magic number to clinch the NFC North title is two, meaning any combination of Packers wins and Vikings losses adding up to two would be enough for the Packers to clinch. For instance, the Packers can clinch with two more wins, or two more Vikings losses, or one of each, which is the scenario in play next week.

Remaining schedules for top NFC teams

Among the top five teams in the NFC, who’s got the easiest schedule going forward? It’s pretty close between the Packers and Buccaneers, though perhaps Green Bay holds a slight edge. Here’s a look:

Arizona Cardinals, 10-2 (current No. 1 seed)

vs. Los Angeles Rams (8-4)

at Detroit (1-10-1)

vs. Indianapolis (7-6)

at Dallas (8-4)

vs. Seattle (4-8)

Lowdown: The Packers own the head-to-head tiebreaker with Arizona, and the Cardinals have some toughies left on the calendar. But even if the Packers win out, the Cardinals will need to lose once more. Two of the team’s three toughest remaining games (Rams and Colts) are at home, with a battle vs. Dallas on the road.

Green Bay Packers, 9-3 (No. 2 seed)

vs. Chicago (4-8)

at Baltimore (8-4)

vs. Cleveland (6-6)

vs. Minnesota (5-7)

at Detroit (1-10-1)

Lowdown: It’s pretty clear the toughest battle on the docket remaining for Green Bay is the game in Baltimore. But it’s easy to imagine the Packers sweeping all the games and securing no worse than the No. 2 seed.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 9-3 (No. 3 seed)

vs. Buffalo (7-4)

vs. New Orleans (5-7)

at Carolina (5-7) at New York Jets (3-9)

vs. Carolina (5-7)

Lowdown: At the moment, the Bucs have taken all three of their losses in the NFC (Green Bay has taken two of three), and that tiebreaker gives the Packers an edge for now. But this is the easiest remaining schedule among the top contenders besides the Packers.

Dallas Cowboys, 8-4 (No. 4 seed)

at Washington (6-6)

at New York Giants (4-8)

vs. Washington (6-6)

vs. Arizona (10-2)

at Philadelphia (6-7)

Lowdown: The Cowboys are leading the East by two games and currently own the No. 4 seed, but the Cowboys have lost only one NFC game and could easily slide past the Packers if Green Bay loses. If the Packers win out and Arizona loses, though, and Dallas stays here at No. 4, suddenly we’re looking at a possible division-round meeting at Lambeau Field between the Packers and their former coach, Mike McCarthy (barring any NFC playoff upsets).

Los Angeles Rams, 8-4 (No. 5 seed)

at Arizona (10-2)

vs. Seattle (4-8)

at Minnesota (5-7)

at Baltimore (8-4)

vs. San Francisco (6-6)

Lowdown: The top wild-card team is two games behind Arizona for the West title, and the Packers have a head-to-head tiebreaker, so it’s unlikely the Rams finish seeded ahead of the Packers.

DAN POWERS / USA TODAY Head coach Matt LaFleur and the Packers are nearing the NFC North title.