NFL Green Bay Packers

NFL Playoffs: How Green Bay Packers Can Clinch No. 1 Seed In NFC

Fresh Videos

By @MichaelTerrill

Green Bay Packers

Getty Images

The Green Bay Packers’ hopes of clinching the No. 1 seed in the NFC took a huge hit in Week 15 when they lost to the Buffalo Bills. To make matters worse, the Packers looked horrible in the process. Despite what some people think (I’m looking at you Aaron Rodgers), the Packers still have a legitimate shot at clinching the No. 1 seed and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

Rodgers said on his weekly radio show on 540 ESPN Milwaukee that a No. 1 seed is probably out of the question. However, he did say that he believes the team can still grab the No. 2 seed, which will guarantee at least one playoff game at Lambeau Field, a location where the Packers are undefeated this season. Even though the odds have Green Bay clinching the No. 2 seed, I am here to shine light on another possible outcome.

The given is the Packers have to win their next two games to even think about homefield advantage. A matchup against the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers should be a good warmup for when the Detroit Lions come to Green Bay for the regular season finale. The Week 17 contest between the Packers and Lions will be for the division and a leg up in the playoffs.

Assuming Green Bay emerges victorious in both contests, they will finish with a 12-4 record. Most years, that would be good enough for the top seed in the conference. Unfortunately, there are at least five teams with a legitimate shot at coming up with the same record in the NFC, which means plenty of quality competition in the playoffs. It also means the Packers will need some help in order to get the top seed.

For starters, Green Bay must defeat Tampa Bay in Week 16. It would also be nice for the Lions to lose because that means they could possibly be bounced from the playoffs if the Packers defeat them in Week 17, but it has no effect on the final game one way or the other.

As far as the Week 16 Arizona Cardinals-Seattle Seahawks matchup, and this may sound crazy to Packers fans, Green Bay should root for the Seahawks to win. The reason is because a Seattle win over Arizona on Sunday and a Seahawks loss to the St. Louis Rams in Week 17 means the Packers clinch the No. 1 seed as long as they win out. Even if the Cardinals lose to the San Francisco 49ers in the last week of the season, they will still clinch the No. 1 seed as long as they defeat Seattle on Sunday. Essentially, Arizona is playing for the top seed in the conference this week.

To summarize: Packers winning out plus the Cardinals losing to the Seahawks in Week 16 plus the Seahawks losing to the Rams in Week 17 equals homefield advantage for a Packers team that will have gone undefeated at Lambeau Field in 2014.

I understand there are a lot of moving pieces, but the reality is Green Bay still has a shot at clinching homefield advantage. That is incredibly important because a trip to Seattle for a possible NFC Championship matchup would be very difficult to overcome. Likewise, no team wants to travel to Lambeau Field in January to reach the Super Bowl.

Michael Terrill is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelTerrill, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on