Indirect Effects: Green Bay Packers Playoff Positioning

Oct 27, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) scrambles in the first quarter against the Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas @ Washington

What A Dallas Win Means:

A Dallas win puts them at 12-4 and gives them a very outside shot at the top seed (requires Cardinals loss and a tie in the Lions/Packers game). More likely, it will give them a chance at gaining a bye-week (requires losses by Seattle AND Arizona).

What A Washington Win Means:

Washington stealing another win against the Cowboys will completely lock Dallas into the #3 seed, giving them a wild-card round home game.

Who To Root For:

The odds are against it, but there is a scenario that could end up happening that manages to place Green Bay as the top seed and Dallas as #2 (GB/DAL win, SEA/ARI lose). The thing is, Dallas doesn’t even have to win in that setup to still end up as #2.

So really, it basically comes down to whether you think it’d be better for Green Bay if the Cowboys are playing well going into the playoffs or not. Not playing well means that they could be primed for an upset, potentially pitting the Packers against a lower seed if they make the NFC Championship. If they go in playing well, then potentially replace the lower seed with Dallas in the NFC Championship, and see which scenario looks more appealing. In this case, that likely team is Seattle, so take your pick. I’d rather see Dallas there.

Now if that unlikely seeding scenario doesn’t occur, we could instead end up seeing Green Bay actually going into Dallas in the wild-card round (if GB loses to DET and either ARI or SEA win). It wouldn’t exactly be my favorite outcome, but if it happened I’d rather have Dallas playing worse.

Based off of all that, I’ll be hoping for a Washington victory.