Packers’ chances of first-round bye improve with 49ers win

The Green Bay Packers’ chances of earning a first-round bye improved with the San Francisco 49ers’ victory in Week 14.

While the Green Bay Packers were holding onto a small lead against the Washington Redskins, the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints were playing out a 94-point classic at the Superdome. The 49ers scored a walk-off field goal to win the game 48-46.

While the 49ers are one of the Packers’ rivals in the NFC playoff picture, the same goes for the Saints. And a San Francisco victory is beneficial to Green Bay’s chances of securing a first-round bye.

FiveThirtyEight’s NFL predictions gave the Packers a 20 percent chance of earning a first-round bye entering Week 14. But after their victory over the Redskins and the 49ers’ win against the Saints, Green Bay is now given a 32 percent chance of getting a bye.

The result was significant as it now means Green Bay is ahead of New Orleans in the standings due to a better conference record. The Packers now control their own destiny when it comes to securing a first-round bye. If they win their remaining three games, they will finish with no worse than the NFC’s number two seed.

The 49ers are a game ahead of the Pack, but effectively two ahead as they own the head-to-head tiebreaker. If the Seattle Seahawks win out, they’d also have a better record than the Packers. But as San Francisco and Seattle both play in the NFC West, only one can win the division and earn a first-round bye. The other will have to settle for a wild-card berth.

With no concerns of an NFC East team entering the race for a bye, it could come down to a race between the Packers and Saints for the second seed.

For now, Green Bay is ahead.