Packers: Predicting each game remaining in final three weeks of 2019

Playoffs

Using the ESPN playoff machine, I looked at the most likely playoff scenarios based on the Packers’ predictions in this article. With victories against the Bears and Lions and a loss to the Vikings, the Packers would win the NFC North and be guaranteed no worse than the third seed.

The Saints have a favorable schedule in the final three weeks (vs. Colts, at Titans, at Panthers), and there’s a good chance they win all three. If they win out and the Packers finish 2-1, they would jump back ahead of Green Bay for a first-round bye. The other top-two seed would belong to the 49ers or Seahawks. I predicted the Seahawks will defeat the 49ers in Week 17, taking the NFC West title. In the playoff machine, the NFC finished like this:

1. New Orleans (13-3)
2. Seattle (13-3)
3. Green Bay (12-4)
4. Philadelphia (9-7)
5. San Francisco (13-3)
6. Minnesota (12-4)

The Saints would take the top seed as they defeated the Seahawks earlier in the season. Seattle would win the NFC West and finish with the second seed. The Packers’ better division record puts them in first place of the NFC North with the Vikings having to settle for a wild-card berth.

This would set up a rematch with the Vikings at Lambeau Field in the wild-card round. A win for the Packers would send them to Seattle in the divisional round.

As the third seed, the Packers would still have an outside chance of hosting the NFC Championship Game. They’d need to defeat the Seahawks on the road and hope the Saints lose their divisional game, potentially to the 49ers.

As things stand, the most likely playoff matchup is the Packers taking on the Vikings. It’s just a question on if it will be at Lambeau Field or U.S. Bank Stadium.