Packers have clear path to No. 1 and No. 2 seed in Week 17

The Green Bay Packers will have a first-round bye with a win in Week 17, but they could also wrap up the top seed with some help.

A dominant victory at U.S. Bank Stadium puts the Packers in an excellent position ahead of the regular season finale against the Detroit Lions.

Green Bay can finish no worse than the third seed after being crowned NFC North champions on Monday night, but they will have their sights set much higher than that.

With a victory over the Lions next week, the Packers will have secured the second seed and will have a week off in the wild-card round before hosting the highest remaining seed in the divisional round. It would be their first playoff bye since 2014.

However, if they get the win in the afternoon, all eyes will be on CenturyLink Field in the final game of the NFL’s regular season. The Seattle Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers. A win for Seattle would be enough to give the Packers the number one seed, ensuring the NFC runs through Lambeau Field.

Making it more interesting would be that if the New Orleans Saints also win, neither the Seahawks or 49ers would have a first-round bye, and they’d have to travel on the road if they made it to the divisional round.

The Packers are in a strong position as they have already guaranteed one home playoff game. Right now, the worst they can do is host a wild-card round game in two weeks. But with one more victory, they can enjoy a week off and prepare for a game at Lambeau Field in the divisional round.

And with some help from the Seahawks, who defeated the 49ers already this season let’s not forget, Green Bay would be two wins at Lambeau Field away from the Super Bowl.