This past Saturday could not have gone worse for the Green Bay Packers.
Already without defensive leader Micah Parsons heading into their first-place battle with the Chicago Bears, the Packers then lost quarterback Jordan Love to a concussion midway through the second quarter. Green Bay then lost a 10-point lead in the final five minutes of regulation, as Chicago forced overtime. And then, of course, the Packers lost the game in the extra frame when Caleb Williams made the throw of his life to D.J. Moore to give the Bears an unlikely 22-16 victory.
Despite the defeat, the Packers can still win the NFC North as long as they win their last two games against the Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings, and the Bears lose their last two against the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions.
The more likely scenario for Green Bay at this point, though, is getting the final NFC wild-card slot. And that's a double meaning there, as there is literally only one wild-card slot available, and it's likely to be the No. 7 position.
And the reason there is only one slot available is that when Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers downed the Lions on Sunday, both the Bears and 49ers clinched their respective spots. That loss also makes life a lot easier for Green Bay.
Packers are sitting in the No. 7 slot in the NFC standings heading into Week 17
Here's a quick look at the updated NFC playoff picture heading into Week 17. (* -- Clinched Playoff Berth
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** -- Clinched Division)
Updated NFC playoff picture
- Seattle Seahawks (12-3*, 1st NFC West)
- Chicago Bears (11-4*, 1st NFC North)
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-5**, 1st NFC East)
- Carolina Panthers (8-7, 1st NFC South)
- San Francisco 49ers (11-4*, 2nd NFC West)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4*, 3rd NFC West)
- Green Bay Packers (9-5-1, 2nd NFC North)
- Detroit Lions (8-7, 3rd NFC North)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8, 2nd NFC South)
As you can see, the Packers currently hold that final wild-card slot in the No. 7 position.
And that third wild-card berth can now only be won by Green Bay or Detroit, as the only path left for both the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who will meet in Week 18 after Carolina took the first matchup on Sunday, is to win the NFC South.
All the Packers need now to punch their ticket is to win one of their final two games or have the Lions lose one of their final two. So, Green Bay could actually clinch on Christmas Day if Detroit falls to the Vikings.
The Packers are as close as can be, but getting this spot officially locked up in Week 17 would obviously make Cheeseheads feel a lot better.