Green Bay is back in contention for the 2017 playoffs with one "quarter" left to go in the season, but needs help.
With their 26-20 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a bit of help from an Atlanta Falcons (7-5) loss, but no help from Philadelphia the Packers (6-6) are 2 games behind the Seattle Seahawks (8-4) for the sixth and final playoff seed (a wild card berth) in the NFC.
The Packers are one game behind the Falcons and are tied with Dallas and Detroit at 6-6.
The Packers would seemingly need to "win out" with the remaining games:
- 12/10: At Cleveland (0-12)
- 12/17: At Carolina (8-4)
- 12/23: vs. Minnesota (10-2)
- 12/31: At Detroit (6-6)
The Browns game would be without Aaron Rodgers. The final three games could definitely have Rodgers available based on his progress from a broken collarbone.
As for who would win each tiebreaker based on each possible scenario, remember: Who owns tiebreakers can EASILY change based on results of games to come, especially if those tiebreakers don't involve head-to-head play - ESPECIALLY if it is a multi-team tiebreaker, so take any "they own the tiebreaker" statements with much more than a grain of salt.
Those tiebreakers will be even more complicated based on the games to come - many head-to-head against other contenders:
Seattle (8-4, Packers would win head-to-head tiebreaker)
- 12/10: at Jacksonville
- 12/17: vs. Los Angeles Rams
- 12/24: at Dallas
- 12/31: vs. Arizona
Atlanta (7-5, would win head-to-head tiebreaker over Packers)
- 12/7: vs. New Orleans
- 12/18: at Tampa Bay
- 12/24: at New Orleans
- 12/31: vs. Carolina
Dallas (6-6, Packers would win head-to-head tiebreaker)
- 12/10: at New York Giants
- 12/17: at Oakland
- 12/24: vs. Seattle
- 12/31: at Philadelphia
Detroit (6-6, head-to-head tiebreaker would be tied if Packers win rematch; Detroit leads now)
- 12/10: at Tampa Bay
- 12/16: vs. Chicago
- 12/24: at Cincinnati
- 12/31: vs. Green Bay
Among other teams in the hunt, New Orleans (8-4) leads Carolina (8-4) by a tiebreaker. The Saints would win a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Packers, so it would be advantageous for the Saints to win the South and have Carolina be the wildcard contender between them. The Packers would win a head-to-head tiebreaker against Carolina if they beat the Panthers on Dec. 17.
Don't worry. Those tiebreakers will play themselves out.
Stay tuned.
