NFC Playoff Picture: How Packers can get closer to top seed in Week 12

Here’s the ultimate guide to who needs to win and lose for the Green Bay Packers to get one step closer to the top seed in the NFC for the playoffs.

It may be difficult to keep up with all the changes in the postseason structures across all the major sports leagues. The NFL, like many other leagues, adjusted their playoffs for this season and beyond, creating additional intrigue. There will now be seven teams represented from each conference and only the top seed gets a first-round bye.

The Green Bay Packers currently sit in third place in the NFC thanks to a 7-3 record, but are only one game back of the New Orleans Saints for the top spot. However, there are two other 7-3 teams–the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks–another 7-4 squad–the Tampa Bay Buccaneers–and one 6-4 team–the Arizona Cardinals–so it’s safe to say it’s crowded at the top of the NFC playoff picture.

In order for Green Bay to keep pace and potentially gain ground at the top of the standings, they obviously need to take down the Chicago Bears in Week 12. But what else needs to happen? Let’s take a look at who the other squads face and what might need to go down for Green Bay to get closer to the top seed.

• The Saints take on the Denver Broncos in Denver on Sunday afternoon. They are nearly a touchdown favorite and should be able to take care of their own business.
• The Rams also have a fairly easy contest, as they host the short-handed San Francisco 49ers.
• The Seahawks play on Monday Night Football and travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles.
• The Buccaneers have the most difficult matchup, as they host the 9-1 Kansas City Chiefs.
• The Cardinals are slight road favorites over the New England Patriots.

The Packers own the head-to-head tie-breaker over the Saints so they don’t have to pass them in the standings, just catch them in a two-way tie. However, the tiebreaker scenarios get more complicated if it’s three or more teams tied at the top.

There’s still a lot of season left so Green Bay doesn’t necessarily have to go into full scoreboard watching at this point. They simply have to take care of business and ensure they leave Chicago with a “W.”