Two other significant matchups this week will factor greatly into the NFC playoff picture, and both are on Saturday.
First, the NFC South title and No. 4 seed is up for grabs as Carolina (8-8) visits Tampa Bay (7-9) on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers are the division champ if they win, but if the Buccaneers win, they would also need the Falcons (7-9) to lose to the Saints in order to win the division and make the playoffs. Because if the Falcons create a three-way tie for first, the Panthers win the tiebreaker.
Then, the NFC West title and No. 1 seed is on the line when Seattle (13-3) plays at San Francisco (12-4) on Saturday night. The winner gets a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, while the loser drops to either the No. 5 or 6 seed, depending on how the L.A. Rams (11-5) finish up.
For those who dare to look ahead, whichever NFC West team earns the No. 1 seed would host the Packers in the divisional round should Green Bay advance by beating either Chicago or Philadelphia. But one step at a time.
The playoffs are almost here, and right around the time the team’s charter flight returns from Minneapolis on Sunday, the Packers will know where they’re going next.