Here’s How Packers Can Win NFC North, Earn No. 1 Seed.

The Green Bay Packers have a chance to not just win the NFC North but earn the No. 1 seed. The path starts on Thursday night at the Detroit Lions.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – If the Green Bay Packers can defeat the Detroit Lions on Thursday night, the NFC North championship and No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs will be within their grasp.

The Lions, with their 10 consecutive wins, have the best record in the NFC at 11-1. The Packers, who have three in a row since their bye, are two games back at 9-3. The Minnesota Vikings, who are on a five-game winning streak, are sandwiched in between at 10-2.

regardless of the outcome, a victory opens the door to some enticing possibilities.

“We ain’t ducking no smoke,” cornerback Keisean Nixon said on Tuesday. “We ain’t worried about their record or who they are. We’ve got our own destiny and our own goals as a team, and they’re in our way.”

NFC North Closing Schedules

Detroit Lions

vs. Green Bay Packers (9-3), vs. Buffalo Bills (10-2) at Chicago Bears (4-8), at San Francisco 49ers (5-7), vs. Minnesota Vikings (10-2).

Clearly, this is a must-win game for the Packers. In fact, to win the division and have a chance to earn the No. 1 seed, they’ll probably have to sweep the rest of their games. That would include Week 17 at the Vikings. head-to-head is first, followed by division record. Through the first loop, Detroit is 3-0, Minnesota is 2-1 and Green Bay is 1-2. That gives the Lions a big advantage over Green Bay, necessitating the Lions having to lose three of their final five games.

The third tiebreaker is common games. If Green Bay and Minnesota wind up tied, the Packers beat the Rams and the Vikings lost to the Rams.