Green Bay Packers need to win last four games in order to capture first-round playoff bye 
BY MIKE VANDERMAUSE MVANDERMAUSE@GREENBAYPRESSGAZETTE.COM DECEMBER 6, 2010

[img_r]http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20101206&Category=PKR01&ArtNo=101206166&Ref=AR&MaxW=318&Border=0[/img_r]Even though the Green Bay Packers are the No. 7 seed in their conference and wouldnt qualify if the National Football League playoffs started now, they remain in control of their own destiny.

If the Packers (8-4) win their final four games, including the season finale against the first-place Chicago Bears (9-3) at Lambeau Field, they will capture the NFC North championship. In addition, the Packers would claim the No. 2 seed in the NFC and a first-round playoff bye because they own a head-to-head tiebreaker edge over Philadelphia (8-4).

If the Packers win out and tie the Bears at 12-4, both teams would have the same division and common opponent records. But the Packers would claim the NFC North title based on a better conference record.

The high-stakes nature of the Packers-Bears regular-season showdown on Jan. 2 is exactly what the NFL had in mind when it changed its scheduling formula during the off-season to ensure division games would be played late in the season.

I think everybody likes it now the way it is shaping up, said Packers coach Mike McCarthy on Monday of the Packers-Bears matchup. I like it. It will be great when we get to that point to see where both teams are. Playing Chicago the last game of the season, I think its awesome.

But McCarthys only focus now is on Sundays game at Detroit, and for good reason. A Packers victory over the Lions, along with a win over Chicago, guarantees that Green Bay would win any tiebreaker over the Bears.

That means the Bears would either have to finish with a better record than the Packers or beat them in the season finale in order to capture the NFC North crown.

It is expected that the NFC South champion, either Atlanta (10-2) or New Orleans (9-3), will earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC. But the second-place finisher in that division will have to settle for no higher than the No. 5 seed that goes to the wild-card team with the best record.

There is one scenario in which the Packers could beat the Bears in the season finale but Chicago would win the tiebreaker. A Packers loss to the Lions, coupled with a Bears win over Minnesota in two weeks, would give the Bears the edge based on a better division record.

If we beat the Giants and have already beaten Philly would we not get the #2 Seed if we win the North and whoever wins that Division also finished 11-5?

If we beat the Giants the best they can finish is 11-5 and if we lose only to NE we will have a 5-1 Division record and three more wins in the NFC.

I don't see where it's an absolute that we HAVE to win out to get the #2 seed. Now I am HOPING we win out and think we have a good shot to but I think there's still a way to lose a game and get the #2.

"warhawk" wrote:

"warhawk" wrote:

This post right here is why I harp on balance and being a complete team.

Not that we can't win or be effective doing this or that.. but there will be times over the course of a season and especially in the playoffs where teams will force you or you will force yourself via poor execution to execute outside of your wheelhouse.

To win every game you can and set yourself up for the absolute best possible position to win the championship as you can.

Home field is a huge advantage.. not a necessity, but an advantage to getting to the end goal.

Hence why I go a little postal when we can't execute in all phases of the game and be a complete team.

Because sooner or later those weaknesses will be exposed and the road will become tougher.

If we can convert a yard on the goaline successfully in Atlanta, we have a cushion.

If our special teams don't fail in Washington and Miami.. we are not in this position.

If our offensive line can come out of the gate and be effective game one.. we allow Rodgers and company to play effectively against the Bears.. we are not in this position.

If you want to hoist the Lombardi and bring it home at the end of the year.. you have to be a complete team and execute in all given game situations as possible..

Why?

To make the road to the goal as easy as possible and increase the odds.

Simple and nothing more than that.

*Edit and addition

Now before I get scalded.. I don't expect to win every game.. but that doesn't mean my expectations shouldn't be to capitalize on realistic opportunities that we face over the course of the season.

"pack93z" wrote:

Why do you hate Mike McCarthy?

"nerdmann" wrote:

"nerdmann" wrote: