2 more wins or 2 more Saints losses, or combination thereof gets the Packers a first round bye to get healthy and rested for the playoffs.

Originally Posted by: CaliforniaCheez 

The NFL just released the latest playoff scenarios for this week.

Here they are:

Green Bay clinches NFC North division with:
[list=1]

Green Bay's lucky schedule. You won't believe this. This is simply improbable to say the least. The Packers have caught teams during their worst stretches of the season. This is astonishing:

(1) The Lions were once 5-0. By the time GB got to them, they were in the middle of a 2-4 stretch (and nearly 1-5, as they nearly lost to Carolina).

(2) The Giants were feared at 6-2, especially after handing the Patriots its first home loss in forever. But by the time GB gets to them, they will have been 0-3 in their last 3 games. The numbers don't lie: The second-half story is beyond ugly in the Coughlin era. New York is 47-17 in the first half of the season from 2004 on, but just 24-35 in the second half. Green Bay is fortunate to get the second half Giants.

(3) The Chargers were once solid at 4-1, but when the Packers got to them, they were in the middle of an 0-6 streak.

(4) Tampa Bay started the season 3-1 and 4-2, but by the time the Pack found them, they were in the middle of an 0-5 stretch.

(5) GreenBay beat the Broncos when the Broncos were in the middle of their Kyle Orton-led 1-4 start. Playing the Broncos at home, they did not have to deal with the altitude.

(6) Some people are impressed by the Packers win over the Saints in their homecoming game. The Saints are afterall an offensive juggernaut and 8-3 on the year. But did you know the Packers had the Saints in Lambeau and that the Saints are a very mediocre 3-3 on the road, including road losses to the hapless Rams and Bucs. The 3 road wins consist of 3-point squeakers over the Panthers and Falcons (Falcons in OT) and an unimpressive 23-10 win over the Jags. They are simply a different team on the road.

(7) The Bears were looking good at 7-3. But when the Pack faced them early in the season, the team was in the middle of an uninspired 2-3 run. The NEXT time the teams face off, the Bears will be sans their starting QB.

(8) Atlanta looks good now at 7-4 but did you know that when the Pack faced them they were 2-2 going on 2-3.

(9) When the Pack faced the Vikings this year, they did not have to face Brett Favre, nor did they have to face McNabb. Rookie QB Christian Ponder got his FIRST AND THIRD career starts against the Packers.

(10) Not only did Christian Ponder get his first and third carere starts against the Pack, but Kansas City will be juggling Tyler Palko and new-to-the-team Kyle Orton, remember him from week -- well, whichever week the Packers throttled him. Carson Palmer is a good QB, but he would have only been with his team for a few weeks by the time he faces Green Bay in Green Bay. And who knows who the Bears will have to throw at Green Bay when they next face the Pack?

Hutchingtonsonbergerstein wrote: