You are correct that division games do not apply unless both team are in the same division. I was thinking conference games was the next qualifier not common opponents. My bad.
edit looking at common opp, And using the Dallas wins out and GB losing once.
KC GB 0-1 Dallas 0-1
Washington 1-0 2-0
Vikings 1-1 1-0
AZ 1-0 1-0
GB 3-2 Dallas 4-1
Dallas will win the tie breaker no matter which team GB would lose to. If it was MN GB would be 2-3 vs common opp. The other two games wouldn't effect the outcome.
Originally Posted by: wpr
Yeah that makes sense.
So the Packers have to win out unless the Cowboys lose at least one game. Luckily, Dallas plays Washington, Arizona, and Philly the next three weeks and Washington is in must win to have a chance mode, the Cardinals need to keep winning to stay ahead of the Rams for the division title, and the Eagles could theoretically be playing for a playoff spot in week 18 (they have 4 remaining games, all within the NFC east).
If the Packers win their next two, and the Cowboys lose one of their next two, I believe the Packers will head into the Lions game with the #1 seed clinched, and effectively have two weeks of rest for their starters (I assume they'll treat the Lions game like a preseason game in this case). But I'm not sure if the Bucs can finish in a way that would give them the tie breaker. Arizona shouldn't be able to with the head to head loss to the Packers