For two teams in the NFC North – Minnesota and Detroit – the playoff run is in full effect.
For two others – Green Bay and Chicago – those fan bases now have an eye toward draft position and next season.
So, what are the current playoff scenarios and draft position placement for the four teams in the NFC North?
MINNESOTA
Record: 11-3
Division record: 3-1
Conference record: 8-2
Remaining schedule: at Green Bay (7-7), vs. Chicago (4-10)
Playoff scenarios: The Vikings have already won the NFC North for the second time in three seasons. The Vikings are now hoping for a first-round bye and potentially home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Minnesota clinches a first-round bye this week with a win and a Carolina loss or tie. They can also clinch a first-round bye with a tie vs. Green Bay, plus a Carolina loss, New Orleans loss or tie and Los Angeles loss or tie.
As it stands heading into Week 16, the Philadelphia Eagles are 12-2 and have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They also own the tie breaker vs. Minnesota if the two teams finish with the same record. The Vikings will have to win out and hope Philadelphia loses their last two games to play at U.S. Bank Stadium throughout the playoffs. Philadelphia plays the Raiders and Cowboys to finish the year.
DETROIT
Record: 8-6
Division record: 4-1
Conference record: 7-4
Remaining schedule: at Cincinnati (5-9), vs. Green Bay (7-7)
Playoff scenarios: The playoff scenarios for Detroit are much more complicated, as Detroit does not control their own fate. As it sits right now, the Lions are the No. 7 seed in the NFC. Atlanta moved a game closer to a playoff spot with a win over Tampa Bay Monday.
The simplest scenario is Detroit gets in if they win out and Atlanta loses their remaining two games against New Orleans and Carolina.
If the Lions win out and the Panthers lose out, and either the Cowboys or Seahawks (who play this week) also get to 10-6 and there's a three-way tie between those teams, the Lions would earn the Wild Card berth based on multi-team tie-breakers. The Lions need Dallas or Seattle get to 10 wins in this scenario because Caronia owns the head-to-head against Detroit because of their Week 5 win in Detroit.
If the Lions win out and the Saints lose out, and again, either the Cowboys or Seahawks also get to 10-6, and there's a three-way tie between those teams, the Lions would earn the Wild Card berth based on multi-team tie-breakers. Again, the Lions need Dallas or Seattle get to 10 wins in this scenario because New Orleans owns the head-to-head against Detroit because of their Week 6 win vs. Detroit.
Detroit can get as high as the fifth seed if they win out and the Saints and Panthers lose out and either Seattle or Dallas gets to 10 wins. Both New Orleans and Carolina would miss the playoffs based on tie-breaking scenarios in that case.
GREEN BAY
Record: 7-7
Division record: 2-2
Conference record: 5-5
Remaining schedule: vs. Minnesota (11-3), at Detroit (8-6)
Draft pick: Things can obviously change over the next couple weeks, but currently the Packers have the 15th pick. They haven't selected that high since they went 6-10 during Aaron Rodgers' rookie season and took B.J. Raji with the ninth overall pick.
Indianapolis Colts safety Malik Hooker (Ohio State) was selected with the 15th pick last season.
CHICAGO
Record: 4-10
Division record: 0-5
Conference record: 1-10
Remaining schedule: vs. Cleveland (0-14), at Minnesota (11-3)
Draft pick: As it sits right now, the Bears will be picking in the top 10 for a fourth straight draft. The Bears are currently picking seventh. Chicago needs to put some more talent around quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, the second overall pick last year, at the receiver position. They should be able to snag a pretty good one this high.
