Division title, first-round playoff bye within Packers' reach

A victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday would give the Packers their second straight NFC North championship.

But even if the Packers lose to the Bears, they could win their final two games against Tennessee and Minnesota and still capture the division title because they would win a tiebreaker with Chicago based on a better division record.

But Packers coach Mike McCarthy doesn’t want to think about a fallback option. His focus is on one thing this week.

“We’d love to wrap up the division and hopefully be playing for more the next two weeks,” said McCarthy on Monday. “But this is about the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears.”

Beyond the NFC North crown, the Packers (9-4) are just a half-game behind San Francisco (9-3-1) for the No. 2 seed in NFC and a coveted first-round playoff bye.

If the Packers pick up a game on the 49ers over the final three weeks, they would earn the No. 2 seed. Working in the Packers’ favor is the 49ers’ difficult remaining schedule, which features road games at New England and at Seattle.

Listed below is a look at the NFC playoff seedings and remaining schedules. The top six teams qualify for the playoffs, with first-round playoff matchups featuring the No. 6 seed at the No. 3 seed, and the No. 5 seed at the No. 4 seed.

If the playoffs started today, the Packers would host the Bears in a first-round post-season game

1. Atlanta Falcons 11-2

Giants (8-5)
At Lions (4-9)
Bucs (6-7)

2. San Francisco 49ers 9-3-1

At Patriots (10-3)
At Seahawks (8-5)
Cardinals (4-9)

3. Green Bay Packers 9-4

At Bears (8-5)
Titans (4-9)
At Vikings (7-6)

4. New York Giants 8-5

At Falcons (11-2)
At Ravens (9-4)
Eagles (4-9)

5. Seattle Seahawks 8-5

At Bills (5-8)
49ers (9-3-1)
Rams (6-6-1)

6. Chicago Bears 8-5

Packers (9-4)
At Cardinals (4-9)
At Lions (4-9)

7. Washington Redskins 7-6

At Browns (5-8)
At Eagles (4-9)
Cowboys (7-6)

8. Dallas Cowboys 7-6

Steelers (7-6)
Saints (5-8)
At Redskins (7-6)

9. Minnesota Vikings 7-6

At Rams (6-6-1)
At Texans (11-2)
Packers (9-4)

10. St. Louis Rams 6-6-1

Vikings (7-6)
At Buccaneers (6-7)
At Seahawks (8-5)