Packers could clinch playoff spot before kickoff Sunday

If the Vikings do take the NFC North and get a home game in the first round of the playoffs, their most likely visitor will be the Seattle Seahawks.

If the Redskins lose their final two games they’ll drop to 7-9 and if the Giants win their final two games they could finish 8-8.

They clinched a playoff spot on Sunday, but the Packers (10-4) are a shadow of the team that came within seconds of last year’s Super Bowl. They have yet to clinch a playoff berth but can do so with a win or a loss by the Atlanta Falcons anytime in the next two weeks.

New England Patriots at N.Y. Jets: The Patriots have clinched a bye, but are still playing meaningful football as they look to ensure the AFC playoffs go through Gillette Stadium and not Cincinnati. They are now tied with the Minnesota Vikings at 9-5.

So, that puts some added emphasis on the Carolina (13-0) at NY (6-7) and Buffalo (6-7) at Washington (6-7) games in Week 15. He shook off a knee injury to pilot the drive that ended with Graham Gano’s game-winning field goal in the waning seconds as the Panthers thwarted a furious Giants comeback. Washington can clinch a playoff berth by defeating Philadelphia next week, while it will close out the regular season in Dallas.

The Seahawks face the Cardinals in Week 17, and if the NFC West is decided before then – Arizona clinches with either one more win or one Seattle loss – the Seahawks might be locked into their wild-card seed (5 or 6) with nothing to play for in the regular-season finale, when the Packers might need them to upend the Cardinals. The Seahawks host the Rams in Week 16 and visit the Cardinals in Week 17. The Seattle Seahawks have been red hot with QB Russell Wilson throwing for 16 touchdowns and zero interceptions in their last four games.

The Falcons (7-7), Giants (6-8) and Eagles (6-8) are all still technically alive, but need a lot of help to get in.

Washington would have a two-game lead with one week to play in this case, meaning the Eagles would be eliminated regardless of what happens elsewhere. Root for the Panthers and Bills if you’d like the Packers to clinch on Sunday without having to win. That could either be the Vikings or the Green Bay Packers.