Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert
Let's try to take a relatively painless look at the playoff scenarios this week in the NFC North. The Reader's Digest version is that two events could happen based on results this week: Minnesota could win the division and/or Green Bay could be eliminated from playoff contention.
Here are the possible scenarios, with thanks to Bob Hagan of the Vikings' public relations department for filling in some blanks. (But if you spot an error, send it to me.)
1. Chicago loses to New Orleans on Thursday night. Minnesota wins at Arizona. Green Bay wins or loses at Jacksonville. Vikings win division. Packers eliminated from playoffs. Bears barely alive for a wild-card berth. From the best we can tell, the Bears would need 14 games around the league to fall their way in order to eventually make the playoffs as a 9-7 wild-card team.
2. Chicago wins. Minnesota wins. Green Bay wins or loses. Packers eliminated from playoffs. Vikings and Bears alive for division title and wild-card.
3. Chicago wins. Minnesota loses. Green Bay wins. Vikings and Bears tied for division lead. Everyone remains alive. (Ultimately, Vikings would win a tiebreaker with the Bears if both teams finish 9-7.)
4. Chicago loses. Minnesota loses. Green Bay loses. Packers eliminated. Bears need to win final two games and have Vikings lose final two in order to win division.
Seifert joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune for eight years. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and daughter.
