Wide Open Race for NFC North Title
Week 16 in the NFC North has exciting matchups with big postseason implications for three of the four teams in the division.
Each of the four teams in the division will play outside the division, with just one scenario where one team can clinch. This makes Week 16, one of the most compelling weeks thus far, until of course week 17 rolls around.
The Detroit Lions are headed down at a time teams look to be heading in the opposite direction. The Lions, who are 7-7, know two wins are a must the last two weeks of the season along with a bit of help.
The Lions play the New York Giants in an early afternoon game. The help needed is in the form one of two teams; the Pittsburgh Steelers who take on the Green Bay Packers at Lombardi Field or the Philadelphia Eagles that face the Chicago Bears in the city of brotherly love.
The Packers are a half game in front of Detroit at 7-6-1, while Chicago leads the NFC North at 8-6.
Detroit will be officially out of the postseason if both Chicago and Green Bay win on Sunday. Chicago can also clinch the division if Detroit and Green Bay lose.
If both Chicago and Green Bay win on Sunday, the last game of the season between the two teams in Chicago will decide who wins the NFC North.
In addition, if Detroit wins and both Chicago and Green Bay lose this weekend, Detroit will be back in control of their own destiny for the last week of the season.
A victory over Minnesota could send them to the playoffs, in that scenario, regardless of what happens between the Packers and Bears.
The last scenario is if Detroit loses to the Giants, the Lions are eliminated regardless of the outcomes of the Bears and Packers two games on Sunday.
The Giants visiting the Lions is a game the Lions should win with ease, as the Giants have played poorly of late losing three of their past four games.
Last week the Giants were shutout by Seattle 23-0. No running back on the Giants has 500 yards rushing and Victory Cruz, their top receiver had surgery on his knee and will not play.
Pittsburgh visits Green Bay and once again, Aaron Rodgers will not play as he was ruled out on Friday. Matt Flynn will start for the fourth consecutive game.
Flynn and the Packers have won two straight but could be playing in foul weather against a team that has nothing to lose. The Steelers defense is No. 11 in yards allowed and No. 15 in points allowed and will prove to be a tough opponent.
Philadelphia hosts Chicago on the last edition of Sunday Night Football. The Bears and Eagles will know once they start, what their situations are.
The Eagles are battling for the NFC East title with Dallas. Chicago will have their starting quarterback Jay Cutler back for his second straight start.
Weather could also be a huge factor in this game with wind, cold and possible precipitation causing the teams to run the ball more often, where Philly is stronger as they have the league’s leading rusher in LeSean McCoy.
This should be a very eventful weekend in the NFC North but could pale in comparison to Week 17 if the Bears do not clinch the title this week.
