NFC Playoff Picture, Week 10: Packers still sit one game back in NFC North

The Green Bay Packers may have gone on a three-game losing streak over the past three weeks, and they may have played abysmal football in all phases of the game for most of the past two, but their season is anything but over at this point. Three weeks ago, the Packers were just one game off the lead in the NFC North. Now, they are...one game back of the division leader.

That is due to the Minnesota Vikings’ collapse, which has been even more crushing. The Vikings, once 5-0, have lost four straight and have fallen in to a tie with the Lions for the lead in the NFC North. Those Lions now currently hold the division lead, thanks to their head-to-head win over Minnesota, and have that one-game lead over the 4-5 Packers.

The Packers are also one and a half game back of Washington and the Giants for the final Wild Card spot, and a Giants loss tonight on Monday Night would make it just a single game. Meanwhile, the Cowboys continue to run roughshod over the NFL, as they have the best record in the league thanks to their win over the Steelers and New England’s loss on Sunday Night to Seattle. Those Seahawks hold the other first-round bye as the only other team in the NFC with fewer than three losses.

Here’s how the NFC picture looks with Monday Night’s Giants-Bengals game still to be decided.

Division Leaders

NFC East: Dallas Cowboys (8-1)
NFC West: Seattle Seahawks (6-2-1)
NFC South: Atlanta Falcons (6-4)
NFC North: Detroit Lions (5-4)

Wild-Cards

New York Giants (5-3)
Washington (5-3-1)

Next Out

Philadelphia Eagles (5-4)
Minnesota Vikings (5-4)
Arizona Cardinals (4-4-1)
Green Bay Packers (4-5)
New Orleans Saints (4-5)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5)
Los Angeles Rams (4-5)

Bottom Tier

Carolina Panthers (3-6)
Chicago Bears (2-7)
San Francisco 49ers (1-8)