Master of Their Domain

 

After Thursday's Miracle in Motown the Packer players had a weekend off to enjoy the win and prepare for the final month on the season. I also enjoyed the weekend with prep basketball games Friday and Saturday night won by the local teams and a very enjoyable Sunday starting with the Collapse in ChiTown and finishing with the Seahawk Slaughter before hosting the chili supper birthday party of my 94-year old uncle. It was a great weekend indeed.

 

After the Seahawks slaughtered the Vikings 38-7 and the Bears blew 20-13 lead to the 49ers with 3:32 remaining in regulation time allowing former 1st-round bust Blaine Gabbert to beat the Monsters of the Midway with a 71-yard TD pass in overtime the Packers emerged as "Master of Their Domain".

 

GO PACK GO

If the Packers (8-4-0) win out they will win the division and finish 12-4-0. However, the road will not be easy with the Cowboys (3-8-0) at Lambeau, the Raiders (5-7-0) and Cardinals (10-2-0) on the road and the Vikings at Lambeau to end the season with the division title most likely on the line. The Cowboys wind up by playing the Redskins on MNF.

 

The Vikings (8-4-0) have a rougher schedule than the Packers with the Cardinals (on the road this Thursday, the Bears and Giants (5-7-0) at home and finishing with the Packers.

The Bears (5-7-0) finish with the Redskins (5-6-0) at home followed by the Vikings and Bucs (6-6-0) on the road and the Lions at Soldier Field.

 

Finally let's hope the Lions (4-8-0) aren't so fragile that the loss to Packers will crush them so they could beat the Bears in the final game of the season to knock them out of the playoffs like the Packers did a few seasons ago although the surprising overtime loss to the atrocious 49ers (4-8-0) might have already done that.

 

As it sits right now with four games remaining the Packers are the 3rd seed behind the Carolina Panthers (12-0-0) and the Cardinals (10-2-0). The Redskins (5-6-0) before Monday Night's game against the Cowboys are the 4th seed.

 

The Vikings (8-4-0) are the top wild card team with the Seahawks (7-5-0) the 6th seed. So if the season ended today the Packers would host the Seahawks and the Redskins would host the Vikings with the Panthers and Cardinals having byes.

 

I would rather not face the Seahawks again. Seattle winds up the season with the Ravens on the road (probably a win), the Browns and Rams at home (most likely two wins) and the Cardinals on the road to wind up the season.

 

If this was baseball then St. Louis Cardinal broadcaster Mike Shannon would be saying, "Ol’ Abner has done it again!" because it seems the final weekend of the regular season could be for all the marbles with the Packers and Vikings battling it out for the division title and the Seahawks battling the Vikings for the top wild card spot.

 

If it ends up with the Vikings and Packers finishing with the same record then here are the tie breaking procedures.

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs). (If the Vikings win the last game then they finished 1-1).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division. (The Packers are 3-2 with one game remaining against the Vikings and the Vikings are 3-1 with the Bears and the Packers remaining. GO BEARS). CURRENTLY VIKINGS
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games. (The Packers are 7-2 with games against the Raiders (won by the Vikings) and Cardinals (both to be played) as well as the Vikings remaining on the schedule. The Vikings are 6-3 with a games against the Bears and Packers remaining. GO BEARS). CURRENTLY PACKERS
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference. (The Packers are 6-3 with three games left and the Vikings are 5-3 with four games left). CURRENTLY PACKERS
5. Strength of victory. (The Packers' wins are against teams that are 42-55 (.433) while the Vikings' wins are against teams that are 34-50 (.405). CURRENTLY PACKERS
6. Strength of schedule. (The Packers opponents are 64-56. The Vikings are 63-69). CURRENTLY PACKERS
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed. (The Packers are plus 70 while the Vikings are minus 133). CURRENTLY PACKERS
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed. (The Packers are plus 7 while the Vikings are minus 100). CURRENTLY PACKERS
9. Best net points in common games.(The Packers have a plus of 53 points while the Vikings are at minus 4). CURRENTLY PACKERS
10. Best net points in all games. (The Packers have a plus 51 points while the Vikings have a plus 6). CURRENTLY PACKERS
11. Best net touchdowns in all games. (The Packers have 33 TDs and the Vikings 24). CURRENTLY PACKERS
12. Coin toss. LADY LUCK