From Almost Worst to First

I hate it when the Packers are favored. All the talk this week is the Packers winning and that scares me to death. Like I said I don't trust the Packers anymore. Here's what is being predicted:

All 8 ESPN pickers and the computer pick the Packers. All 8 of the CBS Sports pickers pick the Packers. Ben Goessling and Rob Demovsky of ABC Sports picks the Packers. The Big Board at FOX Sports says the Packers have a 54.3% chance of winning. Get the drift.

And finally Elliott Harrison from NFL.com:

Packers 27, Vikings 17

I don't like the Vikings in this game. The only chance they have is if A) the defense is absolutely pissed off at the way it got handled by Andrew Luck and Co. last week and B) the offense doesn't go dysfunctional trying to center around a 31-year-old running back fresh off of a knee injury and subpar performance (that is, if Adrian Peterson even plays). Aaron Rodgers and the Packers know what's in front of them: No matter what the Lions do in Dallas, as long as Green Bay wins this game, the Packers are playing for the NFC North title come their Week 17 showdown in Detroit. Minnesota is still mathematically alive, but the Vikings will need to win at Lambeau while also having the Bucs fail in New Orleans and the Redskins stumble in Chicago. It could happen ... well, except for beating the Packers this weekend.

Redskins 23, Bears 21

Matt Barkley will drive the Bears down the field with a chance to tie late before something stalls the drive inside the 10. Picktradamus says it will be a couple of dropped passes. Like that would ever happen. Huge game for the Redskins, who are chasing that sixth and final NFC wild-card spot. Washington suffered through issues on both sides of the ball on Monday night, but the poor defensive effort stuck out ... as it would have even if Carolina hadn't racked up a ton of points. In fact, when the Redskins score 26 or fewer points this season, they are 2-6. Can they buck that trend this weekend?

I

Cowboys 28, Lions 24

Think Lions at Cowboys will be the eggnog to top off Christmas. Actually, I always hated eggnog. The only fun thing about the gross concoction drank by monks in the 13th century was when Cousin Eddie slurped it in his cream turtleneck over the holidays. Art Monk won't be relevant in this game, either. Will Golden Tate, who tends to have a huge day one week, then is barely noticeable the next? How about Marvin Jones, who hasn't enjoyed a 100-yard day since putting up two hundy back in Week 3? There are matchups to exploit in the Cowboys' secondary, with Morris Claiborne still out. Whether Detroit can do so is the key to this game. And if Lions right tackle Riley Reiff can slow David Irving, who literally was the king of the last two Bucs drives last Sunday night. Randy Gregory is eligible to return for this contest, but I wouldn't expect too much. I would, however, expect this to be a heckuva football game.

According to Harrison the Packers will be in first place in the North heading into the final game of the season. That's a far cry from being a few games out of last when the Packers were 4-6.  From his mouth to the NFL god's ear.