Who holds the NFC North tiebreaker?

As the Detroit Lions get ready to face the Green Bay Packers tonight for Thursday Night Football, there is a lot at stake. The NFC North is currently in a tight race for the divisional crown with three of the four teams. The Chicago Bears, unfortunately for them, are not a part of that race. The Lions are in the lead, but the Minnesota Vikings are just one game behind them, and the Packers just one behind them and two behind the Lions.

NFC North Standings (ahead of Week 14)

Because of the close race, the North could come down to a tiebreaker, which means all their divisional games are significant from here to the end of the season. The Lions, Vikings, Packers, and Bears all have divisional games left against each other before the end of the season.

NFC North tiebreaker scenarios

Detroit Lions

The Lions, at 11-1, are first in the division and the only team that has beat all of its divisional opponents so far this season. They’re in the best position to win the NFC North.

If the Lions beat the Packers tonight, they will clinch both a playoff berth and the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Packers. They’d still be in the lead, but they wouldn’t clinch the division.

Lions' remaining schedule:

If the Lions lose to the Packers tonight, they could still clinch a playoff berth but they’d be relying on other teams to do it for them. It would then mean a split of the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Packers, though the Lions would still hold the advantage in the divisional round tiebreaker with just one loss to an NFC North opponent while the Packers have two.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings, at 10-2, are in second place the NFC North and also have a chance to clinch a playoff berth this week, although it will take more than just a win over the Atlanta Falcons. In order to clinch the division, they’ll need to keep winning, but they’ll also need the Lions to lose some games.

Vikngs' remaining schedule:

The Vikings need the Lions to lose at least one more game in order to be in control in the race for the NFC North crown. If their records are tied by the time they face each other in the Week 18 finale, it would be a winner-take-all game. If the Vikings are behind a game still, they’ll need a win in order to split the head-to-head and have a better divisional record in order to take the NFC North title.

If the Vikings and Lions tie in their overall record and divisional record, the Vikings would finish second to the Lions in the NFC North due to their loss against the Los Angeles Rams, a common opponent which the Lions beat in Week 1.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers are not only last in this race behind the Lions and Vikings with a 9-3 record, but they also have the disadvantage of having already lost games to the Lions and Vikings.

Packers' remaining schedule:

They will need a lot in order to win the North, but they do have a chance and it starts with a win over the Lions tonight. Victory over the Lions tonight would give the Packers the split in the head-to-head matchups and ruin the Lions' perfect divisional record.

After that, they would need to beat the Vikings in Week 17 in order to split that head-to-head tiebreaker as well. If they can manage both those things, they’ll then need a better divisional record than both the Lions and Vikings in order to win the NFC North.

NFL playoff implications in Week 14: which teams can clinch or be eliminated

The game between the Lions and Packers kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET tonight at Ford Field. You can follow along with our live text coverage brought to you by Dane Arlauckas right here on AS USA.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.