The Green Bay Packers Can Clinch The NFC’s No. 1 Seed With A Win Tonight

The Green Bay Packers can wrap up the NFC’s No. 1 seed — and a first-round bye — with a win over Minnesota tonight. The Packers (12-3) and Vikings (7-8) meet at 7:20 p.m. (CST) at Lambeau Field.

Green Bay was given help when No. 2 seeded Dallas lost to Arizona, fell to 11-5 and slipped to the No. 4 seed in the conference.

The Los Angeles Rams (12-4) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4) jumped up to the No. 2 and 3 seeds, respectively. The Packers hold tiebreakers over both the Rams and Buccaneers, though, so one more win gives Green Bay the No. 1 seed.

Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins will miss the game after testing positive for COVID on Friday. Journeyman Sean Mannion, who has yet to throw a touchdown pass in his seven-year career, will start at quarterback for the Vikings.

The Packers, who were 6.5-point favorites most of the week, jumped to a 13-point favorite after news broke that Cousins was out.

This would mark the fourth time Green Bay has claimed the NFC’s No. 1 seed since Brett Favre arrived in 1992 and reversed a generation of losing football in the NFL’s smallest city. The Packers reached the Super Bowl as the No. 1 seed in 1996, while Green Bay fell short as the top seed in 2011 and 2020.

Here’s a recap of Green Bay’s performances as a No. 1 seed in recent seasons:

1996

The Packers routed San Francisco, 35-14, in the divisional playoffs. In the first quarter alone, return ace Desmond Howard had a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 46-yard return that set up a second score and the rout was on.

The Packers then hosted Carolina for the NFC Championship, the first time a title game took place in Green Bay since the 1967 “Ice Bowl.”

The Packers faced two early deficits. But running back Dorsey Levens had 205 total yards, Favre threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns and Green Bay cruised to a 30-13 win.

“That was the game that showed we had arrived,” said Packers general manager Ron Wolf, the architect of that great Green Bay team. “I’ll never forget it. Playing in our stadium in front of our fans and going up to the podium to accept that (NFC Championship) trophy. That was some kind of experience.”

Two weeks later, the Packers downed New England, 35-21, in Super Bowl XXXI.

2011

The Packers began the year 13-0, finished 15-1 and locked up the NFC’s top seed with one week left in the regular season.

Green Bay rested several key starters the final week of the year, so following a bye week, those players had three weeks off. The rust was evident.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns and led New York to a 37-20 win over Green Bay in the divisional playoffs. Meanwhile, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed just 52.2% of his passes and his passer rating of 78.5 was his lowest in a full game in 15 months.

“No one’s going to remember the 15-1,” said Packers nose tackle B.J. Raji, who spends his offseason in Washington Township, N.J., and trains with several of the Giants players. “Now, all they’re going to talk about is the great letdown at home, in front of your home fans that love you and support you.”

The Giants went on to defeat New England, 21-17, in the 46^th Super Bowl.

2020

The Packers went 13-3 in the regular season and toppled the Los Angeles Rams, 32-18, in the divisional playoffs.

Rodgers and the Packers fell to Tampa Bay, though, 31-26, in the NFC Championship Game.

Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady — widely considered the GOAT — threw three touchdowns and helped Tampa Bay race to a 28-10 lead early in the third quarter.

The Packers closed within 31-23 and faced a fourth-and-goal with 2:09 left in the game. Instead of going for a potential touchdown and game-tying two-point conversion, though, Packers coach Matt LaFleur elected to go for the field goal.

Packers kicker Mason Crosby drilled a 26-yarder to pull Green Bay within 31-26. But Green Bay never got the ball back.

Rodgers fell to 1-4 in NFC Championship Games, while two weeks later Brady and the Buccaneers routed Kansas City, 31-9, in the 55^th Super Bowl.

“I’m just pretty gutted,” Rodgers said afterwards. “We had a lot of chances, but yeah overall just pretty gutted.”