Revisions/extensions (7:02 pm 12/2/2007) – D’OH! I transposed Detroit’s and Minnesota’s division records, so it’s not quite official yet.
I’ll admit it; I was way the hell wrong about the Packers this year. I was way the hell wrong about Mike McCarthy (alternately known as E. Michael McCanthy). I was even wrong about Ted (Wile E.) Thompson.
Because the Vikings beat the Lions early today, and the Giants came all the way back to beat the Bears, the Green Bay Packers are our 2007 NFC North champions will finish no worse than tied for first in the NFC North.
1. Green Bay, 10-2
2. Minnesota, 6-6
3. Detroit, 6-6
4. Chicago, 5-7
The tiebreakers situation (direct from the NFL):
– Green Bay holds the head-to-head sweep against Minnesota.
– Green Bay has clinched the conference record tiebreaker against Detroit (at worst a 7-5 conference record for Green Bay, at best a 6-6 conference record for Detroit; they would finish split in the season series, identical 3-3 division records and identical 7-5 records against common opponents if both teams finished at 10-6).
– If it is a two-way tie between Detroit and Green Bay, Detroit would hold the better division record (4-2 versus 3-3).
– Green Bay has clinched the head-to-head-to-head against Minnesota and Detroit (Green Bay would be no worse than 3-1, Detroit would be no better than 2-2, and Minnesota finished at 1-3). I am uncertain whether this would give the Packers the division or bring it back to a 2-team tiebreaker.
Steve, if by some glitch in the universe, the Packers lose their next four games and Detroit wins their four remaining games including beating the Packers the last game of the season, they split the first tiebreaker and I’m fairly certin next would be division record, which would go to Detroit giving them the division. BUT, that ain’t gonna happen! ;^)
The Bears were eliminated from the division title today but are still mathematically alive for a playoff spot.
In short, it’s just win and it will sort itself out.
I caught that only well after I posted.