Green Bay’s crushing loss in San Francisco last night opens the road to the Minnesota Vikings again becoming champions of the NFC North division. Now both 8-3. the two teams meet again in Week 16 in a contest that may decide that title.

The Packers have not been good in California in 2019. Nor have they been very good when facing defensive ends named Bosa.

In Week 9, Green Bay was embarrassed by Chargers in Los Angeles to the tune of 26-11; a game in which Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ offense totaled only 184 yards and gave up 442. They also gave up three sacks and committed eight penalties. Defensive end Joey Bosa, harassing Rodgers all day, was the defensive star of the show.

Not Goin’ Back To Cali

Last night, it was the 49ers in Santa Clara, California, doing a similar number on the over-vaunted Packers’ offense; holding them to 198 total yards, and a 1-15 conversion rate on third down. Meanwhile 49er QB Jimmy Garoppolo shredded the Green Bay defense with a 70% completion, a rating of 145.8, and two touchdowns.

Final score: 49ers 37, Packers 8.

Rodgers was sacked five times in another nightmare of a game for Packers fans, with another Bosa–Joey’s younger brother Nick– doing some real damage along with Niner LB Fred Warner and fellow DE Arik Armstead.

The surprising loss puts Green Bay in a first-place tie with the Vikings at 8-3. Of course, if the season ended today, the Packers would own the most critical tiebreaker, a head-to-head victory in Week 2.

However, with a Week 16 rematch on the horizon, the Minnesota Vikings have their work cut out for them. There need not be any pretzel logic or dependence on other teams winning or losing to it at this point.

Instead, it’s all in the words of the legendary Al Davis: ‘Just Win, Baby.‘

On To Seattle

The first course of business is a big task. Heading to Seattle to play the Seahawks next Monday night. The Vikings cannot afford to lose this game despite it being one of the biggest challenges of this 2019 season.

If Minnesota does not hold serve with Green Bay in the next three weeks (while the Packers enjoy a powderpuff schedule against the New York Giants, Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears), they slide right down in the pitcher plant of being a game–and a criteria–behind the Packers.

That would render a victory over them in Week 16 moot.

Still, after a bye week in which bodies are healing and coaches are conspiring for one tough game in the Pacific Northwest, it’s absolutely serendipitous for the Vikings to be in this opportune situation after all the football that’s been played.

After Seattle, Minnesota gets the Detroit Lions at home and the Chargers in L.A. No picnic, but no flaming bed of coals either.

What is best here is the simple math. The Vikings “control their playoff destiny” as the NFL talking heads like to say. If Minnesota wins the rest of their games on this schedule, they would win the NFC North and could easily pass the New Orleans Saints (who are playing a bit shaky of late), for an NFC bye in the 2019 playoffs.

But in a season where they also might wind up 12-4 (any loss along the way), they could still be the sixth seed of that tournament. It doesn’t seem fair, but there it is.

For an incredibly fun–and accurate–way to look at the 2019 NFL Playoff Scenerio(s), visit ESPN’s Playoff machine.

Until then, let’s all gear up for rooting against the Pack again next Sunday when they play the Giants. If Green Bay plays in New York like they have in California this year, there’s a slim chance for another pleasant surprise.