UPDATED: SEE BELOW

Detroit -- It's late and I'm sure there are lots of playoff scenarios out there, but I thought I would throw out how the Packers can still win the division based on the remaining NFL schedule.

We know the Bears are 9-4 overall, 4-0 in the division and 7-3 in the conference.

We know the Packers are 8-5 overall, 3-2 in the division and 6-4 in the conference.

To win outright::

The Bears lose all three of their remaining games against Minnesota (away), New York Jets (home) and Green Bay (away), the Packers only have to beat either New England (away) or the New York Giants (home). The Packers would be 10-6 and the Bears would 9-7.

Also, the Bears could lose two of their games and the Packers could win all three. Then it would be Packers 11-5 and Bears 10-6.

Now, for the Packers to win a tiebreaker with the Bears, they have to at a minimum

Beat the Giants and the Bears .

As several readers have pointed out, the Packers don't have to beat the Giants to win a tiebreaker with the Bears. If they beat NE and the Bears, and the Bears lose to Minnesota and GB, the Packers would win a tiebreaker based on strength of victory.

Assuming they lose to New England, they would be 10-6 overall, 4-2 in the division and 8-4 in the conference.

In order for it to all work out in the Packers' favor, Chicago would have to:

Lose to the Vikings and lose to the Packers.

Assuming the Bears beat the Jets, they would be 10-6 overall, 4-2 in the division and 7-5 in the conference.

The Packers would win based on a better conference record.

Here's a given:

If the Bears beat the Vikings, the Packers can kiss the division title away on any tiebreaker. Even if the Bears lost to the Packers and both teams finished 10-6, the Bears would win it based on a better division record (5-1 to 4-2).

If the Bears beat the Vikings next Monday night, the Packers will know that at a minimum they'll have to sweep their final three games to have a shot at the title. If they have already lost to New England, they'll know they're out of it.



Here are the tiebreakers:

Two Clubs

Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs). Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference. Strength of victory. Strength of schedule. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed. Best net points in common games. Best net points in all games. Best net touchdowns in all games. Coin toss



The Packers and Bears will have the same record among common opponents as long as they finish with the same record because they both went 1-1 against non-common opponents.

If I made a mistake, please feel free to point it out.