Green Bay Packers Secure First NFC North Title Since 2007

The Green Bay Packers have accomplished their first goal of the season by winning the NFC North title. Following a last-second win against the New York Giants plus the New Orleans Saints' defeat of the Detroit Lions on Sunday, the Packers have officially won the division crown. 

The Packers Thanksgiving Day beat-down of the Lions provided them the distance to clinch the spot this weekend. Coming into the day, for the Packers to win the division, they had to beat the Giants and have the Lions lose on Sunday Night Football.

At 12-0, the Packers have a five-game lead on both the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, who each fell to 7-5 on the season. It is the first time the Packers have won the division since they did so in 2007. 

A division title ensures that the Packers will get a home playoff game regardless of how they finish out the season. The Packers finish out the regular season with three of their four games at Lambeau Field. A playoff game means that four of the next five will be on the Frozen Tundra.  

Clinching the division was the first goal of the Packers who now turn their attention to securing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Packers are in great shape to clinch a first-round week in the coming weeks.

In the race for home-field, the Packers have a two-game lead over the San Francisco 49ers with four games remaining on the season.

Winning the division was all but guaranteed in recent weeks, but it is now official. The Green Bay Packers are the 2011 NFC North champions.