Green Bay Packers: Why Week 16 Was the Perfect Week for Playoff Picture

The Green Bay Packers are probably still pumped up from their blowout win against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.  With a score of 55-7, it's safe to say the Packers had a good time.

The win wasn't the only the the Packers can be happy about this week.

The Packers were able to win without any major injuries to the team.  While Randall Cobb injured his ankle on a return, Tim Keeney reported that the injury wasn't too serious.

The Packers also continued to find a running game, even without Alex Green and James Starks.  While the Packers have had injuries at the running back position all year, they are beginning to establish the run regardless.  The return of Ryan Grant was big for the Packers this week as he ran for 80 yards and two scores.

While the Packers played nearly perfectly, the rest of the games this week turned out perhaps even more perfect.

With the Packers' win, they were sitting at the third seed in the NFC.  In order to win the second seed, along with a first-round bye, they would have to hope for the San Francisco 49ers to lose.

Needless to say, the 49ers lost.

The Seattle Seahawks crushed the 49ers on Sunday Night Football, giving that Packers the second seed for now in the NFC.  While Packers fans are still a little sore about the Seahawks, it seemed fitting that the team that could have ruined their chances at a first-round bye returned the favor in a way.

With the Chicago Bears winning, they will need to win next week and have the Minnesota Vikings lose.  Since the Packers will be playing the Vikings, it seems that the Bears will likely enter the wild-card spot if they win.

While the Bears are the Packers' hated rivals, the Packers have had success against them for the past few years.  They have beaten them twice already, both being more decisive than the final scores suggested.  The Packers would love to have Chicago back in the playoffs, as they would be more prepared for them than most teams.

Perhaps the best news out of Week 16 was the fact that the New York Giants lost to the Baltimore Ravens.

With the Giants losing, their playoffs hopes are, somehow, slipping.  In order to get in, the Giants will need to win next week and hope for Chicago, Minnesota, and Dallas to all lose.  While the Vikings and Cowboys are underdogs in their games, the Bears are favorites, meaning the Giants might not see the postseason.

The Packers would be thrilled to see the Giants miss the playoffs this year.  The Giants have found a way to beat the Packers for the past few years, blowing them out earlier this year and knocking them out of the playoffs last year.  With them missing the playoffs, the Packers' chances are significantly better.

The Packers had perhaps the best-case scenario play out for them in Week 16.  With a potential first-round bye, the Packers will have a much better chance at making a run to the Super Bowl.