Right now, everything still goes through Green Bay.
Unless a team is fully healthy, they’re likely going to fall to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The New Orleans Saints are the latest victim in the Patrick Mahomes revenge tour of 2020, being on the opposite side of a 32-29 defeat. Drew Brees returned to action for the first time in nearly a month and it looked like it for four quarters.
Brees finished 15-of-34 for 234 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw a brutal interception on his second drive that led to a Kansas City score.
At 10-4, the Saints are now fighting their way back for the No. 1 spot in the NFC while also hoping to hold off Tampa Bay in the NFC South. Granted, while the Green Packers 24-16 win over Carolina was far from impressive, they hold the tiebreaker over New Orleans thanks to a victory in Week 3.
Still the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) December 20, 2020
The Packers hang on to beat the Panthers 24-16. pic.twitter.com/brnyA7vrrS
There’s only one path for the battle of the NFC to head through the Bayou. Ultimately, the path to first place is much harder than Saints fans care to admit.
This is the only way New Orleans can clinch the No.1 seed
If Green Bay wins Sunday against the Tennessee Titans (9-4), they win the conference. Anything over 12 wins would give them an advantage thanks to early-season struggles from the Saints.
If they lose, New Orleans must win against the Minnesota Vikings to stay alive. Consecutive losses at home take them out of the conversation.
With that last completion, Mitch Trubisky just became the fastest #Bears QB to eclipse 10,000 career passing yards and 1,000 yards rushing (49 games).
— Bears Communications (@BearsPR) December 20, 2020
Mitch Trubisky - 49 games
Jim McMahon - 58 games
Jim Harbaugh - 77 games
After that, Green Bay must lose to the Chicago Bears while the Saints must defeat the Carolina Panthers. Mitchell Trubisky is now 2-1 since returning to the starting role and has yet to throw an interception in three games.
Could Chicago be legit enough to pull off the upset?
That’s not all though. After losing to the Jets on Sunday, the Rams must lose to Seattle in Week 16. After that, Seattle must win out and claim the NFC West for themselves.
New Orleans’ roster might be the most complete unit in the NFL, but Brees’ arm in the freezing cold is hard to trust. Back-to-back losses now have New Orleans hanging on by a thread.
Here’s hoping Santa comes early and gives them the gift of losses by other franchises.