Packers had a literal tie-breaker to keep Lions, Vikings out of playoffs

Billy Heyen

Packers had a literal tie-breaker to keep Lions, Vikings out of playoffs image

Tork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Thank goodness for ties.

At least, that's how the Green Bay Packers had to be feeling on Sunday. Not so much for the Minnesota Vikings or Detroit Lions.

The Packers entered Sunday having locked their spot as the NFC's No. 7 seed, and that didn't change as they rested starters and lost to the Vikings.

But there's something interesting happening in the standings.

The Packers end the regular season with nine wins.

The Vikings have nine wins, too.

And the Lions, if they beat the Bears in the late window Sunday, would have nine wins.

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But the Packers have fewer losses.

That's because they had a wild, 40-40 tie with the Dallas Cowboys.

And so because the Packers got that tie, their season continues.

And because the Packers got that tie, the Lions and Vikings will have to watch them from home.

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