The 1 seed now hinges on Seattle/Carolina, and the way Carolina has played this year, them beating Tampa was the worst thing for us. They seem to respond better after a bad loss (like when they beat us after laying an egg against the Niners).
If Seattle wins that game, then the winner of the Niners/Bears has an inside track. Obviously if the Niners win, it sets up a game for the number one seed in week 18 between the Niners and Seahawks. If its the Bears that beat the Niners, I just dont see them losing to a broken Detroit team in week 18, but anything is possible.
And heres the thing....if the 1 seed ends up being off the table, I think I'd almost prefer to be the 5 seed to the 2 seed. And if we win out, we are the 5 seed at worst.
The 2 seed is all but assured to host the Packers. Even without Parsons, that's a team that could beat anyone. I'd likely pick them to beat the Bears or Niners if they were the 2 seed. After hosting the Packers, we'd likely host the Eagles, then go to Seattle.
As the 5 seed, we are going to either Tampa or Carolina - preferable to hosting the Packers IMO. Then it depends - if Green Bay beats the 2 seed, they go to play the 1 seed, leaving us to likely travel to Philly....but....
The loser of the Niners/Seahawks game will be the 6 seed if we win out - either team could beat the Eagles. And if they do, even as the 5 seed, the bracket could play out like this:
1. Seattle
2. Chicago
3. Philly
4. Tampa Bay
5. LA
6. SF
7. GB
Packers beat Bears (should have beaten them the other night, will likely be favored in the game)
Niners beat Eagles (this one is unlikely with the Niners defense but the offense is crazy right now and the Eagles have seemed broken all year)
Rams beat Bucs
Divisional round:
Packers at Seahawks
Niners at Rams
And then if the Packers were to beat Seattle, we would host the NFCCG.