NFL picks and predictions, Packers vs. Raiders 2015: Experts mainly favor Green Bay Sunday

If the Green Bay Packers win out, they'll win the NFC North division over the Minnesota Vikings, and they will have a good shot at one of the top seeds in the NFC. They are 9-4 on the year, a game up on the Vikings, and two games behind the Arizona Cardinals in the conference.

Fortunately, the Packers play both the Vikings and Cardinals before the season is over. That could be a great thing and it could secure them a first-round bye in the playoffs -- they trail the Carolina Panthers by four games and can't get the top seed -- a needed reprieve for a team that has lost four of its last seven games.

This means they can't afford to drop Sunday's tilt against the Oakland Raiders, or they could lose out on the playoffs altogether, with four teams sitting two games behind them in the wild card race, and both the Seattle Seahawks and Vikings sitting with 8-5 records.

The Raiders are 6-7, and have no shot at winning the AFC West, but a wild card berth is not out of the question. They will need a little help from some other teams, as they are two games back of all of the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. But the chancei s still there, they just have to get past a very tough Packers team. Fortunately, they do have some momentum after beating the tough Denver Broncos in Week 14.

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