The Green Bay Packers are alive in the NFC playoff race. That performance against the Lions has injected some hope back into the organization and fanbase. Hope that the Packers aren’t going to go back-to-back seasons without a playoff game.
The Packers still need to win a good portion of their remaining games to get in. Currently, PFF has the Packers at a 43% chance to make the playoffs. To make that 43 percent a reality, the Packers will likely need some help. The playoffs should be within reach if the Packers have a mindset like Lafleur versus the Detroit security guard. Here are a few things the Packers need to go their way if they want to get into the playoffs.
How The Green Bay Packers Can Make the Playoffs
Atlanta Winning the NFC South
Of all the teams currently in the NFC wildcard race, Atlanta is the one team we don’t own a head-to-head tiebreaker against. The Saints are also 5-6 but lose the division due to a head-to-head win percentage. The Falcons would run off with the NFC South in an ideal world for the Packers. That way, if the Saints are still in the playoff race at the season’s end, The Packers will own the head-to-head tiebreaker to get in. Also, if I’m being honest, I think most teams would prefer to see Atlanta in the playoffs. Their QB struggles will likely cost them later in the year.
Atlanta’s remaining schedule includes the following teams: Jets (Road), Buccaneers (Home), Panthers (Road), Colts (Home), Bears (Road), Saints (Road). Even though there are four remaining road games for the Falcons, there aren’t a lot of scary teams left to play. Suppose the Falcons can win four games and get to nine wins. That should hopefully be enough to win the division.
The Vikings Need to Slide
The Vikings have an 82 percent chance to make the playoffs right now. For the Packers to get in, it would be nice if the Vikings provided some help. The good news is the Vikings have a much tougher closing stretch than the Packers.
The Vikings remaining schedule includes the following teams: Bears (Home), Raiders (Road), Bengals (Road), Lions (Home), Packers (Home), Lions (Road). Now, the first three games seem like a cakewalk. Bears at home, then the Raiders and the Joe Burrow-less Bengals. That should be three wins. However, if the Vikings drop one of those games, the last three games become exciting. I’ll for sure be rooting for the Bears tonight. If the Vikings lose four of their final remaining games, their record will be 8-9 and could open the door for the Packers to sneak in.
Seattle Losing Three Straight
It’s a very real possibility. Seattle might have the toughest closing stretch of football of all the NFC wildcard teams. They have back-to-back road games against the Cowboys and Niners. Then they get the Eagles at home. If they lose all three of those and drop one more to the Titans or Steelers, you’re looking at an 8-9 team.
Tie Against the Rams and Saints
The Rams and Saints are currently occupying the 9th and 10th slots in the NFC playoff picture. Since the Packers beat both teams, they will remain below them in the playoff picture if they tie their win total. The Rams seemingly have the harder remaining schedule.
The Rams remaining schedule includes the following teams: Browns (Home), Ravens (Road), Commanders (Home), Saints (Home), Giants (Road), 49ers (Road). The Saints remaining schedule is much softer as it includes the following teams: Lions (Home), Panthers (Home), Giants (Home), Rams (Road), Buccaneers (Road), Falcons (Home).
The week 15 matchup makes things a bit tough on the Packers since they want both teams to lose. The best outcome there would be a tie. However, you want to look at it. If both teams lose three of their final six remaining games, they will end up 8-9. If the Packers can get to eight wins, they own the tiebreaker and would need help from the Vikings and the Seahawks to get in.
Green Bay Packers End the Season With Six Wins
Of course, the chances of the Green Bay Packers running the table like the 2016 team is very small. It’s hard to win one game in this league, let alone six in a row. However, outside of the Chiefs, the Packers don’t have a lot of teams to be afraid of. They shouldn’t fear the Chiefs with how they just played the Lions. It’s the same Lions team that beat Kansas City in week one. One significant difference is that the Packers get KC at home. The following five games should be a breeze if the Packers can beat Kansas City at home.
The Packers remaining schedule includes the following teams: Kansas City (Home), Giants (Road), Buccaneers (Home), Panthers (Road), Vikings (Road), Bears (Home). They would finish with a winning record of 9-8, if the Packers can win four of these remaining games. With some help from the other teams I’ve mentioned, that should be enough to end this one-season playoff drought for the Packers.
What’s the old saying, “It’s not how you start the season, it’s how you finish”? Right now, the Packers are playing their best football of the season. If they can continue to improve as a team and unlock more of that young potential, this might be a dangerous team come January.
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