Packers have two potential scenarios to reach the playoffs
The Green Bay Packers depend only on themselves to make the playoffs in the first season with Jordan Love as the starting quarterback. After the win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, combined with losses from the Seattle Seahawks and the Atlanta Falcons earlier, the Packers only need a win over the Chicago Bears […]
The Green Bay Packers depend only on themselves to make the playoffs in the first season with Jordan Love as the starting quarterback. After the win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, combined with losses from the Seattle Seahawks and the Atlanta Falcons earlier, the Packers only need a win over the Chicago Bears in week 18 to get in.
"This is exactly the situation we've been working for," Love said after the 33-10 win in Minnesota. "All offseason, all through training camp, to get ready to put ourselves in position to make the playoffs. We are controlling our destiny right now, so we're excited to handle our business next week."
The win over the Bears is the most realistic scenario to reach the postseason. But the situation is so positive that the Packers can sneak in even with a loss at Lambeau Field.
It's not an easy combination, but Green Bay reaches the playoffs if they lose, but the Seattle Seahawks lose to the Arizona Cardinals, the New Orleans Saints lose to the Atlanta Falcons, and the Minnesota Vikings lose to the Detroit Lions. Theoretically, the Seahawks have the easier matchup, but overall it's not a completely absurd combination.
"It means nothing unless we take care of business next week," Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said of the win over the Vikings. "We were in a similar situation last year and couldn't get it done, so we know it's gonna be a tremendous challenge. Chicago is as improved as any team looking from week 1 to where we are now."
Last year, the Packers were also 8-8 coming into week 18 with an NFC North matchup at Lambeau Field. When the game started, the Detroit Lions had already been eliminated — the big difference is that the Lions got eliminated hours before that game, with a Seattle Seahawks win.
Right now, the Chicago Bears have already been eliminated one week in advance. As LaFleur mentioned, though, the Bears will probably give their best shot trying to take their rivals out of the playoffs.
Postseason scenarios
If the Packers win, they secure a playoff spot. Right now, they are the seventh seed in the NFC playoff picture, slated to face the Dallas Cowboys in Texas. It would be a special narrative around a game between the Packers and former long-time Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy.
The Philadelphia Eagles can also be the second seed if they beat the New York Giants, and the Cowboys lose to the Washington Commanders. If both NFC East leaders lose, the Detroit Lions can get to the second seed with a win over the Vikings.
However, if the Los Angeles Rams lose to the San Francisco 49ers, a win over the Bears would put the Packers in the sixth seed — which would probably mean an NFC North matchup against the Lions in the wild card round.
Packers should feel great about their future
Cover 3: Quick takeaways after Packers win over the Vikings
