Packers control own playoff destiny on path to first-round bye and top seed
The Green Bay Packers got exactly the results they were looking for in Week 14. Not only did they defeat the Chicago Bears, but they got some help when the Los Angeles Rams took down the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football.
At 10-3 with four games remaining, the Packers now control their own destiny on the path to earning the top seed in the NFC playoffs and the only first-round bye.
Green Bay beat Arizona earlier this season, but needed the Cardinals to lose at least one more game to tie them up in the standings. That places the Packers and Cardinals in a three-way tie atop the NFC standings along with the sneaky Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And due to tie-breakers, Green Bay now holds the top seed.
Entering Week 15, the Green Bay Packers now control their own destiny in earning the top seed in the NFC playoffs and the first-round bye.
The top seed in the playoffs is more important than ever with the addition of a seventh playoff spot in recent seasons. This means only one team from each conference earns a first-round bye.
Green Bay could definitely use another week to get healthy after the grueling now 17-game regular season. Aaron Rodgers, especially, will likely need some time to recuperate from his fractured pinky toe that seemed to worsen against the Bears. Who knows what other bumps and bruises the team will have by that point as well.
All the Packers have to do to hold their position is to win out. They don’t have to worry about what anyone else is doing, as they now control their own destiny. Their remaining schedule looks like this:
- at Baltimore
- vs Cleveland
- vs Minnesota
- at Detroit
The Ravens are dealing with a Lamar Jackson ankle injury, but are hopeful he’ll be able to play against the Packers. Still, if his mobility is limited even a little bit that could be a huge lift for Green Bay.
The Packers then host the Cleveland Browns on Christmas Day. The Packers better be ready to protect Rodgers in that contest because Cleveland’s pass rush is fierce. On the other side of the ball, they must figure out a way to stop the dangerous Browns’ running game.
They then finish the season with two divisional games. First, they’ll have a chance at revenge when they host the Vikings for the final game at Lambeau Field. Then they’ll wrap up the regular season by traveling Detroit to take on the Lions–the only NFC team who has already been eliminated from playoff contention.
Next. 6 bold predictions for rest of Packers' season. dark
Anything can happen in the NFL and the Packers don’t have a cakewalk by any means. However, they will be favored in every game down the stretch and have a wonderful chance to position themselves for yet another deep postseason run.