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Best and worst-case scenarios for Packers’ playoff run

By Brian Sampson

Oct 3, 2021; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur talks with quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) during warmups prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2021; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur talks with quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) during warmups prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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With 15 games completed and just two remaining in the 2021 NFL season, there’s still a lot of unknowns about the playoffs heading into the remaining weekends. Even with the Green Bay Packers holding the NFC’s (and NFL’s) best record.

At 12-3, Green Bay has positioned themselves to get a first-round playoff bye for the third straight year under head coach Matt LaFleur and the second time in a row where they would have home-field advantage. However, their work isn’t done.

Despite controlling their own destiny, the path to a first-round bye won’t be an easy one. They first have to host the Minnesota Vikings in their final regular-season home game at Lambeau Field. The Vikings are fighting for their playoff lives and are eliminated from postseason contention with a loss. Next, they must travel to Detroit to take on the Lions. The Lions have suddenly won a couple of games and always give the Packers trouble.

Here are the best and worst-case scenarios for a potential Green Bay Packers’ run through the playoffs and to the Super Bowl.

If Green Bay can take care of their own business, then they’ve done their part in achieving the best-case scenario. Let’s dive into what that would look like.

Best-case for Packers: First things first: the Packers secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. That would also give them the only bye and another week to heal up (I’m looking at you, Aaron Rodgers).

Next, they would host the winner of the 4 vs 5 seed matchup which is currently the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs the Arizona Cardinals. That’s perfect for Green Bay as they’d probably rather avoid the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams until later in the postseason. The Buccaneers are more banged up than ever so they scare Green Bay less than a year ago. If Arizona takes that game and heads to Green Bay, that’s a perfect matchup for the Packers.

After defeating the Cardinals to advance to the NFC Championship game, Green Bay would then play the Rams to get to the Super Bowl. Matthew Stafford has struggled in big games throughout his career and that’s more apparent than ever with the Rams this season. The Packers would love to count on another dud from Stafford while being able to continue their hot streak against LA.

Worst-case for Packers:

The worst-case for Green Bay is that they lose not only their first-round bye, but fall all the way to fourth in the conference. That’s still a possibility if the Packers lose their final two games and the Rams, Buccaneers, and Cowboys each win out.

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If that happens, the Packers would host the Cardinals in the opening round before traveling to Dallas if they win. A playoff schedule that consists of the Cardinals, Cowboys and then either the Rams or Bucs would force Green Bay to go through three of the top five teams in the NFC just to get to the Super Bowl. That would be brutal.

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