4 teams Packers need wins from in Week 14 to keep playoff hopes alive
At 5-8, the Green Bay Packers currently sit in 11th place in the NFC. They aren’t yet eliminated from the playoff race, nor do they have a great chance of making this year’s postseason. That leaves about a sliver of hope that’s impossible for fans to ignore.
With the expansion of playoffs to seven teams, Green Bay needs to jump the Seattle Seahawks (7-5), Washington Commanders (7-5-1), Detroit Lions (5-7) and Atlanta Falcons (5-8) to make the playoffs. They should also root for the New York Giants (7-4-1) to continue losing games.
Jumping that many teams is a tall task, especially for a team that has lost more than they won. However, Green Bay continues to show flashes in the plan that make fans think there’s a chance.
If the Green Bay Packers want to keep their playoff hopes alive, they need these four teams to earn victories in Week 14.
It won’t be easy from the Packers’ perspective. They need to win out to give them a chance of making the postseason. They still have games remaining against the Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings and Lions. That’s a fairly difficult schedule for a struggling team.
Before we look down that road, however, let’s peep at the teams who need to win this week to help the Packers’ playoff chances.
Carolina Panthers
Carolina faces the Seahawks who hold the final wild card spot. If Seattle were to lose four of their final five games, it would open the door for the Packers to claim one of the final spots. This will be a difficult matchup for Carolina, as they are only 4-8 on the season and playing on the road.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles should have no problem taking down the Giants this week, as they’re favored by a touchdown and extra point. New York has been slipping lately, while Philadelphia is locked into a close battle with the next team on this list for the only first-round bye. That’s plenty of motivation for a divisional battle.
Minnesota Vikings
It feels odd rooting for the Vikings, but Green Bay needs them to knock the Lions down a notch this week. Minnesota has two losses and is chasing the Eagles, so they should be prepared for this game. However, Detroit’s offense has been scary and could make it a high-scoring affair.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs take on the 49ers in what will be an interesting matchup. At 6-6, Tampa Bay leads the NFC South and has won three of its last four games. San Francisco continues to cycle through quarterbacks, but has elite talent on the roster. At 8-4, there’s still an outside chance San Fran could plummet down the standings and let Green Bay catch them.