Packers playoff hopes get a ton of help before playing Miami
By Paul Bretl
The Green Bay Packers are yet to take the field yet in Week 16, but their playoff hopes have already received a massive boost.
Coming into Saturday, there were four games, in particular, that Packers fans should have had their eyes on, featuring Seattle, New York, Washington, and Detroit, all of whom are in the mix for the final two wildcard spots in the NFC.
In regards to getting help from other teams, things have largely fallen in the Packers’ favor these last two weeks, and that continued on Saturday, with each of the aforementioned teams losing.
With Seattle’s loss, that puts them at 7-8, making 9-8 the best record they can achieve. If Green Bay wins out, they would be 9-8 as well, but hold the tiebreaker over the Seahawks with the better NFC record.
Detroit, meanwhile, is now 7-8 as well, but if the Packers are to win out, that will include a victory over the Lions in Week 18, eventually giving them nine losses—one more than Green Bay in this scenario. Even if Detroit hadn’t lost to Carolina, and both them and the Packers would have finished at 9-8, Green Bay very well may have held the strength of victory tiebreaker over them, but no longer is that a concern.
So moving forward, the Packers do not have to worry about whether Seattle wins or loses their last two games or about tiebreaker scenarios with the Lions. It all became a moot point following their losses.
When it comes to New York and Washington, the Packers either need the Giants to lose their final two games or the Commanders to win just one (or none) of their remaining two games—and please note the added emphasis on the word “or” in this scenario.
The Giants end their year at home against Indianapolis and then on the road in Philadelphia. The Commanders are at home for both Cleveland and Dallas. If you want something else to root for, an Eagles loss next week to New Orleans should be on the list because with a win, they clinch the one seed. A loss to the Saints, however, would guarantee that they are playing their starters in Week 18 against New York. This loss would also give the Cowboys something to play for against Washington in that last game with the division still up for grabs. Right now, Dallas is cemented into the five seed.
Of course, and as I already mentioned, this all requires the Packers to win out, which is no easy task. They may have won their last two games, but the real test begins in Miami against their big-play offense. And say what you will about Minnesota, but they can put up points and know how to win close games. The Lions were also one of the hottest teams in the NFL prior to Saturday’s loss.
However, if you want something positive to hang on to, two of these three games will be played at Lambeau Field, and as the offense continues to play some of its best football, Green Bay will be facing three defenses that have had their share of ups and downs this season.
As improbable as the playoffs felt even just a few weeks ago, the Packers’ playoff hopes are alive and very well at the moment—thanks to some much-needed help. Now Green Bay needs to take care of business.