When the Packers fell to 2-5 following a disappointing home loss to the Vikings in Week 8, their playoff hopes looked bleak in the first season of the Jordan Love era.
All of a sudden, five weeks later, Green Bay is right back in the hunt as it plays its best football of the season at the right time.
The Packers picked up a crucial upset win over the Chiefs on “Sunday Night Football” as Love completely outplayed star QB Patrick Mahomes in primetime. Love thrashed Kansas City’s rock-solid defense for 267 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions, leading a close 27-19 victory through a few controversial plays on the Chiefs’ final drive of the game.
MORE: How do Jordan Love’s stats compare to Aaron Rodgers in Year 1 as starter?
You won’t catch Green Bay complaining, though. A win is a win and it has picked up four of them in its last five contests. After defeating the NFC North-leading Lions on the road on Thanksgiving, the Packers took care of business against the defending world champions at home to surge back into the playoff picture.
How did this marquee win affect Green Bay’s playoff odds? The Sporting News takes a closer look at how things could shake out below.
Packers NFC playoff picture
After starting the season 2-5, the Packers have won four of their last five games to claw back to .500 at 6-6.
At this current juncture of the season, with five games remaining, that is good enough for Green Bay to crack the NFC playoff picture.
Rank Team Record Tiebreaker 1 Eagles* 10-2 — 2 49ers* 9-3 Wins tiebreaker over DET on NFC win pct. 3 Lions* 9-3 — 4 Falcons* 6-6 — 5 Cowboys 9-3 — 6 Vikings 6-6 Wins tiebreaker over LAR on NFC win pct. Wins tiebreaker over GB on H2H results. 7 Packers 6-6 Wins tiebreaker over LAR on H2H results. — Rams 6-6 Wins tiebreaker over SEA on H2H results — Seahawks 6-6 —
*Indicates division leaders.
Since the Rams have the tiebreaker over the Seahawks and the Packers beat Los Angeles head-to-head back in Week 9, Green Bay would snag the last spot.
The Packers’ division rival Vikings own the tiebreaker for the higher seed as of now because they won their lone matchup back in Week 8, but that could change with a pivotal meeting against Minnesota in Week 17.
While the Packers have not mathematically been eliminated from winning the NFC North, it would be an uphill battle to catch the 9-3 Lions, sitting three games back with five games remaining.
Packers remaining schedule
Date Week Opponent Time (ET) TV channel Dec. 11 14 at Giants (MNF) 8:15 p.m. ESPN/ABC Dec. 17 15 vs. Buccaneers 1 p.m. CBS Dec. 24 16 at Panthers 1 p.m. FOX Dec. 31 17 at Vikings 8:20 p.m. NBC Jan. 7 18 vs. Bears TBD TBD
According to Tankathon, the Packers have the easiest remaining schedule in the entire NFL.
They don’t have a single game remaining against a team with a winning record. In fact, four of the five teams left on their schedule are playing for draft order at this point in the season.
MORE: Updated 2024 NFL Draft order: Patriots close gap on Bears for No. 1 pick
Green Bay will take on the 4-8 Giants on “Monday Night Football” in Week 14, then it has a tougher matchup against a 5-7 Buccaneers team still fighting to win the NFC South in Week 15.
The Packers face the last-place Panthers in Week 16, followed by a contest with major playoff implications against the Vikings in Week 17.
If Green Bay can survive that game on the road, it will host the 4-8 Bears at Lambeau Field in Week 18 with a potential playoff berth on the line.
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