<\/figure>\nNow we’re talking.<\/p>\n
The Green Bay Packers (7-8) could not have asked for a better weekend, capped with a win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Football Outsiders now puts the odds of the Packers making the playoffs now at 36.3%, a marked improvement from a couple weeks ago.<\/p>\n
Green Bay got help from a number of places, with the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks all losing. The Packers don’t quite<\/em> control their own destiny yet, but it’s getting closer. Let’s start by assuming the Packers finish the year with wins over Minnesota and Detroit to land at 9-8. Here’s what else still has to happen:<\/p>\nThe Giants and Commanders remain the biggest obstacles<\/h2>\n <\/figure>\nIf the season ended today, New York (8-6-1) and Washington (7-7-1) would hold the final two playoff spots.<\/p>\n
The easiest way into the playoffs for the Packers would be for Washington to lose once more and Green Bay wins out. The Commanders have two remaining home games against Cleveland (6-9) and Dallas (11-4). On paper, one of those looks easier than the other, but there’s a caveat.<\/p>\n\n
Dallas (11-4) could be guaranteed the No. 5 seeds based on what happens next week. If Philadelphia (13-2) beats New Orleans (6-9) or the Cowboys lose to the Tennessee Titans (7-8) on Thursday, then it’s a wrap, with the Eagles locked into the No. 1 seed for the playoffs and Dallas locked into No. 5. That’s bad news for Green Bay, since the Cowboys would theoretically rest their starters in that finale against Washington. Ergo, Packers fans should be hoping for New Orleans and Dallas wins.<\/p>\n\n
Philadelphia could still be missing quarterback Jalen Hurts next week, so that might lend a smidge of optimism to Packers fans.<\/p>\n
The Giants would need to lose both of their remaining games for Green Bay to catch them (again, assuming the Packers win their final two games), and New York finishes the year with Indianapolis (4-9-1), and Philadelphia (13 -2). Again, Philadelphia might be taking it easy in the finale based on next week’s results.<\/p>\n
But in the scenario where New York loses both those games and Washington loses once, the Packers could finish 2-0 and find themselves as the No. 6 seeds.<\/p>\n
What about Seattle or Detroit, since they also have 7-8 records?<\/h2>\n <\/figure>\nGreen Bay would finish 9-8 if it won out, and that would include a win over Detroit, so the Lions could wind up with a record no better than 8-9.<\/p>\n
Seattle could still reach 9-8 by winning its final two games, but Green Bay would have a better record in NFC games than the Seahawks under this scenario (7-5 \u200b\u200bcompared to 6-6 for the Seahawks).<\/p>\n
Thus, if the Packers win out, they only have to worry about Washington (or New York) yielding that final playoff spot.<\/p>\n
Could the Packers be eliminated even with a win over Minnesota?<\/h2>\n No, the Packers would remain alive into the season finale.<\/p>\n
Will the Packers be eliminated with a loss against Minnesota?<\/h2>\n <\/figure>\nNot necessarily, but they’ll know more by the 3:25 pm Sunday kickoff time, because they will<\/em> be eliminated if the Packers lose and either Washington or Detroit won earlier in the day.<\/p>\nFor the Packers to reach the playoffs at that point, Washington would have to lose its final two games. In the event the Lions beat the Bears and the Packers lose to the Vikings, Green Bay could still tie Detroit at 8-9 if the Packers rebound to beat the Lions in the finale, but Detroit would have the edge on tiebreakers with a better record against teams in the division (4-2 vs. 3-3).<\/p>\n\n
A Seattle win next week would also put the Seahawks a game ahead of Green Bay in the standings if the Packers lose, though Seattle could still lose in the final week against the Rams to also finish 8-9, and the Packers would have the edge on a tiebreaker (better record against NFC opponents). In essence, this week’s Seahawks game doesn’t matter if the Packers fall to Minnesota; all that will matter is next week’s.<\/p>\n
So the Packers could make the playoffs at 8-9?<\/h2>\n<\/aside>\nYes, but there’s no scenario where the Packers can lose to Detroit and make the playoffs, so the 8-9 record would have to mean a loss to the Vikings.<\/p>\n
If Green Bay loses to the Vikings, it would need all of these things to make the playoffs…<\/p>\n
\nWashington to lose its final two games<\/li>\n Detroit to lose to the Bears on Sunday<\/li>\n Seattle to lose to the Rams in the finale<\/li>\n Green Bay to beat Lions in the finale, obviously<\/li>\n For the NFC South to stay out of the way<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n