The Packers (and Packer fans) earned a stress free weekend after locking up a Wild Card Weekend bye, but now what do we do over the first week of the playoffs??
First: R-E-L-A-X
The Packers plan on playing another month of football, and there will be plenty of time to be stressed out when the Packers actually have a game. So, take WC weekend to enjoy a weekend of stress free football. As you watch the other top teams in the NFL go toe-to-toe, remember that the Packers finished the season with a better record than all of them — except for the Bills, who were also 13-3.
Then: Pick your path of least resistance for the Packers
The Packers will be the betting favorites against whoever meets them in the Divisional Round. But that doesn’t mean certain teams won’t give the Packers trouble. Use Packerstalk writer Michael Johrendt’s guide to help you determine who you would want the Packers to play in the Divisional Round.
Personally, I am proponent of the ‘beat the best to be the best’ mantra. I honestly do not think it will matter who the Packers play on their way to the Super Bowl. This team continues to prove that they are special, and I think they will find a way to get Aaron Rodgers back to the Super Bowl.
However, for argument’s sake, I would imagine the Packers path of least resistance would be either Bears/Washington in the Divisional Round and the Seahawks in the NFC Championship.
The Packers have proven they have the formula to make life hell for Mitch Trubisky (6 interceptions in last 4 games vs. Packers) and the Bears defense has not been the juggernaut it was in 2019. I believe Washington is a very promising young team, but they are not ready to compete in the playoffs.
Seattle might’ve shocked a few people, but the Packers have actually been incredibly dominant against Russell Wilson since the epic NFC Championship collapse (4-1, 17.2 ppg allowed, 6 INTs). I get Packer fans being afraid of Wilson’s magic, but he has to be running out of wishes soon. I also believe that, while they have been playing better as of late, Seattle has the worst defense among NFC contenders.
Lastly: Overreact to the Wild Card Round
Of course, no Wild Card Round would be complete without the football world losing their mind over an upset or blowout. No matter how much you tell yourself the Packers are the best team in the NFL, recency bias will force you to believe otherwise.
The Divisional Round can not come soon enough!
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Kirien is a big fan of the Packers, Beer, and Battlestar Galactica. You can follow him on twitter at @KirienSprecher.
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