Despite struggling early, the Green Bay Packers have won 3 out of their last 4 games and are just one game out of the NFC playoffs. With a great performance against the Lions in Detroit on Thanksgiving, the team has improved to 5-6 on the season. The 29-22 win over the Lions was a big statement from Green Bay. After starting the season 2-5, the Packers looked dead in the water. A month later, Matt LaFleur’s team is alive and well as the Packers can make a playoff push.
The Packers entered Week 12 with just a 24% chance of making the playoffs. With the upset win at Ford Field, those odds have now improved to 45%. The Packers are currently the #8 seed in the NFC and one game back of the Seattle Seahawks for the final wildcard spot. Why was the win over the Lions so important? The Packers now have a legitimate shot at achieving 10 wins and the path to a postseason birth is increasingly clear. They host Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in a tough SNF matchup next week. Following that however, the final 5 game stretch is quite manageable:
- Week 14 @ New York Giants
- Week 15 vs. Tampa Bay
- Week 16 @ Carolina
- Week 17 @ Minnesota
- Week 18 vs. Chicago
According to the New York Times, if Green Bay ends up losing to the Chiefs next week but then find a way to win the final 5 games of the season, their chances of making the playoffs would be close to 100%. Even if the Packers lose to the Chiefs and win only four of the five remaining games, their odds shake up around 75-80%. This means that this team controls its own destiny. They are playing their best football at a critical part of their schedule. Against all odds, the Packers have a chance to get into the big dance.
