The Green Bay Packers have to win just one more game to secure a spot in the NFC playoffs.
If the Packers win, they clinch a playoff spot as a NFC Wildcard. If they lose, there’s still a slim possibility of sneaking into the NFL postseason but it would require a variety of scenarios to play out with other teams, ‘
Still, Green Bay isn’t just fighting for a playoff spot — depending on how things work out over the weekend — they could end up playing several teams — and both the No. 6 and No. 7 seed is possible.
Here are the various scenarios assuming the Green Bay Packers take care of their divisional rivals at home.
Seed-wise, both the No. 6 and 7 spots are in play for the Packers, while three possible opponents/destinations await should Green Bay make the field – Detroit, Dallas or Philadelphia. The other games that factor into the Packers’ picture are Rams-49ers, Cowboys-Commanders, Eagles-Giants and (maybe) Vikings-Lions.
The Rams (9-7) are in the playoffs but are jousting with the Packers (8-8) for the 6-7 seeds, with the Packers owning the head-to-head tiebreaker should they finish with the same record.
Whoever gets the No. 6 seed would travel to the No. 3 seed, which will be either Detroit (11-5) or Dallas (11-5).
The No. 7 seed would then travel to the No. 2 seed, which could be Dallas, Philadelphia (11-5) or Detroit.
The Cowboys and Eagles are fighting for their division title, with the runner-up dropping to the No. 5 seed. As long as one of them wins this week, the NFC East winner gets the 2, and the Cowboys have the tiebreaker if they finish even based on a better conference record.
The only way for the Lions to get the No. 2 seed would be for them to win and have both the Cowboys and Eagles lose.
So, here’s how it breaks down as far as the Packers’ possibilities:
To earn the No. 6 seed and travel to No. 3 Detroit: The Green Bay Packers win, Rams lose, Cowboys or Eagles win OR Packers win, Rams lose, Cowboys lose, Eagles lose, Lions lose.
To earn the No. 6 seed and travel to No. 3 Dallas: Packers win, Rams lose, Cowboys lose, Eagles lose, Lions win.
To earn the No. 7 seed and travel to No. 2 Dallas: Packers win, Rams win, Cowboys win.
To earn the No. 7 seed and travel to No. 2 Philadelphia: Packers win, Rams win, Cowboys lose, Eagles win.
To earn the No. 7 seed and travel to No. 2 Detroit: Green Bay Packers win, Rams win, Cowboys lose, Eagles lose, Lions win.
Most importantly, Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field against the Bears is Green Bay’s direct ticket to the postseason. The rest is out of the Packers’ hands. Defeat Chicago, and the Packers are in.
If the Pack falls to the Bears, their only chance is to earn the No. 7 seed if the Vikings lose, Seahawks lose, AND Buccaneers OR Saints lose.
Green Bay Packers May Face Surging Chicago Bears Defense Without One Of Two Pro Bowlers From This Season
Some may wonder if the Bears will play their starters with nothing on the line for their season. The fact is, there’s a ton on the line for Chicago — an organization attempting to determine if they are going to keep former first-round pick Justin Fields as their franchise QB and the current coaching staff.
Or they could make significant offseason changes and use the No. 1 overall pick they already have solidified to draft USC star Caleb Williams, who is viewed by most NFL analysts as a generational prospect that could immediately help propel a team into playoff contention.
Coaching jobs are on the line, key players will be closely scrutinized and the Chicago Bears could use this final regular season game against their rival Green Bay Packers as the final decision-maker to make massive decisions for the franchise,
Oh, and the Bears would love nothing more than to come into Lambeau and knock the Packers out of the playoffs.
While Jordan Love and the Packers offensive has been fantastic the second half of the season, they will be facing a Chicago Bears defense that made a drastic turnaround since acquiring pass rusher Montez Sweat at the end of October.
Sweat — who is one of two of the Bears defensive Pro Bowlers this season with 6.5 sacks in Washington and another 6 in Chicago — has helped fuel a defensive resurgence that has helped the Bears win five of their last seven games.
The unit enters Week 18 leading the NFL in both interceptions with 22 and run defense, yielding an average of just 84.0 yards per game.
Considering Chicago is so stout against the run, the Green Bay Packers will have to lean on Jordan Love and the young corps of receivers to beat one of the hottest secondaries in the NFL right now.
But as it stands, Chicago could be without their top defensive back and other Pro Bowler, Jaylon Johnson, who didn’t practice again on Wednesday and has a slim chance of suiting up against the Packers after suffering a shoulder injury last week.
Jaylon Johnson has been outstanding for the Bears this season, starting in all four games he has played in. The fourth-year pro is tied for the team lead with a career-high four interceptions, one of which he returned 39 yards for a touchdown, and also has recorded 36 tackles and 10 pass breakups.
Nobody wishes injury on any NFL player, but Johnson’s absence will be significance if he can’t play. The Chicago Bears will have to lean on rookies Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith will defend the boundaries.
Each player has had ups and downs throughout the year and Love will have a much better chance of thriving in the passing game with his arsenal of young receiving talent.
