The Green Bay Packers are preparing for their Week 18 matchup with the Chicago Bears, a game that will end their 2024 NFL season. Fortunately for the Packers and their fans, a new season, the NFL Playoffs, begins immediate afterwards. With an 11-5 record, Green Bay has clinched a spot in the postseason for the second year in a row. Who they play, however, has to be officially determined.
As it stands, the Packers are the seventh seed in the NFC following the Washington Commanders victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17. Even though Green Bay and Washington have identical 11-5 records, the Commanders hold the tiebreaker over the Packers because they have a better conference record. If Green Bay loses or Washington wins in Week 18, they will officially be set as the seventh seed.
The Green Bay Packers Are Likely to Play the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL Playoffs
As it stands right now, the Packers are expected to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs. If they remain the seventh seed after Week 18, the Eagles will remain their official opponent.
At 13-3, Philadelphia has been one of the best teams in the NFC this season. They, however, will get the second seed in the conference as both the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings are 14-2. The Lions and Vikings face off on Sunday night, with the winner taking home the NFC North crown and the top seed in the NFC while the loser will get the first wild card spot, the fifth seed.
Of course, Green Bay lost to Philadelphia 34-29 already this season. In their Week One matchup, played in Sao Paolo, Brazil, both teams dealt with unacceptable field conditions that played in big role in Jordan Love spraining his MCL and missing two weeks.
The Philadelphia Eagles Are Resting Their Starters in Week 18
The Eagles are finishing their season up with a divisional matchup with the New York Giants. Today, head coach Nick Sirianni announced that Saquon Barkley and other key starters will not play in Week 18:
The #Eagles will rest Saquon Barkley and other starters on Sunday against the #Giants, Nick Sirianni tells reporters.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 1, 2025
Barkley, who has 2,005 rushing yards this season, is just 100 yards behind the single-season record of 2,105 held by Eric Dickerson.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is still in concussion protocol.
For his part, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has not explicitly stated if Green Bay’s starters will play against the Bears. In response to a question regarding that earlier this week, he stated that his team’s mindset is to “Win every game.”
More Green Bay Packers News from Wisconsin Sports Heroics
- NFL Executive Puts the NFC on Notice Regarding the Green Bay Packers, Jordan Love in the Playoffs
- “The McCaskey’s Don’t Care;” Chicago Bears Fans Explode Over the Latest Ryan Poles Report Ahead of Matchup with the Green Bay Packers
- “They Have to Bench Him;” Packers Starter Presented with a Troubling Situation
- “Refs Weren’t Going to Let Us Win;” Green Bay Packers Fans Livid After Loss Against Minnesota Vikings
- Green Bay Packers: Christian Watson or Romeo Doubs, Which WR Deserves a 2nd Contract?
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