In the aftermath of the Green Bay Packers' 24-22 loss to the New York Giants on Monday night, there's both good news and bad news. The unfortunate part is the myriad of challenges faced during the game. However, on a positive note, Green Bay still maintains a playoff position, although securing the NFC North and clinching the No. 6 seed now requires a more arduous path and some external assistance.
As of today, the Packers would hold the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoff race, and if they manage to win all their remaining games, they'd secure a postseason berth.
Here's a glimpse of the Packers' final four games in the 2023 schedule:
Dec. 17: vs. Tampa Bay (6-7), noon
Dec. 24: at Carolina (1-12), noon
Dec. 31: at Minnesota (7-6), 7:20 p.m.
Jan. 7: vs. Chicago (5-8), time TBD
Despite being tied with several teams at 6-7, the Packers currently hold the No. 7 spot. The tiebreaker situation involves the Rams, Seahawks, Buccaneers, Saints, and Falcons. The Buccaneers claim the tiebreaker in the NFC South, leaving the other teams to contend for the No. 7 spot. In the tiebreaking process, the Packers, Rams, and Falcons are in a mix. Since the Falcons haven't played the Rams, the tiebreaker is settled by conference game records, favoring the Packers.
Even with a win next week, the Packers are unlikely to fall out of the No. 7 spot. In case of a victory against Tampa Bay and a win for Atlanta, Green Bay would still possess all necessary tiebreakers.
As for the playoff odds, the New York Times simulator places them at 50%. A 4-0 finish guarantees a playoff spot, while a 3-1 record offers a high probability, especially if the loss isn't against the Vikings. A 2-2 finish has varied probabilities, with the Packers having a chance, depending on the combination of wins and losses.
The odds of winning the NFC North are currently at 2%, a significant drop from the previous week's 45%. Winning out is essential, coupled with specific outcomes involving the Lions and Vikings.
If the season concluded today, the Packers, holding the No. 7 seed, would face the No. 2 seed, the Dallas Cowboys, in the wild-card round. The prospect of facing former coach Mike McCarthy in the playoffs adds an intriguing element to the scenario. The NFC East tiebreaker is delicate, and the Cowboys' standing could shift based on upcoming games against the Giants.
In summary, while the recent loss had its challenges, the Packers still have viable paths to the playoffs and intriguing potential matchups in the postseason.
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