With two more regular season games to go, here is an update on the Packers’ playoff situation:
- The Packers have already clinched the NFC North. They will be in the playoffs, guaranteed at least one home game and no worse than the fourth overall seed.
- If the season ended today, the Packers would be the third seed and host the sixth-seeded Vikings on wild-card weekend. That’s likely not going to hold up since the Packers play the Vikings in week 17. The Vikings also could win their next two games and still miss the playoffs.
- The Packers can move up to the second seed if they win out and the 49ers lose once. The 49ers are at Seattle this week and host Arizona in week 17.
- Whether the Packers move up to the second seed, or stay at No. 3, a second-round matchup with the 49ers looks likely. If the Packers are the third seed and win their first-round game, they would travel to San Francisco. If the Packers are the second seed and the 49ers win their first-round game as the No. 3 seed, San Francisco would visit Green Bay.
- The Packers can get the first seed if they win out and the Falcons lose their last two games.
- If the Packers stay the third seed, it’s very likely that their first-round game will be against a wild-card team from the NFC East or the Bears.
- Let’s assume the Packers stay the third seed, who would you want to play in the first round: Chicago, New York, Washington or Dallas? I’d pick Washington. They can’t guard the slot and I trust Dom Capers to not to get thrown off by RG3 and the Redskins’ funky formations.
- Chicago seems like the obvious choice, but beating the Bears three times in the same season seems like we’d be asking too much of the football gods.
- Check out ESPN’s NFL Playoff Machine if you want to try and figure out potential playoff pairings yourself.
Adam Czech is a a freelance sports reporter living in the Twin Cities and a proud supporter of American corn farmers. When not working, Adam is usually writing about, thinking about or worrying about the Packers. Follow Adam on Twitter. Twitter .
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What, no chance of Seahawk revenge? I’d LOVE to see them come to Green Bay.
I think I would take the Cowboys. They have been playing better lately, but I think they are a beatable team.
The redskins have some trouble on the backend, but you just cannot account for a guy like RG3.
The Giants just scare the hell out of me. Their DL can be so good, and they have the correct formula to beat the packers.
I would not mind playing the Bears again. Dom kind of has their number. Their offense is so predictable. They cannot block the packers DL.
Give me the Bears or Dallas.
Yep, duh bears or lil d. The whole notion that it’s tough to beat a team three times in one year is BS. The team that wins the first two usually wins the third… There’s a reason they won the first two after all. Exceptions do exist, see Pack and queens, Moss mooning incident. That said, duh bears are skidding hard, and whatever cliche you want to throw out there is true, we just own their asses. Lil d doesn’t scare me at all. Skins do, thoughts of Vick handing the Pack their first Lambeau playoff loss come to mind, just so hard to stop RG thrizzle from making plays. The giants, well, I hope they miss the tournament altogether. They scare the hell outta me.
GBP 4 LIFE
In your ‘Packers get #1 seed’ scenario, the 9ers would have to lose a game as well.
Isn’t the definition of a Champion the ability to beat anyone. At some point you have to face your fears and defeat them.
This year’s Giants game was a loss for both Offense and Defense; neither played up to their ability. If they had, the outcome would have been quite different.
Seems more psychological than physiological.
Having a difficult time with the first round given that San Fran will mostly likely stand in our way!
The bye would be the better option, I think.
San Fran would have to play someone (and hopefully get a little banged up) then come to ice cold Lambeau and play on the road.
The Packers can rest and create a gameplan specifically tailored to the Niners rather than playing the guessing game.
I guess we’ll see what happens.
The Packers were rested last season because of the bye. That bye, combined with the time Rodgers and others, had off created a situation where significant contributors hadn’t been on the field for almost three weeks. Earlier this season, Rodgers said he won’t do that again.
If the Packers do get a bye in the fist round, MM has to play his starters some in the last game. He doesn’t have to play them all of the last game.
Look at the last two Super Bowl winners. Green Bay and the Giants didn’t have byes and ran the table. IMO, the bye is more a detriment than an advantage.
I hope we get a bye, we need it bcuz of so many injuries + Raji & others have had to play a lot more reps this season bcuz of them. go pack go!
49ers are going to be the toughest team to beat, no matter where we might play them. Would like to see them lose 3 LB’s and 4 RBs and see how good their offense and defense are. If the Packers OL and DL show up to play, we can beat anyone,including the Niners.
The 49ers are the team to beat in the nfc. I like our chances with any team but the niners and giants. Between the two, id rather play the giants (unless justin smith elbow puts him out, then id rather play niners).
The best scenario is pack gets a bye, giants miss playoffs and niners lose in the WC round(maybe to the seahawks).
I like that scenario GBPDAN… Couldn’t ask for a better one actually!
They have to beat whoever they play,plain and simple.No dodging teams if you want to be super bowl champs. Gotta bring your A game and take care of buisness against all comers.That’s how they won Championships in the past and it’s how they need to do it now.