The Green Bay Packers’ slim hopes of winning the NFC North title were dashed Thursday night in a 34-31 loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
The Packers are currently 9-4 with three losses in the division, including two to the Lions. The Packers would have to win to make up for the deficit, the Lions would have to lose four in a row and the Minnesota Vikings would have to lose to the Chicago Bears.
How impossible does that sound? The New York Times playoff simulator puts the odds at less than one percent.
However, even if they lose, the simulator gives the Packers a 99% chance of advancing to the postseason.
So this is a wild card for Matt LaFleur and the Packers.
If the season ended today, the Packers would be the No. 6 seed and would play on the road against the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks in the first round. The Packers travel to Seattle to play the Seahawks next Sunday in a potential playoff preview.
LaFleur’s team finishes the season with games against the Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Vikings and Chicago Bears. Even if the Packers finish the Final Four with a 1-3 or 2-2 record, a playoff berth is all but guaranteed.
If the Packers can retain the No. 5 or No. 6 seed, they will play a road game against the winner of the NFC West or NFC South to start the postseason. While every team wants to play a playoff game at home, playing a team like the Seahawks, Cardinals, Falcons or Buccaneers on the road isn’t a terrible situation considering the strength of those two divisions this season.
LaFleur said the Packers now have to “earn the right” to return to Ford Field and play the Lions, who are 12-1 and heading toward the No. 1 seed in the NFC. If the Lions finish first in the standings, they’ll have a first-round bye and a home game in the divisional round, so it’s possible a Packers win in the wild-card round will decide a rematch at Ford Field.
