The Green Bay Packers are scheduled to play against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, but we’re not on the team and have the luxury of looking ahead to what really matters: the start of the NFC playoffs.
Based on Week 18 results, the Packers will be seeded No. 6 or 7. And they only have three possible opponents: the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Matt LaFleur’s team would be on the road regardless of the opponent.
Here’s a quick look at the Packers’ three possible opponents to start the postseason:
Philadelphia Eagles
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Possible seeds: No. 2
Week 18 opponent: vs. New York Giants
Record: 13-3 (won NFC East title)
Home balance: 6-1 (1-0 neutral place)
Last match with GB: won, 34-29 in the first week (Brazil)
Points per game: 27.7 (7th)
Points allowed per game: 18.1 (3rd)
Point difference: +153 (3rd place)
DVOA offense: 6.5% (12th)
Defense DVOA: -15.0% (2nd)
PFF Overall Rating: 93.2 (2nd)
Turnover margin: +10 (6th place)
Third Down Offense%: 43.0 (9th)
Third Down% Defensive: 36.0 (7th)
Red Zone TD Attack %: 57.8 (14th)
Red Zone TD Defense %: 51.1 (8th)
Last 5 matches: 4-1
Most metrics suggest the Eagles are one of the NFL’s elite 4-5 teams. Jalen Hurts had a passer rating above 100.0 and 14 rushing touchdowns, Saquon Barkley had over 2,000 rushing yards in his historic first season in Philadelphia, and AJ Brown and Devonta Smith combined for nearly 2,000 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns even as the Eagles became increasingly more intense in runs. Defensively, the Eagles have given up more than 23 points just three times – including in Week 1 against the Packers in Brazil. Philadelphia’s defensive front is deep and talented, with rookies Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell providing stability in the secondary. Nick Sirianni’s side have won six straight games at Lincoln Financial Stadium. There is no doubt that a trip to Philadelphia will be the toughest test for the Packers in the first round.
Los Angeles Rams
Paintings by Robert Hanashiro-Imagn
Possible seeds: No. 3 or No. 4
Week 18 rival: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Record: 10-6 (won NFC West title)
Home record: 5-3
Last matchup against GB: lost 24-19 in week 5
Points per game: 21.4 (20th)
Points allowed per game: 22.5 (15th)
Point difference: -14 (18th)
DVOA offense: 10.4% (9th)
Defense DVOA: 3.1% (21st)
PFF Overall Rating: 83.8 (12th)
Turnover margin: +7 (10th place)
Third Down% Attack: 36.9 (23rd)
Third Down Defense%: 39.9 (19th)
Red Zone TD Attack %: 52.5 (23rd)
Red Zone TD Defense %: 47.5 (5th)
Last 5 matches: 5-0
The Rams won five straight games, including a loss to the Bills and three road games, before rallying from a 5-6 start. The return from injuries of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacui – neither of whom played in the opener against Green Bay – helped revitalize the offense while the Rams’ defense allowed fewer than 10 points in three straight games entering Week 18. This is a balanced team with offensive playmakers (Kyren Williams has 16 total touchdowns), an experienced quarterback with Super Bowl experience and an emerging juvenile defense. The Packers won in Los Angeles in early October, but the Rams played much better later in the game.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(Photo: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Possible seeds: No. 3 or No. 4
Week 18 opponent: vs. New Orleans Saints
Record: 9-7
Home record: 4-4
Last match with GB: win, 34-20 in week 15 (2023)
Points per game: 29.7 (4th)
Points allowed per game: 22.9 (17th)
Point difference: +109 (7th place)
DVOA offense: 12.4% (7th)
Defense DVOA: 2.1% (18th)
PFF Overall Rating: 85.3 (19th)
Turnover Margin: -4 (18th)
Third down offense: 50.0 (1st)
Third Down Defense%: 39.1 (15th)
Red Zone TD Attack %: 66.7 (4th)
Red Zone TD Defense %: 54.5 (11th)
Last 5 matches: 4-1
Baker Mayfield and offensive coordinator Liam Cohen have built one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. Mayfield is completing nearly 72 percent of his passes and has 39 passing touchdowns, running backs Bucky Irving (1,430) and Rashaad White (1,006) have over 1,000 total yards and veteran receiver Mike Evans has 11 touchdowns. The Buks started 4-2, including a win over the Eagles, and then snapped a four-game losing streak before winning five of their last six on the bye. This team has scored 30 or more points in eight games and would be a handful for a Packers defense that has struggled against top-ranked offenses in 2024. Will Green Bay win a shootout at Tampa Bay?
