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LeRoy Butler talks about how the Packers can win without Micah Parsons

LeRoy Butler and Tom Silverstein consider what Micah Parsons’s loss means for defensive players, including Rashan Gary, who will have to step up.

The undermanned Green Bay Packers were moments away from a hard-fought, uplifting victory over the Chicago Bears that would have put them in the driver’s seat for the division title while closing in on a playoff berth.

Then it all came crumbling down.

Call it the Chicago collapse.

A failed onside kick recovery with just under 2 minutes left in the game while leading 16-9. A blown defensive assignment on fourth down that led to the Bears scoring the game-tying touchdown at 16-all with 24 seconds left. A fumble to open overtime. A Caleb Williams heave to win it for the Bears and send the Packers to a crushing 22-16 loss.

Now, the Packers, who blew a 10-point fourth quarter lead, remain where they started the night – in the seventh and final spot in the NFC playoff picture and second in the NFC North. And they’re hurting beyond the standings.

While they still control their own fate as far as their postseason prospects, those hopes could hinge on the health of quarterback Jordan Love, who left Saturday’s game with a concussion.

Here’s the Packers’ next game, playoff picture, scenarios, standings and remaining schedule:

Packers next game

The Packers will look to regroup after back-to-back road losses when they return to Lambeau Field for their regular season home finale. They’ll face the Baltimore Ravens in another Saturday night prime time game on Dec. 27.

The Ravens, who are 7-7 and on the outside looking in at the AFC playoffs, have a matchup against the New England Patriots on Sunday night before coming to Green Bay.

The Packers are 5-2 at home this season.

Packers playoff chances, odds: Are the Packers eliminated from the playoffs?

The Packers entered their game against the Bears with a 91% chance of making the playoffs, according to the New York Times’ playoff simulator.

A loss has dropped their odds to 82% ahead of games on Sunday. If the Detroit Lions lose (8-6) on Sunday to the Pittsburgh Steelers, their odds to make the postseason jumps back to 96%. So, Packers fans are rooting for Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers. That game is set for 3:25 p.m. at Ford Field.

However, a Lions win would lower the Packers’ playoff chances at 75% with two games to go.

Packers playoff scenarios

The Packers’ magic number to clinch a playoff berth remains “2” after their loss to the Bears. The Packers need a combination of two wins or Lions losses that total 2. If the Packers win their final two games they’re in the playoffs. If they go 1-1, they’ll need the Lions to lose at least one of the next three games to clinch a playoff berth.

The team’s magic number can be reduced to “1” if the Lions lose on Sunday to the Steelers but it will remain at “2” if the Lions win.

The Packers had a chance to clinch a playoff berth entering the weekend. But the loss to the Bears dashes those hopes.

The Lions are the only team that can keep the Packers from the postseason. If the Lions go 2-1 and the Packers don’t win another game Detroit will make the playoffs over the Packers. If the Lions go 3-0 the Packers need to also win their final two games to make the playoffs.

NFC playoff picture

The Seattle Seahawks have the No. 1 spot after their comeback overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. The Rams had held that position going into the game. The No. 2 Bears and No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles maintained their spots after wins on Saturday.

Seattle Seahawks: 12-3 (NFC West leader, clinched a playoff berth); beat the Los Angeles Rams, 38-37, on “Thursday Night Football.”Chicago Bears: 11-4 (NFC North leader)Philadelphia Eagles: 10-5 (NFC East champion, clinched a playoff berth)Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-7 (NFC South leader)Los Angeles Rams: 11-4 (first wild-card team, clinched a playoff berth); lost to the Seattle Seahawks, 38-37, on TNFSan Francisco 49ers: 10-4 (second wild-card team)Green Bay Packers: 9-5-1 (third wild-card team)

In the hunt: Detroit Lions: 8-6, Carolina Panthers: 7-7

Eliminated: Dallas Cowboys: 6-7-1, Minnesota Vikings: 6-8, Atlanta Falcons: 5-9, New Orleans Saints: 4-10, Washington Commanders: 4-11, Arizona Cardinals: 3-11, New York Giants: 2-12

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Lions remaining schedule

Since the Packers will be battling with the Lions for likely the NFC’s final playoff spot, here is the Lions’ remaining schedule:

Week 16: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 3:25 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21Week 17: at Minnesota Vikings, 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 25Week 18: at Chicago Bears, TBD, Jan. 4Does the 2 seed get a bye in the NFL playoffs?

The Packers entered Saturday night’s game in contention for the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs despite being the seventh seed. They would have swapped spots with the Bears for that position if they won. But losing on Saturday likely takes them out of the running for that position.

While only the No. 1 seeds in the both conferences get byes into the divisional round, the No. 2 seed gets at least two home playoff games.

The wild card round, which is the first round, have three games in each conference. The 2 vs. 7, the 3 vs. 6 and the 4 vs. 5.

After Saturday’s loss, if the Packers make the playoffs, the seventh seed is looking like it’s the likeliest spot for Green Bay.

NFC North standings

The Bears are in control of the NFC North after beating the Packers. Meanwhile, the Packers’ division title hopes are all but gone.

The only way the Bears don’t win the division is if they lose their next two games and the Packers go 2-0. The Lions will only win the division if they go 3-0 to end the season, the Bears go 0-2 and the Packers go 1-1 or 0-2.

Chicago Bears: 11-4, beat the Green Bay Packers on Saturday, 22-16, in overtimeGreen Bay Packers: 9-5-1, lost to the Chicago Bears on Saturday, 22-16, in overtimeDetroit Lions: 8-6, play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday (3:25 p.m.)Minnesota Vikings: 6-8, play at the New York Giants on Sunday (noon)Green Bay Packers remaining schedule

The Packers have two games left in their regular season schedule:

Week 17: vs. Baltimore Ravens, 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27Week 18: at Minnesota Vikings, Date/Time TBD