Jordan Love and the Packers are back in the playoffs. John Fisher / Getty Images
The Green Bay Packers watched from the couch as their ticket to the playoffs got punched on Christmas, thanks to the Minnesota Vikings beating the Detroit Lions 23-10. The Lions, who entered the day with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, have officially been eliminated from postseason contention.
The Packers have now made the playoffs in each of Jordan Love’s three seasons as their starting quarterback. And for the third consecutive season, it appears likely Green Bay will be the No. 7 seed in the NFC. The Packers can still win the NFC North, but that would require winning out against the Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings, and the Chicago Bears losing out against the San Francisco 49ers and Lions.
The Packers play the Ravens on Saturday, while the Bears’ game against the 49ers is on Sunday. That means, at least for one more week, the Packers will take the field with hopes for the division crown still alive, although The Athletic’s playoff simulator has Green Bay’s chances at just 13 percent. While the Packers have two winnable games remaining, and it’s conceivable that the Bears could lose to the 49ers, getting a Bears loss against the Lions in Week 18 with the division on the line may be a tall order.
The Packers could also move up to the fifth or sixth seed, but that would require the Los Angeles Rams and/or the San Francisco 49ers to lose out while the Packers win out.
With the seventh seed the most likely scenario, the Packers can also manage some of the injuries they’re dealing with. Love was a limited participant in practice this week and is questionable to play against the Ravens on Saturday as he works his way back from a concussion, though the outlook for his availability is encouraging.
Regardless, the Packers are in the dance, and that’s all they need for a shot at a Super Bowl run in a conference and league with plenty of parity, even if that run would come without, among others, defensive end Micah Parsons, tight end Tucker Kraft and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt.