The Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff spot for the third straight season and sixth time in the last seven seasons after the Detroit Lions lost to the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Christmas Day.
The 23-10 loss dropped the Lions to 8-8 and officially eliminated Dan Campbell’s team from playoff contention. The Lions turned the ball over six times.
The Packers joined the Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers in the NFC playoff field. The only spot left for grabs is the NFC South winner between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Packers, who play the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night, are still capable of winning the NFC North and obtaining the No. 2 seed in the NFC. It would take wins over the Ravens and Vikings and losses by the Bears to the 49ers and Lions over the final two weeks to win the division crown and host a playoff game at Lambeau Field.
The only time the Packers missed the playoffs in the Matt LaFleur era was in 2022, when Green Bay finished 8-9 in the final season with Aaron Rodgers as the quarterback.