Yeah I think we take the division if we beat the Lions. They’re already dealing with injuries and have a few teams on their schedule that could beat them.
If we beat the loins the division is within our grasp. But I think they will need to run the table to do that. Detroit has a 2 game lead, so they need to lose 2x for us to tie them if we win out. I think we are mirroring last year, but with Minnesota and Seattle road games it won’t be easy.
Detroit doesn’t have an easy schedule down the stretch. They play GB on Thursday, then Buffalo at home, then games at Chicago and at SF, then close with the Vikings.
If the Packers can get a W on TNF then the division race will get really interesting.
Philadelphia clearly has the easiest path to the 1 seed.
Two losses in the division and three in the coference are not ideal.
@PackLandVA posted:Two losses in the division and three in the coference are not ideal.
If the Packers win out...(Not an easy task) I think they'll win the division.
Lottttaaaa football to play yet. Lots can & assuredly WILL happen.
I guess the worst news in watching the games this past weekend is how terrific Philly looks.
I hope somehow, some way they do not win it all. That said, they are playing very good football and I think they might be better than their 2022 team that lost in the Super Bowl. That 2022 team wasn’t particularly strong in the secondary. This team looks much better in that department with those 2 great rookies.
If the Pack ends up meeting them in the playoffs they are going to need to be flawless to have a chance against them.
@Tschmack posted:Detroit doesn’t have an easy schedule down the stretch. They play GB on Thursday, then Buffalo at home, then games at Chicago and at SF, then close with the Vikings.
If the Packers can get a W on TNF then the division race will get really interesting.
Philadelphia clearly has the easiest path to the 1 seed.
The Loins definitely have some tests coming up and they have a ton of injuries on defense and that could hurt them. Everyone in the media talks about them like they are unbeatable. I really think they are beatable especially if they continue to get banged up. And I will still say coach meat head is going to cost them a game eventually. Lets hope its on Thursday.
It is just my opinion but I want no part of playing Philly right now. Barkley is going off and that defense appears to be legit. Phily plays Carolina, and finish with the Cowboys and the horrid Giants. But they also have the Steelers and Commanders to deal with.
I don't think the Packers will run the table but if they can get by this Thursday I like their chances to win out from there.
PHI definitely looking the part. Barkley/OL just rips open defenses for that offense. Lots a playmakers on both sides of the ball. I wouldn't mind them winning the owl if it meant preventing KC from a three peat. Of course GB should have that honor due to historical considerations but of all the current NFC true contenders, I'd hate it the least if it was PHI.
Familiarity Breeds Contempt is an old saying its validity is visible throughout this thread. We have now seen 12 Packer games and carefully catalogued the shortcomings of GB. While we have probably seen most of the games of our chief rivals for the most part we have taken the opposite view on them. Their strengths appear unstoppable and their weaknesses trifling . I always say the game is played on the field and it will be won there. Can GB win five more in a row? Who knows but should they would be no worse than the #2 seed. Detroit and Minny have had a rabbits foot up their butt and dont know if it will continue. Phila has had a dominant run w/Barkley but until they beat Pittsburgh I am going to reserve judgement
@fightphoe93 posted:I guess the worst news in watching the games this past weekend is how terrific Philly Saquon & the defense looks.
FTFY
@fightphoe93 posted:If the Pack ends up meeting them in the playoffs they are going to need to be flawless to have a chance against them.
Philly will need to be flawless to beat the Packers.
In the playoffs, generally speaking, if you don't play your "A" game, you get bounced. Doesn't matter your record or seed.
If the Packers don't win the division, it is imperative that they finish as #5 or #6 seed.
I'd have no problems going to Atlanta or Tampa Bay for the 1st round. Same for Seattle or any of the other NFCW teams.
Although it would be sweet if hell freezes over and SF wins that division, only to have the Packers end their season...
#7 seed will have to play in Detroit or Philly. So would the Packers, eventually, but one never knows what can happen after the opening round.
@Pack88 posted:Familiarity Breeds Contempt is an old saying its validity is visible throughout this thread. We have now seen 12 Packer games and carefully catalogued the shortcomings of GB. While we have probably seen most of the games of our chief rivals for the most part we have taken the opposite view on them. Their strengths appear unstoppable and their weaknesses trifling .
Was just thinking along these lines last night watching the Bills. Their defense seems so much better than ours until I looked at the stats..... we give up 1.3 more points per game, 2 more yards per game, and forced turnovers are virtually identical. Plus, we've played a more difficult schedule than they have.
I'd almost rather the Packers not win the division and have to travel. I like their chances in the domes of the Loins, Vicklings ,Falcons and Rams. Home field hasn't seem to have done squat although Lambeau was the loudest That I can remember against the fish.
Here's a good look (in a football nerdy way) at the playoff possibilities as they stand going into this weekend.
The only thing of significance is the Eagles and Vikings having a good chance to clinch a playoff berth this weekend. Both teams have to win and have a certain combination of losses by other (primarily NFCW) teams, but there's a good chance of those combinations happening.
Thought the following is a strange statement: And on a short week, against one of the more physical teams in the NFL, those missing pieces could finally catch up with Dan Campbell's bunch.
It is not a short week. Detoilet and Packers both played 1 week ago. And when did the Packers become one of the more physical teams in the NFL? Is this solely based on Jacobs, or is it WR blocking, or something else? 
@Timmy! posted:Here's a good look (in a football nerdy way) at the playoff possibilities as they stand going into this weekend.
That is a really well written article. Probably a waste of time with teams having 5 more games to play, but interesting nonetheless.
Too much football left to play. Worry about scenarios after the next 2 games when only 3 games are left. Guarantee the picture is much more clear after more teams are eliminated from tournament contention.
@ammo posted:Thought the following is a strange statement: And on a short week, against one of the more physical teams in the NFL, those missing pieces could finally catch up with Dan Campbell's bunch.
It is not a short week. Detoilet and Packers both played 1 week ago. And when did the Packers become one of the more physical teams in the NFL? Is this solely based on Jacobs, or is it WR blocking, or something else?
I think Jacobs is a big portion of the perception of the offense being more physical. On defense it's just the scheme that makes them look more physical. Much more rally to the ball type of plays.
The D has been playing to the whistle like we haven't seen since Fritz.
@H5 posted:
The D has been playing to the whistle like we haven't seen since Fritz.
All we need now is Rashaan Gary to play like Reggie White with Enagbare/VanNess to play like Sean Jones & Kenny Clark/Devonte Wyatt doing the GraveDigger.
GAME. SET. MATCH. NFL
I the mic'd up words of Eric Wilson: "none of that!"
'Nough said.
Not full on Wayne Simmons, but kind of sort of like that.
@Boris posted:All we need now is Rashaan Gary to play like Reggie White with Enagbare/VanNess to play like Sean Jones & Kenny Clark/Devonte Wyatt doing the GraveDigger.
GAME. SET. MATCH.
NFL
Let's not forget about Santana Dotson.
White, Jones, and Dotson all had the same birthday.
12/19 is a measurable I look for on D-line.
@H5 posted:
The D has been playing to the whistle like we haven't seen since Fritz.
I had to read that a couple of times to comprehend (it's me not you). At first rea, I thought you were throwing out some lingo my grandpa may have used back in the 40s.
Looks like we will be on the road. Hope somehow we get healthy before then.
Excellent! Now I don't have to watch. Thanks!
"This Packers team will go as Jordan Love's ability to limit turnovers go."@Hawk says Green Bay's ceiling heading into the playoffs depends on Love protecting the ball 😯 pic.twitter.com/1dWvE811Ly
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 11, 2024
https://bleacherreport.com/art...fter-rams-beat-49ers
The Packers will now need to wait until at least Week 16 to clinch a playoff spot. The only shot Green Bay had at securing a postseason berth this weekend hinged on the Rams and 49ers tying on Thursday night.
The 49ers are meanwhile in danger of being officially eliminated from playoff contention if the Seattle Seahawks defeat the Packers on Sunday.
So the Packers need to win Sunday Night plus next week to guarantee a playoff spot.
I said it from week #1....you'll need 11 wins this year in the NFC to lock in a tournament seed.
Lotta football to play yet. Still work to do.
P.S. Niners must root for the Packers on Sunday Night to keep their playoff hopes alive.
All the games are important but Seattle and Minnesota will be great tests playing a couple of contenders on the road. If they are going to lose one of the remaining games I'd rather it be the Saints or the.... yeah I'd rather it be the Saints. 
So I honestly feel at least a twinge of sympathy for Lions fans with their incredible bad luck in terms of injuries. I think it’s reached a point with them that they are really really vulnerable going into the playoffs as Buffalo showed yesterday. They lost McNeil to an ACL yesterday and a starting CB for 6 weeks.
They do have a great offense that will make them a tough out, but defensively I just can’t see them running the table. They’ve lost over 1/2 their starters on D now and even some of the depth pieces.
The Loins will be rooting for the Pack to upset the Queens in a couple weeks. Otherwise they could easily lose the division, something that seemed extremely unlikely a month ago.
no sympathy for Lions fans. I see most of them like the idiot fan on the sideline that lost his season tickets because of his actions before the Packers game. They act like Viking fans. They draft in the top five for 30 years straight and finally hit on a couple of really good players. And act like it was great management. Do it while drafting in the late 20s for a few years. I do not like their meathead coach, I do no not like Brian Branch who is as dirty player as Bill Romanoski was back in the day. May they lose the rest of their games and get bounced out of the playoffs 60 to 3. F them! May they be drafting again in the top five two years from now.
Packers likely headed for best case 5th seed, most likely 6th. Just win 2 of the last three...and honestly, does it matter? Packers have proven being the road team often works out better for them and being the home team doesn't.
JFW baby...
I have as much sympathy for Lions fans as they would have for us - which is none. I don't root for injuries, but these things happen and great teams find a way to overcome. If the Packers absolutely can't win the division and now that the Vikings are unfortunately locked into some sort of playoff spot, I think it would be entertaining if the division come down to the last game between the Lions and Vikings. It would be apt for the best division in football to come down to the wire, and hopefully they will burn themselves out fighting over it.
The NFC playoff qualifiers are about as close to locked in as you'll ever see with 3 games still left.
Detroit, Philly, and Minnesota are already in, and the Packers are listed as having >99% odds. Tampa Bay has 88% odds and Washington has 82%. The NFC West is the only one with some uncertainty (Rams at 55% are the leaders).
Given Detroit's injury woes, I would guess it will end up being
1. Philadelphia
2. Detroit
3. Tampa Bay
4. LA Rams
5. Minnesota
6. Green Bay
7. Washington
The Bucs are likely the preferred matchup in the first round for any visiting team.
We are trending the right direction in both play and health. While we've discussed what adding Alexander and Cooper can do for the defense, and Hafley's ability to play some man coverage at times, we haven't really talked about what getting Musgrave and Lloyd back can do for the offense. Both can run and will add speed. Musgrave down the seam vs. cover 2. Lloyd where ever we can get him the ball. While both have to prove they can block, their speed is significantly better than 2nd and 3rd guys we have playing those roles now.
I don't know about Lloyd. He hasn't had much of an opportunity to show what he can do on an NFL field and I'm even less sure he will be physically ready after the operation.