Current:Home > FinanceHow Packers can make the NFL playoffs: Scenarios, remaining schedule and more for Green Bay -WealthConverge Strategies
How Packers can make the NFL playoffs: Scenarios, remaining schedule and more for Green Bay
View
Date:2025-04-16 16:16:40
The Green Bay Packers have had a roller-coaster of a year, but with one game left in the regular season, there's still a path to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Titletown.
At 8-8, the Packers head into Week 18 in the No. 7 spot in the NFC standings, meaning right now, Green Bay is heading into the playoffs.
The path to a playoff spot in the final week of the season is simple: win and in. But even if the Packers are unable to pick up a victory to end the regular season, there's still a chance they make the playoffs, as long as some other teams also lose.
Here's what Green Bay needs to make the playoffs:
Packers playoff scenarios
The easiest path the Packers could create for themselves is to beat the Chicago Bears in the regular-season finale. Finishing at 9-8, the Packers would guarantee themselves a playoff spot and wouldn't have to worry about any other results.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
The Packers are currently the No. 7 seed in the standings, but they could become the sixth seed in the playoffs. Here's how:
- Packers win AND Rams lose
If the Packers lose or tie to the Bears, that's where things get tricky, as it'll involve results with the Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the odds go down significantly with a tie, these are the paths Green Bay would need to still make the playoffs if it ties with Chicago:
- Packers tie AND Seahawks loss or tie AND Saints loss or tie OR
- Packers tie AND Seahawks loss AND Buccaneers loss OR
- Packers tie AND Seahawks tie AND Buccaneers loss or tie OR
Should Green Bay lose to Chicago, the result of the game won't matter as long as these results work in the Packers' favor:
- Vikings loss or tie AND Seahawks loss AND Buccaneers loss OR
- Vikings loss or tie AND Seahawks loss AND Saints loss
Packers remaining schedule
The Packers' final game is at home against NFC North rival Bears. Green Bay beat Chicago to open the season, although the Bears have gotten hot recently, winning four of their past five games.
Will the Packers make the playoffs?
Facing its greatest nemesis, Green Bay has a great shot to make the playoffs.
The Packers head into the matchup against the Bears as three-point favorites, according to BetMGM odds. Green Bay played one of its best games of the season in the Week 17 win over the Minnesota Vikings, and beat the Bears by 18 points in the regular-season opener. The New York Times playoff scenario simulator currently gives Green Bay a 68% chance of making the playoffs.
If Green Bay is unable to beat Chicago, it drastically changes the probability. Seattle is facing an Arizona Cardinals team that is coming off a big win, but already lost to the Seahawks earlier this season. Tampa Bay is also facing the NFL-worst Carolina Panthers, and New Orleans enters its matchup against the Atlanta Falcons winners of three of its past four games.
In short: As long as Green Bay is able to beat Chicago for the 10th consecutive time, all will be well in Wisconsin. No win, and it might be time to prep for the NFL draft.
veryGood! (862)
Related
- The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- Authorities search for grizzly bear that mauled a Montana hunter
- California lawmakers vote to limit when local election officials can count ballots by hand
- Adam Sandler's Sweet Bond With Daughters Sadie and Sunny Is Better Than Shampoo and Conditioner
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- IRS targets 1,600 millionaires who owe at least $250,000
- What's causing massive seabird die-offs? Warming oceans part of ecosystem challenges
- NATO member Romania finds new drone fragments on its territory from war in neighboring Ukraine
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Derek Jeter returns, Yankees honor 1998 team at Old-Timers' Day
Ranking
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- US-backed Kurdish fighters say battles with tribesmen in eastern Syria that killed dozens have ended
- Legal fight expected after New Mexico governor suspends the right to carry guns in public
- Gunmen attack vehicles at border crossing into north Mexico, wounding 9, including some Americans
- Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
- Celebrity couples keep breaking up. Why do we care so much?
- 'He was massive': Mississippi alligator hunters catch 13-foot, 650-pound giant amid storm
- Afghanistan is the fastest-growing maker of methamphetamine, UN drug agency says
Recommendation
Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
Complex cave rescue looms in Turkey as American Mark Dickey stuck 3,200 feet inside Morca cave
Missouri constitutional amendment would ban local gun laws, limit minors’ access to firearms
Affirmative action wars hit the workplace: Conservatives target 'woke' DEI programs
Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
New Mexico governor issues order to suspend open and concealed carry of guns in Albuquerque
Inter Miami vs. Sporting KC score, highlights: Campana comes up big in Miami win minus Messi
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders proposes carve-out of Arkansas public records law during tax cut session