Packers Playoff Hopes

Since the Packers decided not to fade away from the playoff conversation this past Sunday, it is necessary to look at their playoff hopes.

Remaining Schedule:
San Francisco
@ Detroit
Baltimore
@Chicago
@Pittsburgh
Seattle
@Arizona

Realistically they must win 4....maybe 3 but that is a big maybe since there are 3 other teams with the same record competing for 2 spots ( and 3 more teams at 4-5).

If all goes according to plan the Pack will likely take care of Detroit and Seattle at home, while losing to Pittsburgh on the road. Now obviously this is no given since they recently have lost to 1-8 Tampa and beat a division leading Dallas team that looked impressive in the previous weeks. With that said I do not see them losing because Detroit is Detroit and Seattle in week 15 with a playoff chance on the line in Lambeau doesn't seem like a game they will take lightly.

The team has definitely shown flashes of success that could convince someone they can win the other remaining games, or lose them all. Starting with San Francisco is positive because it is unlikely the defense will be able to match the performance they unleashed on Dallas, but with Alex Smith at the helm for the 49ers the result on the scoreboard will probably not be much different. Even if it turns into a shootout, the Packers still have to be favored against a secondary that has been scorched (just ask Roddy White how much fun playing them can be). Combine all this with loses in 4 of the last 5 and I see the Packers with a significant edge......but it still is the same team from the rest of the season not just the one that beat it's first significant opponent of the season.

The Bears have looked so bad in the last 5 weeks it is hard to say where they will be at during this part of the season.....new coach perhaps.......that is for another article.

Baltimore will be the most interesting game and possibly the most telling about how this team will play if they do in fact make the playoffs. At home against a quality, veteran team who will also likely be fighting for their playoff lives is still obviously winnable but also set up for a brawl of a game in which teams throw in the proverbial kitchen sink. This might show us the most about the this team, but they can still lose and make playoffs because.......

Arizona in week 17 with the division locked away is not the real Arizona. Could definitely rest starters, especially their ancient Jesus loving quarterback. A team that has already gone through the playoffs and recovered after struggling late in the season to go on to the Super Bowl is likely not going to invest a lot in this game. Especially if their is a possibility that the same team will be coming back for the first round of the playoffs.....interesting subplot but we will not get ahead of ourselves.