Green Bay Packers Jump Into Race for NFC Playoff Bye

By Keegan Matheson | Nov 25, 2014

The Green Bay Packers had a lot of things go their way in Week 12, starting with their 24-21 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on the road. Just two weeks ago, I looked at a Packers team that was on the outside looking in, sitting 7th in the NFC playoff race. Today, Green Bay has catapulted to the top of the NFC North and placed themselves in a favourable position to clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs.

The Detroit Lions, who have managed to regress since the return of Calvin Johnson, have taken a step back to 7-4, which hands a full-game lead to the 8-3 Green Bay Packers. In the situation that Green Bay is able to hold off Detroit down the stretch, including their pivotal Week 17 matchup at home, the Packers will then have a shot at the NFC running through Lambeau Field.

Currently, the Arizona Cardinals sit atop the Conference at 9-2, with the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles close on the Green Bay Packers’ heels, also at 8-3.

The Packers’ have an extremely difficult matchup coming in the New England Patriots, but follow that with winnable games against the Falcons, Bills and Buccaneers. Arizona’s stretch run may present a higher degree of difficulty, as they face the Chiefs, Seahawks and 49ers in December.

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Green Bay has been untouchable at home recently, which makes this newfound push for a playoff bye all the more valuable. In their last four games at Lambeau, the Green Bay Packers have scored 42, 38, 55 and 53 points.

With the defense rallying around Clay Matthews on the inside and finding their opportunistic identity, the Packers are beginning to develop a more playoff-ready brand of football. Eddie Lacy showed signs of another late-season surge in Week 12, rushing for 125 yards and looking stronger as his workload grew. The Packers’ are not without holes, though, as they enter this critical stretch.

The loss of B.J. Raji is still evident, and the defensive line has failed to impact games on a consistent basis. More will be needed from this unit entering December and January, which could create more opportunities for the linebacking corps to produce, primarily Matthews and Julius Peppers. Tom Brady will provide a huge test for the front seven in Week 13, along with the power-running style of LeGarrette Blount that they could be challenged with again when the snow flies.

Offensively, the Green Bay Packers still need a third option to stake their claim to a share in the passing game. Rookie WR Davante Adams seemed well on his way, but has hit a wall over the past few weeks. Tight Ends Andrew Quarless and Richard Rodgers have both had their moments, but Green Bay needs one of them to string together some consistency, and help fill the void that is still felt in the absence of Jermichael Finley.

Whether it be this Sunday, or weeks from now, the Packers will meet a defense that “figures them out”. A cornerback or intelligent scheme will eliminate one or both of Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, and when that happens, Aaron Rodgers needs to have confidence in the next man up.

Home-field has appeared to be more of an advantage than ever for the Packers in 2014, and one needs only to look to the Seattle Seahawks 2013 playoff run to see the impact that a friendly crowd can have on the outcome of high-pressure football.

The Green Bay Packers would receive the NFC’s second bye if the season were to end today, but their sights should be on the top spot in the conference, and the guarantee of their conference playoff games being played on the Frozen Tundra.

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