Packers won’t disappear, let’s hope for playoff

Don’t count on the Green Bay Packers.

They raised their slim playoff hopes on Sunday afternoon with a 26-20 margin of victory over the Miami Dolphins, which saw them intercept Tua Tagovailoa in the final three innings of the game.

The win takes the Packers to 7-8 and keeps them ahead of the NFC Wild Card race.

They still need to win two more games against Minnesota and Detroit (both at Lambeau Field) and get help, but the fact that they still have something to play after falling 4-8 is a miracle in itself. Small Christmas color.

After the 40-33 loss to Philadelphia, at the end of November the Packers’ season seemed to be out of the question, and there were even calls for the team to bench Aaron Rodgers and try to see what they had in store. reserve Jordan Love.

All the Packers have done since then is hit three straight wins over Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami to keep their hopes up.

They are currently drawing with Detroit and Seattle with a head-to-head record of 7-8, while all three teams are only 7-7-1 half a match behind the Washington Commanders for the final playoff spot.

So what needs to happen for the Packers to get in?

Green Bay has to beat Minnesota and Detroit, while one of these two situations needs to happen: Washington needs to lose a game (to Cleveland or Dallas), OR Giants need to lose both games (Indianapolis and Philadelphia).

This seemed absurd a few weeks ago, but it’s not impossible. Not with a long shot. And do you know which team is better to hope the Packers don’t sneak in?

Vikings.

Because if the Packers end up winning a playoff spot, they’ll almost certainly pave the way against second seed Vikings.

Imagine you’re a 12- or 13-game winning Viking team, still can’t say goodbye to a week, and your reward for that great season would be a knockout with Aaron Rodgers.

That doesn’t sound like much fun.

Minnesota could end that scenario next week and it could benefit from doing so.