Weeks have passed since my last post in here, but the World Cup was more important for the time being. In the meantime, the Packers went only 2-2 over the stretch they should have gone at least 3-1 to remain in a realistic position for a playoff spot.
But the results of their competition have been rather favorable over the same stretch. Now the Packers need to run the table to finish at 9-8 and pass three of the following teams: Commanders and Giants (both at 7-5-1), Seahawks (7-6) and Lions (6-7). All of these teams have their own problems, but the Commanders and Giants will play each other in week 15 to make one of them 8-5-1, therefore the Packers will at best pass only one of them by the end of the season. The Seahawks have a tough remaining schedule while the Lions are still the Lions.
However... this year's Packers are a mediocre team that didn't manage to be a good team that at least beats all the mediocre and bad teams while losing to the good teams. That's usually good enough to sneak into the playoffs, but with losses to the Commanders, Giants and Lions, the Packers have put themselves in a bad situation. At least the head to head tie-breaker against the two NFC East teams won't matter at all due to the tie between them.
First and foremost the Packers will have to win their own games against the Rams, Vikings, Dolphins and Lions, with three of these games being at Lambeau Field. It's not an easy schedule, but a doable one. Yet on the other hand the Packers have fallen short too often this season, so I certainly don't have the confidence like in years past when a 4-6 Packers team had to run the table to get into the playoffs and pulled it off comfortably. A 7-10 or worse finish is more probable than a 9-8 season with a playoff berth, but giving up the team now already would be too lame.
Legend11 correctly predicted that GTA IV will outsell Super Smash Bros. Brawl. I was wrong.
