Packers season all but over after loss to Vikings, sixth on the road
U.S. Bank Stadium hasn’t been kind to the Green Bay Packers. For the second year in a row, their season has been ended by the Minnesota Vikings.
A year ago, Aaron Rodgers‘ broken collarbone at the same stadium all but ended the Green Bay Packers‘ season. In their first game back there, Minnesota has likely ended Green Bay’s playoff hopes again.
Sunday night was a must-win game for Mike McCarthy’s team, but the Packers put in another frustrating performance to fall short on the road once again. They are now 0-6 away from Lambeau Field and their season is most likely done.
It was a familiar story for the Packers in this game.
The defense made a strong start forcing two three-and-outs on the Vikings’ opening two possessions. The offense had its moments. A seven-play, 68-yard touchdown drive gave them an early lead, but the offense was far too inconsistent.
The Vikings made the key plays when it mattered the most. The Packers continue to get in their own way.
The defense couldn’t get a stop when they really needed it. The offense couldn’t convert on an important fourth down. A special teams error handed the ball right back to Minnesota after a punt. And the offense left points on the field.
Green Bay was outplayed for large parts of the game and left it too late to make a comeback.
At 4-6-1, it would take a miracle for the Packers to make the playoffs.
The Chicago Bears need just two wins from their final five games to ensure the Packers can no longer win the NFC North.
A wild-card berth was the best route into the playoffs, but they are now two games behind the fifth-seed Vikings (who also hold the head-to-head tiebreaker), three behind sixth-seed Washington, two behind the Seahawks (who have the tiebreaker) and two behind the Panthers.
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To have any hope Green Bay must win all five games left on the schedule. Even that likely won’t be enough for this team to return to the playoffs.