Packers have great playoff chances despite loss to Colts

The Packers have a great chance of reaching the playoffs.

Despite their frustrating overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the Green Bay Packers are still well set in the NFC North and on course for another playoff run.

Entering Week 12, the Packers hold a two-game advantage atop the NFC North with a 7-3 record. The Chicago Bears were on bye week while the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions both lost.

If the Packers can defeat the Bears on Sunday, they’ll open up a three-game lead with only five games to go. This week’s game at Lambeau Field is huge for both teams.

As things stand, Green Bay has a great chance of reaching the postseason. According to FiveThirtyEight’s predictions, the Packers have a 96 percent chance of making the playoffs and an 88 percent chance of winning the NFC North. I like those odds.

Beat the Bears on Sunday and the playoff chances increase to greater than 99 percent and the chances of winning the division would rise to 97 percent.

What is less certain is whether Green Bay will be able to secure the NFC’s top seed and first-round bye in the playoffs. Currently, FiveThirtyEight’s predictions gives the Packers a 23 percent chance of securing a first-round bye compared to 34 percent for the New Orleans Saints and a 20 percent chance for the Seattle Seahawks.

Everything is still to play for, however. Win out and Green Bay would finish 13-3. A 12-4 record could be enough. Green Bay also has the head-to-head tiebreaker over New Orleans due to the win at the Superdome in Week 3. That could come into it.

The number one goal for every team when the regular season begins is to win the division and secure a spot in the postseason. From there, anything can happen.

At 7-3 and two games ahead in the NFC North race, the Packers are in position to do just that.