Packers move up in power rankings after back-to-back wins

For the first time since the opening four weeks of the season, the Green Bay Packers have won consecutive games.

With victories over the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams in consecutive games, the Packers remain alive in the NFC’s wild-card race.

Making the postseason remains a long shot, as Green Bay would need to overtake the Washington Commanders, Seattle Seahawks, and Detroit Lions to get the seventh seed.

That will require winning all three games remaining on the schedule and getting some help with those other teams losing games. The Packers play the Lions in Week 18.

But for now, things are looking far more positive in Green Bay with back-to-back wins. As a result, the Packers have moved up in the latest NFL.com power rankings for Week 16.

Green Bay has moved up to 17th position, having been 22nd a week ago.

Well, from where the Packers were, the only way was up.

But as Dan Hanzus notes in his power rankings, “the uphill climb continues on Christmas Day in Miami.”

It’s a huge test for Matt LaFleur’s team. The final road game of the season is a challenging one, and one they must win.

While the Miami Dolphins have lost three games in a row, we’re still talking about an incredibly talented football team. All three defeats were on the road against playoff opponents in the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers, and Buffalo Bills.

Losing to those teams might not give the Dolphins much confidence about winning games in the playoffs, should they make it, but they won’t get the same kind of challenge from this Packers team. Especially at home.

So, while it may be considered a good time to play a team coming off three straight defeats, it’s also bad timing as the Dolphins desperately need a win.

Well, so do the Packers, and they must find a way to overcome the Dolphins to stay alive in the playoff race and continue their climb in the NFL.com power rankings.