The Green Bay Packers enter Week 18 in an unusual position. They get the Chicago Bears at home, which usually brings the best out of them, but it feels like there is nothing to play for.
Green Bay can improve its seed to the No. 6 spot with a win, but only if the Dallas Cowboys beat the Washington Commanders. It's hard to get overly excited about the chance to clinch the sixth seed, if we're being honest.
The Packers have clinched a wild-card berth but don't yet know their opponents. What we do know is that it will come down to one of three teams: the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who lead the NFC East, NFC West, and NFC South, respectively.
If Green Bay finishes with the No. 7 seed, it gets Philadelphia. If it's the No. 6 seed, it will take on the No. 3 team — Los Angeles or Tampa Bay.
But which team would present the toughest challenge?
Ranking the Packers' potential wild-card round opponents entering Week 18
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
We need to be careful when referring to the Buccaneers as an "easy" matchup. The Packers' recent history against them is the stuff of nightmares, from the heartbreaking NFC title game loss to Tom Brady to Baker Mayfield's perfect passer rating at Lambeau Field. No playoff game is easy, but of the three options, this is the most favorable.
The Packers know far too well what Mayfield looks like at his best — the memories of his 381-yard, four-touchdown performance in Green Bay still hurt. However, he wouldn't get the luxury of throwing against a Joe Barry defense this time.
Mayfield is a playmaker. He ranks third in the NFL for passing yards (4,279) and second in touchdown passes (39). However, he gives defenses chances. Only one quarterback has more interceptions than Mayfield's 15, and PFF has credited him with a league-worst 25 turnover-worthy plays. That bodes well for a Packers defense that ranks fourth in takeaways and third in interceptions this season.
Tampa Bay's run defense is a concern, having allowed just 57.8 rushing yards per contest since its Week 11 bye. However, Love could find opportunities against a passing defense that has allowed 26 touchdowns (24th) and a 97.4 passer rating (25th) this season while making just seven interceptions (27th).
2. Los Angeles Rams
The Packers made relatively easy work of the Rams in Week 5, but don't be fooled by that matchup. Los Angeles didn't have star wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua and cornerback Darious Williams, while three offensive linemen were on injured reserve.
Sean McVay's team fell to 1-4 after Green Bay's win at SoFi Stadium, but it has only lost two games since. The Rams' red-hot offense has lost a little steam in recent weeks despite continuing to win games, but they showed their potential with an impressive 44-42 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 14.
The positive for Green Bay is a favorable matchup against a Los Angeles defense that ranks inside the bottom 10 in total yards allowed (26th) and rushing yards allowed (24th), and they aren't much better against the pass (22nd).
However, the Rams win with offense, and they present a daunting matchup for a Packers defense likely without Jaire Alexander. The Rams have faced adversity all season and pushed through it. They are a battle-tested and dangerous team to run into in the playoffs.
1. Philadelphia Eagles
The Packers lost a close game they should've won against the Eagles in Week 1. Matt LaFleur's club has undoubtedly improved since the season opener.
But so have the Eagles — significantly.
Like Green Bay, Philadelphia made a good but not great start to the regular season, dropping games to the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the opening four weeks. Since then? They have won 11 of 12, and their only loss was by three points to the Commanders after losing Jalen Hurts to injury. The Eagles led 7-0 with the ball in Commanders territory when Hurts exited the game.
Could the Packers slow down a passing game featuring A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith? In Week 1, the answer was a resounding no, and that was with Jaire Alexander.
Then there is Saquon Barkley, who had a chance to break the NFL's single-season rushing yards record had the Eagles not rested him in Week 18. He will finish the year with an incredible 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns.
If that's not bad enough, the Packers would have to find an answer for an Eagles defense currently ranked first in total yards allowed, first in passing yards allowed, 10th in rushing yards allowed, and third in scoring.
The Packers have to beat the best teams at some point, but they should hope to avoid the Eagles in the first round.