Why the Packers are in perfect position to make the playoffs

Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers / Patrick McDermott/GettyImages
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The Green Bay Packers are in a position that few expected them to be in before and during the early parts of the season.

A position where they can make a genuine push for the playoffs. At 6-6 and currently in the seventh spot in the NFC, qualifying for the postseason is very much on the table.

The final five games on Green Bay's schedule are favorable to their chances and should be a relatively easy path to navigate. Their opponents have a combined record of 20-40. The only team the Packers will face that is not currently below .500 is the 6-6 Minnesota Vikings.

Meanwhile, the New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, and Chicago Bears all have losing records, with most dealing with some level of adversity that could result in changes being made in multiple areas of their respective organizations. This should lead to winning being a more probable outcome for the Packers.

Can Jordan Love lead the Packers into the playoffs?

A major factor in Green Bay's late-season surge has been the increased level of play from quarterback Jordan Love.

During the Packers' current three-game winning streak, Love is completing 68.7% of his pass attempts for 857 yards and eight touchdowns. With an average stat line of 24.7 completions on 36 attempts for 285.7 yards and 2.7 touchdowns, it is easy to see why the Packers have been able to come out victorious against some tough opponents (Chiefs, Lions, and Chargers).

There is another area within the Packers' organization that appears to have a lot less uncertainty surrounding it: The head coach.

Not too long ago, there were legitimate questions about the viability of Matt LaFleur in Green Bay and whether or not a coaching change would be coming after the season, if not sooner. This recent surge, combined with a good chance to make the postseason, has calmed the waters in Green Bay and provided some much-needed stability for the franchise.

If Green Bay can maintain its high level of play and continue stacking up wins late in the year, it should qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season. Should the Packers be able to complete their late-season push and continue playing once the regular season has ended, it would result in even more optimism around the future of the franchise.

The fate of the Packers' season is in the hands of LaFleur and Love. Let's hope they are up to the challenge in front of them. It is far from an impossible task and one they should be able to accomplish. This is a Packers team that is starting to peak, and this is the exact right time for it as they look to finish off the regular season on a positive note.

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