Updated NFC playoff picture after Packers loss to Bucs in Week 15
No, the Green Bay Packers weren't playing against Patrick Mahomes on Sunday, but Joe Barry made Baker Mayfield look like the NFL MVP.
A truly embarrassing defensive effort handed the Packers their second loss in six days. With that, their playoff hopes took a major hit.
Matt LaFleur's team is now 6-8 and likely needs to win out to have any shot at making the playoffs with a 9-8 record. Their remaining games are against the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, and Chicago Bears.
Jordan Love led the offense well throughout the game, throwing for 284 yards and two touchdowns.
However, Barry's defense had no answers. A mixture of soft coverages burned the Packers again. Inside linebacker De'Vondre Campbell was regularly matched up with star receiver Chris Godwin, and Campbell offered little resistance. Godwin caught 10 passes for 155 yards.
Packers suffer major setback in playoff race in Week 15 (Updated)
NFC playoff standings
- San Francisco 49ers (11-3)
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-3)
- Detroit Lions (10-4)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
- Dallas Cowboys (10-4)
- Minnesota Vikings (7-7)
- Los Angeles Rams (7-7)
Playoff matchups if the season ended today
- Philadelphia Eagles (2) vs. Los Angeles Rams (7)
- Detroit Lions (3) vs. Minnesota Vikings (6)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4) vs. Dallas Cowboys (5)
The Packers missed an opportunity to tie the division-rival Minnesota Vikings, who suffered an overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday. The Vikings fell to 7-7 with the loss. A win would've made things very interesting, with the two meeting at U.S. Bank Stadium in two weeks.
Green Bay falls out of the playoff spots but is still in the hunt. However, the Packers have lost any margin for error. One more loss likely ends any remaining hopes of reaching the postseason. They need to run the table with victories over the Panthers, Vikings, and Bears. That would likely be enough to secure the seventh seed, but it will be close.
It was a brutal performance from Barry's defense. This unit needs to make significant improvements to give Green Bay a shot at a playoff berth in the final few weeks of the season.
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