Despite taking a heartbreaking 34-31 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thursday night, essentially eliminating any chance they had to win the NFC North, the Green Bay Packers are still in great shape in the NFC playoff picture.
Sure, the Packers, who dropped to 9-4 with the loss to Detroit, are now two games back in the loss column to the Minnesota Vikings, who hold the top wild-card spot in the conference heading into their Week 14 matchup with Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons.
Nevertheless, Green Bay maintains the No. 6 seed and holds a one-game lead on the Washington Commanders, who are on a bye this week. Matt LaFleur & Co. are also up three games in the win column on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Los Angeles Rams, who are the top three teams currently on the outside looking in.
Here's a quick overview of what the NFC wild-card race looks like at the moment.
- 5. Minnesota Vikings (10-2)
- 6. Green Bay Packers (9-4)
- 7. Washington Commanders (8-5)
- 8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6)
- 9. Arizona Cardinals (6-6)
- 10. Los Angeles Rams (6-6)
So, again, the Packers are in good shape. That said, however, that doesn't mean they won't be rooting for all of these other teams to take losses in Week 14 as well, as defeats obviously help Green Bay inch closer to officially clinching a spot.
Minus Washington, of course, here's a look at who those teams will face on Sunday.
Packers need to pay the most attention to these Week 14 games
After having to root against Kirk Cousins for many years, Packers fans have no choice but to root for him in Week 14, which is where we'll kick things off.
Falcons at Vikings
Needing the Vikings to take a loss to get back within a game of Kevin O'Connell's crew, the Packers will need the Atlanta Falcons to go into U.S. Bank Stadium and snap a three-game losing streak.
But that certainly won't be easy as Cousins, who threw four interceptions in a 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers this past week, is facing a Minnesota defense that just happens to lead the league in picks.
And with Sam Darnold seemingly having his pick problem under control these days, the Vikings' offense has been rolling. The Packers will need an upset here.
Raiders at Buccaneers
Speaking of upsets, Green Bay would like to see one here as well.
But seeing as how the two-win Las Vegas Raiders haven't tasted victory in more than two months, their last win coming back on September 29 against the Cleveland Browns, that's not likely to happen.
After losing three straight games by six points or less before their bye week, the Bucs have since won two straight, and a third is likely in the cards.
Seahawks at Cardinals
The Packers have plenty of reason to hope for good things here, as the Seattle Seahawks shut down the Cardinals' offense just two weeks ago in a 16-6 victory.
And after Arizona blew a late lead to the Vikings last week, the confidence in that locker room can't be overly high heading into this Week 14 rematch with the Seahawks.
The big thing the Cards have going for them in this one is that it's a home game. While just 2-4 on the road, they're 4-2 in Glendale and haven't lost at home since Week 4.
Bills at Rams
How much do the Rams hate the schedule makers right now?
Needing every win they can get as they battle for both the NFC West crown and a wild-card berth, they get the unfortunate task of hosting the white-hot Buffalo Bills in Week 14.
Winners of seven straight, the Bills have been decimating opponents on both sides of the ball. Now, this is kind of a "trap game" situation Josh Allen and friends are in, as they could be looking ahead to their possible Super Bowl preview against the Lions in Week 15.
But given how dialed in this Buffalo team has been over the last two months, I don't think they'll let themselves get complacent. So, the Rams are likely in big trouble here, which is good news for Green Bay.