Playoffs? The Green Bay Packers Are Headed In That Direction

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is fired up over how his team has played the past month.

Matt LaFleur wouldn't do his Jim Mora “Playoffs” impression.

But Green Bay’s head coach insisted he can do a pretty mean Mora.

“I can do it,” LaFleur said. “I can do it pretty well.”

When pressed on the subject, LaFleur said: “No, I’m good. Later.”

Perhaps LaFleur will budge when the Packers actually make the playoffs, which is looking more like reality than fantasy these days.

Green Bay defeated reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City, 27-19, Sunday night and continued one of the more remarkable turnarounds of this NFL season.

The Packers have now won four of five games, jumped to 6-6 and are tied with Seattle, Minnesota and the Los Angeles Rams for the sixth-best record in the conference. If the playoffs began today, Green Bay would be the No. 7 seed.

Here’s the kicker, though.

Green Bay has one of the easiest schedules in the league over the final five weeks. And barring injury, the Packers will likely be favored in their final five games.

“Playoffs,” as Mora squawked?

You better believe it.

“Yeah the sky’s the limit,” Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. “I’m not putting a limit on what we can do. I really think we’re just getting better and better every week. Everyone’s getting more comfortable and we’re just executing – literally just executing better and starting fast. I think this is a really good team. When we play at our best, we’re a tough team to beat.”

Here’s a look at the NFC playoff picture:

1. Philadelphia (10-2) — Lost to San Francisco Sunday, but still hold the conference’s top spot.

2. San Francisco (9-3) — Have won four straight, including a huge win at Philadelphia Sunday.

3. Detroit (9-3) — Have comfortable three game lead in NFC North.

4. Atlanta (6-6) — Best of the NFL’s worst division — for now.

5. Dallas (9-3) — Host Philadelphia Sunday as the Cowboys look to move atop the NFC East.

6. Minnesota (6-6) — The Vikings are expected to get star wideout Justin Jefferson back this week, but who’s the quarterback?

Combined record of remaining opponents: 34-25 (.576).

Analysis: The Vikings still face Detroit (9-3) twice. A New Year’s Eve game with Green Bay (in Minnesota) will have major playoff ramifications.

7. Green Bay (6-6) — Winners of three straight games and four of five, the Packers are suddenly one of the NFL’s hottest teams.

Combined record of remaining opponents: 20-40 (.333).

Analysis: Green Bay doesn't play another team with a winning record and will likely be a favorite in each of its last five games.

8. Los Angeles Rams (6-6) — Winners of three straight, Los Angeles is right back in the playoff hunt.

Combined record of remaining opponents: 31-30 (.508).

Analysis: Road games at Baltimore and San Francisco could be nightmarish.

9. Seattle (6-6) — Mired in a three-game losing streak.

Combined record of remaining opponents: 33-28 (.541).

Analysis: Seattle’s next two games are at San Francisco (9-3) and home against Philadelphia (10-2). If the Seahawks can’t find a way to split those, their postseason dreams could be shattered.

10. Tampa Bay (5-7) — Had lost six of seven before narrow win over Carolina Sunday.

Combined record of remaining opponents: 26-33 (.441).

Analysis: A trip to Green Bay on Dec. 17 looms large in an otherwise extremely manageable schedule.

11. New Orleans (5-7) — Have lost three straight games and fallen to third place in dreadful NFC South.

Combined record of remaining opponents: 22-38 (.367).

Analysis: Like Green Bay, the Saints don’t play another game against a team that currently has a winning record.