The Inexperienced Bay Packers are one of the best third-place group within the NFL.
OK, positive, so that isn’t precisely a spicy take.
How about this: The Packers may finish this season as among the finest first-place groups within the NFL.
It’s not possible, however it’s doable. After the Packers stomped the Seattle Seahawks 30-13 in entrance of a prime-time viewers Sunday evening, they picked up a recreation on the Detroit Lions within the NFC North.
The Packers improved to 10-4 and received for the eighth time of their previous 10 video games. They moved inside two video games of the Lions, who fell to 12-2 after a wild 48-42 loss towards the Buffalo Payments on Sunday.
Each groups have three video games remaining earlier than the postseason.
Inexperienced Bay will wrap up the common season with a house recreation towards the New Orleans Saints, a street recreation towards the Minnesota Vikings, and a house recreation towards the Chicago Bears. They need to be clear favorites towards the Saints and Bears, and their go to to Minnesota will likely be powerful however winnable.
Detroit finishes the common season with back-to-back street video games towards the Bears and San Francisco 49ers, adopted by a house finale towards the Vikings. The percentages to win a minimum of two of these video games seems good for Detroit, however crazier issues have occurred, particularly when accidents come into play.
Sadly for the Lions, accidents are very a lot coming into play.
After Sunday’s loss towards Buffalo, Lions coach Dan Campbell stated he frightened that three essential gamers sustained season-ending accidents. These gamers included defensive sort out Alim McNeill (knee), cornerback Carlton Davis (knee) and cornerback Khalil Dorsey (leg).
The Lions already have been limping with accidents to high gamers, together with defensive finish Aidan Hutchinson, who broke his leg towards the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6. A number of different defensive gamers are anticipated to overlook the remainder of the season, together with defensive sort out Mekhi Wingo (knee) and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (knee), each of whom have been injured on Thanksgiving Day and aren’t anticipated again till 2025.
May Detroit’s damage misfortune open a path for the Packers to clinch the division?
It will be incorrect to disregard the Gjallarhorn within the room. The Minnesota Vikings are 11-2 as they put together to face the Chicago Bears on Monday evening, however they face a more durable end with a street recreation towards the Seattle Seahawks, a house recreation towards the Packers and a street recreation towards the Lions.
Again to Inexperienced Bay, which has outscored opponents by 92 factors on the season.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur is likely one of the greatest play-callers within the league. He’ll maintain the stress on as Inexperienced Bay wraps up its season towards New Orleans, Minnesota and Chicago.
Jordan Love is coming off a profitable efficiency towards Seattle through which he accomplished 20 of 27 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns. He posted a 123.8 passer ranking.
Josh Jacobs is a prototype working again. Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and Jayden Reed lead a gifted receiving corps that features succesful tight ends comparable to Tucker Kraft.
The Packers’ protection is strong below first-year coordinator Jeff Hafley. He has guided a unit that features Xavier McKinney, who has seven interceptions, and Rashan Gary, who has 6 1/2 sacks.
If Inexperienced Bay performed within the NFC South, it could be main the division. The identical is true for the NFC West and the AFC South, and the Packers could be tied for first in the event that they performed within the AFC North.
However the Packers occur to play in one of the best division within the league (to not say we advised you so, however…).
Will Inexperienced Bay overtake Detroit to win the NFC North?
It’s not possible. However it’s doable.
