The Green Bay Packers (8-3-1) stayed in the No. 6 spot in the NFC playoff rankings after their 31-24 win over the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, followed by the rest of the NFL's schedule playing out Nov. 30. But the outlook did get rosier for the Packers.
Green Bay risked getting bounced outside the playoff picture with a loss to the Lions and, instead, the Packers are guaranteed to still be in the picture after next week's games, too. The biggest benefit is the win itself over a direct NFC playoff contender. The Packers now have a 1½-game cushion over the Lions, the first team on the outside of the playoff picture. Detroit has a narrow lead over the Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1), a team that meets the Lions on Dec. 4, and the Carolina Panthers (7-6), who head into a bye next weekend.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe other big development of the week was a loss by the Los Angeles Rams, one that made the path to a No. 1 seed more attainable for the Packers but also put the Chicago Bears in the No. 1 overall spot, heading into a showdown with the Packers on Dec. 7.
Here's what else to know about where the Packers stand.
Would the Packers make the playoffs if the season ended today?
Yes, Green Bay's 8-3-1 record makes it the No. 6 seed in the NFC, slightly ahead of the San Francisco 49ers (9-4), who would be the No. 7 seed, and Detroit (7-5), which would not be in the playoffs. Don't count out Dallas (6-5-1) or Carolina (7-6).
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe 49ers have a bye this week, meaning there won't be any change in the playoff-positioned teams next week no matter what happens. The order might change, but the playoff teams by the end of Week 14 will be Chicago, the Rams, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Seattle, Green Bay and San Francisco.
What are the chances the Packers make the playoffs?
The New York Times gives the Packers a 91% chance of reaching the postseason.
Would the Lions miss the NFL playoffs if the season ended today?
Yes, if the season stopped right now, Detroit would be on the outside looking in as the No. 8 team in the NFC, with seven making the playoffs. The Lions can inch no closer than the No. 8 seed next week, even with a win.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWho would the Packers play in the NFL playoffs if the season ended today?
The Packers would rematch with Philadelphia, traveling to face the Eagles (8-4), the No. 3 seed. The Eagles have a higher seed as a division leader, even though the Packers have the better record.
The Bears cannot possibly be this good, can they?
We're about to find out at Lambeau Field on Dec. 7.
Chicago came into its impressive win over Philadelphia on Nov. 28 with a negative point differential for the season (minus-3), but the Bears have nonetheless won nine of 11 games, including dramatic finishes galore during their five-game winning streak. Prior to the Eagles, the Bears had won their previous four games by a combined 14 points, all against teams that would be outside the playoff picture if the season ended today. But then came a resounding 24-15 win on the road that made Chicago look every bit the heavyweight its record (9-3) indicates.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Packers will travel to Soldier Field on Dec. 20, two weeks after their first head-to-head with the Bears.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love and defensive end Micah Parsons eat turkey after defeating the Detroit Lions.Did the Packers gain any ground on NFC playoff contenders in Week 13?
Losses by the Rams and Eagles have made them more vulnerable to get caught by Green Bay in the NFC pecking order. The Eagles (8-4) are in control of the NFC East, so they'd be on track to host a game even if the Packers have a better record (as they do now), but if Green Bay beats Chicago on Dec. 7 and moves into first place in the NFC North, the Packers would leapfrog Chicago and Philadelphia and wind up positioned no worse than the No. 2 seed.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCan the Packers get the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC?
If the Packers win next week, they can even find themselves situated as the No. 1 seed, but that would require losses by the Rams and Seahawks, both currently 9-3. The New York Times gives the Packers a 12% chance of landing the top seed.
If the current top team, the Bears, lose to Green Bay, the Rams would again be entitled to control of the No. 1 seed with a win. Absent that, the Seahawks could win, move into the top spot in the NFC West, and claim the top overall seed in the process.
What are the current NFC playoff standings?
Chicago (9-3) leads the NFC North and has the No. 1 seed, thanks to a tenuous tiebreaker over the NFC West-leading Rams (win percentage in conference games). If the Bears win next week, they'd still have the tiebreaker over both the Rams and Seahawks and would keep that perch. The top seed in each conference gets a first-round playoff bye.
The Los Angeles Rams (9-3) lead the NFC West and have the No. 2 seed, with a tiebreaker edge over the Seahawks (9-3) for division control (based on a head-to-head win).
Philadelphia (8-4) leads the NFC East, though the Cowboys are suddenly within striking distance at 6-5-1. The Eagles would be the No. 3 seed.
Tampa Bay (7-5) leads the NFC South and momentarily has a tenuous lead over Carolina (7-6). On account of leading a division, the Buccaneers are entitled to the No. 4 seed even though teams below them have better records. They'll keep that lead on tiebreaker even with a loss next week (when top-contender Carolina goes on bye).
Seattle (9-3) gets bumped to a wild card despite a strong record, but the Seahawks are still the No. 5 seed. They don't have seeding priority over Tampa Bay because they aren't leading a division. The Rams and Seahawks still have one more head-to-head meeting on the docket.
Green Bay (8-3-1) gets the No. 6 seed as the second wild card.
San Francisco (9-4) gets the No. 7 and final seed heading into a bye. The Packers would fall behind San Francisco in the pecking order with a loss to the Bears.
What's left on Packers 2025 schedule?
The Packers face an absolute gauntlet to finish the 2025 season, although the increasing Vikings struggles are making the season finale look more and more like a game the Packers should win.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDec. 7 vs. Bears (9-3)
Dec. 14 at Broncos (10-2)
Week 16 at Bears (9-3)
Week 17 vs. Ravens (6-6)
Week 18 at Vikings (4-8)
The Bears, Broncos and Ravens are all currently leading their division.
Does Green Bay have the toughest remaining schedule in the NFL?
The Packers have the toughest remaining schedule by opponent winning percentage in the NFC (.633), second in the NFL only to Indianapolis (.672). The Packers are Colts fans going forward, with Indy still to face Seattle and San Francisco.
Seattle (.597), Chicago (.590), Detroit (.575) and San Francisco (.562) are all in the top-10 of difficult remaining schedules. The Eagles (.400) and Cowboys (.400) are tied for 29th, with the Rams (.433) in 25th.
What are the NFC standings?
Chicago, 9-3 (NFC North leader)
Los Angeles Rams, 9-3 (NFC West leader)
Philadelphia, 8-4 (NFC East leader)
Tampa Bay, 7-5 (NFC South leader)
Seattle, 9-3
Green Bay, 8-3-1
San Francisco, 9-4
Detroit, 7-5
Dallas, 6-5-1
Carolina, 7-6
Atlanta, 4-8
Minnesota, 4-8
Arizona, 3-9
Washington, 3-9
New Orleans, 2-10
New York Giants, 2-10
The Giants, Cardinals and Saints have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Who do the top contenders play this week?
Dallas (6-5-1) at Detroit (7-5), 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4
Seattle (9-3) at Atlanta (4-8), noon Dec. 7
New Orleans (2-10) at Tampa Bay (7-5), noon Dec. 7
Los Angeles Rams (9-3) at Arizona (3-9), 3:25 p.m. Dec. 7
Chicago (9-3) at Green Bay (8-3-1), 3:25 p.m. Dec. 7
Philadelphia (8-4) at Los Angeles Chargers (8-4), 7:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8
BYE: San Francisco, Carolina
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How close are Packers to top NFC playoff seed after win in Detroit?
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