The NFL doesn’t hand out anything easy, and the Green Bay Packers just got a reminder of that the hard way.
One week, they’re riding high-fresh off a big win over the Bears, sitting atop the NFC North, and climbing the playoff ladder. The next, they’re tumbling back down after a tough loss to the Broncos that not only cost them the division lead but also dropped them into the final NFC playoff spot. That’s life in a crowded NFC, where one bad Sunday can shake up the entire postseason picture.
Still, if there’s a silver lining for Packers fans, it’s this: redemption is just around the corner. Six days, to be exact.
Green Bay gets another shot at the Bears this Saturday night, and once again, first place in the NFC North will be on the line. A win doesn’t just get the Packers back on top of the division-it would also vault them into the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff standings. That’s a big swing, and the kind of opportunity that can reset a season.
Let’s break down where things stand for the Packers heading into this pivotal Week 16 showdown.
Packers vs. Bears: Round 2
Get ready for another chapter in one of football’s oldest rivalries, with playoff implications baked into every snap.
The Packers (9-4-1) and Bears (10-4) are set to meet for the second time in three weeks. Green Bay took the first matchup in a 28-21 thriller at Lambeau Field. Now, the scene shifts to Soldier Field for the rematch, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Kickoff is set for 7:20 p.m. CT on Saturday, Dec.
- A Packers win puts them back in control of the NFC North and into prime playoff position.
A loss? That would leave them clinging to a wild card spot with two games to play.
Where the Packers Stand in the Playoff Picture
Despite the loss to Denver and a growing injury list-most notably the setback to Micah Parsons-the Packers are still in solid shape when it comes to playoff odds.
According to projections, Green Bay has a 92% chance of making the postseason. That number jumps to over 99% with a win against Chicago.
But a loss? That dips their chances to 85%, and suddenly, things start to feel a little tighter.
Last week, there was even a scenario where the Packers could’ve climbed to the NFC’s top seed if they beat Denver and the Rams lost. Neither of those things happened.
Now, Green Bay’s odds of landing the No. 1 seed-and the coveted first-round bye-are less than 1%. That ship has likely sailed.
The Rams’ win over the Lions also widened the gap between Green Bay and Detroit. The Lions, now 8-6, are two games behind the Packers in the loss column with three games to play.
But here’s the kicker: the Packers swept the Lions this season. That gives Green Bay the tiebreaker, and if they notch two more wins, they’ll lock in a better record than Detroit no matter what the Lions do the rest of the way.
As for Detroit’s playoff hopes? They’re hanging on by a thread at just 27%.
NFC Playoff Picture After Week 15
The NFC is as tight as ever, but here's how it stacks up heading into Week 16:
- Los Angeles Rams (11-3) - NFC West leader
- Chicago Bears (10-4) - NFC North leader
- Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) - NFC East leader
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) - NFC South leader
- Seattle Seahawks (11-3) - First wild card
- San Francisco 49ers (10-4) - Second wild card
- Green Bay Packers (9-4-1) - Third wild card
In the hunt:
- Detroit Lions (8-6)
- Carolina Panthers (7-7)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1)
Eliminated:
- Minnesota Vikings (6-8)
- Atlanta Falcons (5-9)
- New Orleans Saints (4-10)
- Washington Commanders (4-10)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-11)
- New York Giants (2-12)
The Packers are holding onto that final wild card spot for now, but with three games left, there’s still plenty of movement possible. Saturday’s game in Chicago is the biggest domino left to fall.
NFC North Standings
Here’s how the division looks after Week 15:
- Chicago Bears (10-4): Coming off a dominant 31-3 win over the Browns
- Green Bay Packers (9-4-1): Fell to the Broncos, 34-26
- Detroit Lions (8-6): Lost a shootout to the Rams, 41-34
- Minnesota Vikings (6-8): Beat the Cowboys, 34-26
The Bears are back on top for now, but that could change again in less than a week. Green Bay controls its own destiny in the division-win out, and the North is theirs.
What’s Left on the Packers’ Schedule
Three games. That’s all that stands between the Packers and a potential division title-or a nail-biting finish just to stay in the playoff mix.
Here’s what’s left:
- Week 16: at Chicago Bears (10-4) - Saturday, Dec. 20
- Week 17: vs. Carolina Panthers (7-7) - Saturday night
- Week 18: at Minnesota Vikings (6-8) - TBD
Two of those three are on the road, and all three come with playoff implications. But it all starts this Saturday night in Chicago. The Packers have a chance to take back control of the division, quiet the doubters, and remind the NFC that they’re not going anywhere.
It’s December football-and for the Packers, the stakes don’t get much higher.