2021 NFL playoff image: The place Packers stand in hunt for NFC’s No. 1 seed, how they’ll enhance, predictions

The Packers have been a pressure ever since Matt LaFleur took over as head coach in 2019, going 13-3 and advancing to the NFC Championship Sport in successive years. Now, getting into Week 16, they’re getting ready to doing all of it once more, with hopes for a good grander end. Regardless of all of the offseason drama surrounding Aaron Rodgers and the soundness of LaFleur’s championship-caliber roster, the Packers are as soon as once more among the many NFC’s high contenders.

However the place, precisely, do they sit within the present playoff image? And the way powerful is their remaining schedule? What might they enhance upon as they put together to make one other run? And the place do we expect they will find yourself? Under, discover all the things that you must know concerning the Packers’ postseason outlook, together with a prediction for his or her 2021 end:

Present playoff place

After 14 video games and 15 weeks, the Packers (11-3) are sitting fairly on the high of the NFC. The Cardinals (10-4) lengthy appeared like favorites to personal the No. 1 seed within the convention, however they’ve now dropped two straight, and extra importantly, one among their 4 losses this 12 months got here towards Inexperienced Bay. The Packers’ different chief competitors for the NFC’s high seed — and, thus, its solely first-round postseason bye — are the Buccaneers (10-4), who simply misplaced a trio of offensive starters to harm; and the Cowboys (10-4), who shut towards Washington, the Cardinals and the Eagles.

For Inexperienced Bay, it is so simple as this: Simply preserve tempo with the Bucs, Cardinals and Cowboys, and the No. 1 seed can be theirs. If all 4 groups end 2021 with the identical document, the Packers will get the first-round bye due to tiebreakers.

If the Packers one way or the other cannot nab the highest seed, they’re at the very least assured a top-four seed as NFC North champions, having clinched the division title in Week 15.

Remaining schedule

The Packers have three video games left in 2021:

The Browns might find yourself being probably the most determined workforce on the Packers’ remaining schedule. They have not received back-to-back video games since early October, and whereas Baker Mayfield lastly appeared nearer to full well being of their latest win over Baltimore, they’re down dozens of our bodies as a consequence of COVID-19. They’re additionally not out of the AFC North race but, they usually nonetheless have Myles Garrett up entrance to hurry the passer.

Earlier than closing the 12 months with the Lions, the Packers get the Vikings, who obtained the final chortle in an explosive Week 11 shootout between the rivals. Minnesota hung in there to beat Pittsburgh in a wild “Thursday Evening Soccer” shootout after which edged the Bears in prime time as properly. They determine to be within the wild card search out the stretch, so that they’ll be bringing their all.

Areas for enchancment

• Well being: That is possibly the largest cause the Packers ought to be thought-about front-runners within the NFC. They’re certain to get more healthy, they usually’ve made it thus far with out a few of their largest names, together with All-Professional left sort out David Bakhtiari, shutdown cornerback Jaire Alexander and high pass-rusher Za’Darius Smith. If/when these guys can return to the lineup, not to mention full type, Inexperienced Bay ought to be each deadlier and deeper on each side of the ball.
• Particular groups: Mason Crosby acquired Rodgers’ endorsement earlier this 12 months, when he was starting to wrestle on a discipline aim workforce that is simply the worst unit of the entire squad. However the 37-year-old veteran has been iffy many of the 12 months, lacking a whopping 10 kicks (9 FGs, one further level). Worse but, your complete unit threatened to derail Week 14’s win over the Bears, permitting a punt-return rating and fumbling the ball on a pair of different kickoffs.

Prediction

Bear in mind when everybody was up in arms after Rodgers and Co. opened the 12 months flat towards the Saints? Or when A-Rod immediately landed on COVID-19 reserve, leaving Jordan Love to drown towards the Chiefs? Sure, these moments put small dents of their season, however none of them truly ruined them as title contenders, as LaFleur’s squad is as soon as once more primed to make critical noise out of — and presumably atop — the NFC.

In our eyes, the Packers ought to be stone-cold favorites in every of their remaining video games. Perhaps the Vikings will do one thing wild once more in Week 17, however they might be on the surface of the playoff image by then. In any occasion, it is laborious to not see Inexperienced Bay going 2-1 or 3-0 to shut the 12 months, placing them at both 13-4 or 14-3.

They’ve already locked up the NFC North, however as for the No. 1 seed? Arizona as soon as deserved all of the reward for its breakout, however the Cardinals have actually stumbled these days and do not have a cakewalk schedule on the end line. The Bucs, in the meantime, are already a recreation behind Inexperienced Bay and are navigating some massive dents to their lineup. Should you wanna know the place our cash’s at, it is on the Packers staying No. 1 and ending 2021 atop your complete NFC.