Packers WILL Make the Playoffs
Posted by mikemarit on December 13, 2009
The Packers are sitting at 8-4 heading into their division final division game on Sunday against the Bears. The Packers will be able to get into the playoffs with a 10-6 record so that means they only need to win two of their remaining four games.
Two of the remaining four games (Bears and Seahawks) don’t look like they should be much of a problem. If the Packers go ahead and beat the Bears this Sunday, I believe they will have all but locked a spot for themselves for the final wildcard slot.
NOT SO FAST
The other two matchups are the Steelers and Cardinals. The Steelers (6-7) are a good football team even though they have lost their fifth straight game. They will also have 10 days to prepare for the Packers next week after playing this past Thursday. If the Steelers lose to the Packers next weekend they will be eliminated from the playoffs just a year away from being crowned world champs.
The Cardinals have a very good football team and they are playing good football right now. They, like the Steelers, are one year removed from playing in the Super Bowl. Playing this team in the regular season finale helps out the Packers a lot because the Cardinals may be resting their starters during most of that game to ensure they are healthy for the playoffs. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Packers play the Cardinals the following weekend in the first round of the playoffs.
THE LOW ROAD
The last thing to consider is if the Packers get into the playoffs they will have to do it on the road because they are guaranteed to get no higher than a 7 seed (unless the Vikings collapse down the stretch and the Packers can win the NFC North division). The Packers are a mediocre 3-2 on the road, so having to play on the road throughout the playoffs may be a problem.
Personally, I am excited for the game at Heinz Field against the Steelers and the game against the Seahawks at Lambeau Field the most. That’s only because I am going to those two games. The game against the Steelers is going to be a great game for me because it is my first Packer road game… and it’s only an 8 hour drive!
