Recapping Packers’ win over Lions, Jordan Love and Rashan Gary’s day
Kassidy Hill and Pete Dougherty recap the Packers win over the Lions, including Jordan Love and Rashan Gary’s day, locker room updates and more.
Less than two weeks ago, the playoffs seemed like a far fetch for the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers had just lost a heartbreaker to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 23-19, when Jordan Love and the offense again failed to deliver in the final moments.
The team had fallen to 3-6 and it still hadn’t won consecutive games all year, though there were some positive signs coming out of that game.
Eleven days later, the Packers have won back-to-back games after their impressive 29-22 win over the Detroit Lions on Thursday to improve to 5-6. Now, it’s not so far fetched, after all, to wonder if this team can make things interesting in the NFC playoff race. Remember, after 11 games last year the Packers were just 4-7 and even dropped to 4-8 before going on a late run with an opportunity to sneak into the playoffs in Week 18.
If Love performs like he did today in a tough environment on the road (22 of 32 for 268 yards with three touchdowns), the team limits turnovers like it has the last two weeks, the defense plays with that same aggression Rashan Gary and Co. displayed at Ford Field and gets healthier, it might not be wise to bet against Matt LaFleur’s team.
Yes, the Packers are still on the outside looking in and at the moment don’t have the tiebreaker with the NFC’s seventh-place team, the Minnesota Vikings, who are one game ahead of them in the loss column. And the NFL’s youngest team can just as easily revert back to the squad that lost four straight from late September to the end of October or some version of that over the final six games.
Or they could keep trending up, and speed up the rebuild with a confident young bunch.
Either way, the Packers’ prospects have certainly improved as they enter the most important stretch of the season, beginning with a matchup against the reigning Super Bowl champion and Taylor Swift-supporting Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday night.
Here’s a look at where everything stands as far as the NFC playoff picture after today’s game.
NFC playoff picture
- Philadelphia Eagles (9-1)
- Detroit Lions (8-3)
- San Francisco 49ers (8-3)
- New Orleans Saints (5-5)
- Dallas Cowboys (7-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (6-5)
- Minnesota Vikings (6-5)
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8. Green Bay Packers (5-6)
The Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are all 4-6 entering their games on Sunday.
Green Bay Packers remaining 2023 schedule, predictions via ESPN analytics
The Packers will likely be favored in four of their remaining six games. Here’s a look at how ESPN’s analytics program views each matchup currently. Its system offers a win probability for every game.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Green Bay Packers (Sunday, Dec. 3)
The Chiefs, who are 7-3 after a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, have a 72.8% chance of winning. The Chiefs are the No. 2 seed in the AFC. Patrick Mahomes is again an MVP candidate.
Green Bay Packers at New York Giants (Monday, Dec. 11)
The Packers have a 67.4% chance of winning on the road against the 3-8 Giants. New York has turned to undrafted rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito after Daniel Jones was lost for the year earlier this month with a torn ACL.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers (Sunday, Dec. 17)
The Packers have a 51.7% chance of winning against Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers. This one could easily serve as an elimination game for the loser if both are still in the hunt by then.
Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers (Sunday, Dec. 24)
The Packers have a 66.4% chance of winning on the road against the Panthers, who are led by rookie quarterback Bryce Young. The Panthers are 1-9 and have lost three straight.
DOUGHERTY COLUMN: Packers quarterback Jordan Love caps a one-month run with his best game yet
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, Dec. 31)
If the Packers are still in the mix by New Year’s Eve, they most certainly would need to win this game on Sunday Night Football. Currently, the Packers have a 43.8% chance of winning. The Vikings won the first game, 24-10, at Lambeau Field on Oct. 29 in a game the Packers’ offense struggled mightily.
Minnesota is now quarterbacked by veteran journeyman Joshua Dobbs, who has taken over for an injured Kirk Cousins and is 2-1 as the starter. Cousins tore his Achilles in the game against the Packers last month.
The Vikings play the Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals and Lions before hosting the Packers on the final day of 2023.
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Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers (Saturday, Jan. 6, or Sunday, Jan. 7)
The Packers have a 57.1% chance of winning against their oldest rival. Love and the Packers dominated the Bears, 28-20, in Week 1, which set the stage for another disappointing season in Chicago.
Starting quarterback Justin Fields returned last week after missing four games with a dislocated right thumb.
The Bears are 3-8 entering their game on Monday night at Minnesota.
