In NFC Playoff Race, Packers Lead Giant Mashup of Mediocrity

It’s going to be a fight to the finish in the NFC, with the Green Bay Packers blowing an enormous opportunity by losing to the Giants on Monday night.

The NFC playoff race looks like a demolition derby between a bunch of rusted-out 1980s jalopies being contested on early-season Lake Michigan ice.

The Green Bay Packers entered Monday night’s game at the New York Giants in control of the seventh and final spot in the playoffs. And that’s where they were after the game, though a 24-22 loss left them on the thinnest of ice and with no margin for error.

The Minnesota Vikings, fresh off a riveting 3-0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, are 7-6 and in charge of the No. 6 spot. The No. 7 spot is a free-for-all. Instead of having a four-game winning streak, a 7-6 record and a one-game lead over four teams that are 6-7, the Packers are at the head of the pack of a five-team pileup at 6-7.

What’s going to separate the field, other than calling in a wrecker?

“Winning games,” master-of-the-obvious quarterback Jordan Love said. “Obviously, just how we handle these next couple games and if we go win them out.”

On the bright side, the Packers own a head-to-head victory over the Los Angeles Rams, who are eighth, and the New Orleans Saints, who are 11th.

On the negative side, the loss to the Giants could cost the Packers if the tiebreaker comes down to conference record. Plus, they would lose the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Atlanta Falcons, who are 10th. And, look out, they would lose the tiebreaker to the Giants, who are 12th with a 5-8 record but have won three in a row.

Monday’s game was one the Packers shouldn’t have lost. But they did.

Their closing schedule remains Charmin-soft, but Monday’s game provides the harsh reality check that the Packers are good enough to beat most teams and bad enough to lose to any team.

On Sunday, Green Bay will return home to Lambeau Field to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who lead the NFC South with a 6-7 record. Then, it’s at the Carolina Panthers (1-12) on Christmas Eve, at the Vikings (7-6) on New Year’s Eve and home against the improving Chicago Bears (5-8) in the finale.

Monday Six-Pack: Nixon Gets Lame Ball as Packers Lose to Giants

“I think we’ve got a great team,” Love said. “Obviously, we’re a team that’s been in this situation, lost some tough games and been able to bounce back. I know we’ll be able to bounce back next week.”

Detroit’s loss at Chicago on Sunday put the Packers not just in position to get into the playoffs but to win the NFC North.

Entering Sunday at FanDuel Sportsbook, the Lions were -1100 to win the NFC North, followed by the Minnesota Vikings at +1100 and the Packers at +2000. After Sunday, the Lions were -650, the Vikings were +750 and the Packers were +1100.

Now, the Lions are -850 and the Vikings are +650. The Packers, who are 3.5-point favorites for Sunday vs. the Buccaneers, plunged to +3600.

Of course, the betting odds are for entertainment purposes only. A season that started with the kick off of training camp in late July is down to four crucial games. Win, and the Packers will be in. Lose even one, and the Packers might be done.

“They’re all critical. They’re all critical. But we better have a short memory,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “You’ve got to learn from it and move on. We’re on a short week now against a team that also, in Tampa, is fighting for their playoff lives, the leaders of their division, so we’re going to have to play a lot better than we did tonight in order to come out on top.”

Full NFC Standings

Here are the full NFC standings via the NFL.

1. San Francisco: 10-3

2. Dallas: 10-3

3. Detroit: 9-4

4. Tampa Bay: 6-7

5. Philadelphia: 10-3

6. Minnesota: 7-6

7. Green Bay: 6-7

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8. L.A. Rams: 6-7

9. Seattle: 6-7

10. Atlanta: 6-7

11. New Orleans: 6-7

12. N.Y. Giants: 5-8

13. Chicago: 5-8

14. Washington: 4-9

15. Arizona: 3-10

16. Carolina: 1-12.