Packers Beat Panthers, Move Up in Jumbled NFC Playoff Race

Here is the latest look at the NFC playoff standings following the Packers’ victory over the Panthers and with two games to go in the season.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers moved up one spot in the NFC playoff race by beating the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, part of a major shakeup based on Sunday’s outcomes.

Here are the updated standings in the race for the final two wild-card spots with two weeks to go in the season.

6. Los Angeles Rams: 8-7. Beat Saints 30-22 on Thursday. Up from No. 7.

7. Seattle Seahawks: 8-7: Beat Titans 20-17 on Sunday. Up from No. 9.

- - -

8. Minnesota Vikings: 7-8. Lost 30-24 to Lions on Sunday. Down from No. 6.

9. Atlanta Falcons: 7-8. Beat Colts 29-10 on Sunday. Up from No. 10.

10. Green Bay Packers: 7-8. Beat Panthers 33-30 on Sunday. Up from No. 11.

11. New Orleans Saints: 7-8. Lost 30-22 to Rams on Thursday. Down from No. 8.

And the all-important final two weeks of games:

The No. 6 Rams will close with back-to-back games at the Giants and 49ers. The finale against San Francisco will be altered dramatically by what’s at stake, if anything, for the Niners in their quest for the No. 1 seed. Green Bay has the tiebreaker over the Rams due to its Week 9 win.

The No. 7 Seahawks will end their regular season at home against the Steelers and at the Cardinals. Pittsburgh has faint playoff hopes.

The No. 8 Vikings will play at the Lions in Week 18. Detroit won the NFC North on Sunday so may or may not have anything to play for in the finale.

The No. 9 Falcons will close with games at the Bears and Saints. Atlanta has the tiebreaker over Green Bay due to its Week 2 win.

The No. 10 Packers will visit the Vikings on Sunday night before hosting the Bears, who are playing much better and coming off back-to-back wins over Minnesota and Detroit.

“Everything’s at stake,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “We’re going into a great environment next week in Minnesota against a really good football team. It’s going to be a great challenge, but this is what we prepare for all year, every day, every week. So, we’ll be excited about that opportunity.”

According to The New York Times’ latest projections, Green Bay has a 30 percent chance of reaching the playoffs. If it can upset the Vikings next week, that would increase to 64 percent. If it can complete a three-game sweep by knocking off the Bears, that would rise to 95 percent.

“We know exactly what’s out in front of us,” said quarterback Jordan Love following a three-touchdown performance. “We’ve got to go finish the season off. We have to win these last two games.

“We’re going to do the same thing we’ve been doing all season, take it one game at a time, but we know to keep those hopes alive, to give us a chance, we’ve got to win these last two. We all know what’s in front of us, and we know what we’re capable of. We’re just going to go finish this thing off, take it one week at a time.”

Love Tops Packers’ ‘Nice’ List in Victory Over Panthers