Fans of the Green Bay Packers may be feeling down in the dumps in recent days, but there is one reason why they may still be able to keep their heads up when it comes it to their team still having a shot at making the NFL playoffs. Of all the 32 teams in the NFL entering Week 5, the Packers have the easiest remaining schedule for the next 13 games in the entire league. That could set them up well to make the playoffs in the NFC as a wild card, or even a division winner.
Green Bay Packers: Playoff bound or walking into a trap?
This all may seem like déjà vu for Packers fans, since they were in a similar position last year. Written off after a poor 3-6 start, Green Bay made a late push to the postseason before losing the season finale at home to the Detroit Lions. But this year, there is actual data to back up the notion that Green Bay may very well find itself in playoff positioning…if they are able to beat who they’re supposed to.
If you combine the current offensive and defensive performances of the teams that Green Bay will face for the next 13 weeks, they are the worst in the league. Furthermore, the winning percentage of those teams is a woeful .397, also the worst in the league. Lastly, of all the remaining road games the Packers will play, only one of those teams currently has a winning record: the Lions, who Green Bay will play on Thanksgiving.
So, what does all this mean in the grand scheme of things? Well, nothing at all if Green Bay doesn’t perform at a level worthy of a playoff team. We’ve seen a plethora of examples of teams in past years underperform after high expectations, and overperform after going into the season with little to no expectations. When asked in an interview at the beginning of the season how he would grade the schedule upon its release, Packers coach Matt LaFleur wisely said “TBD”. Because the “chalk” and what’s on paper is completely different than actually being able to deliver on the field and for your fanbase.
Road to Las Vegas
Every year before the season starts, pundits and TV analysts make their predictions about which teams will prosper, and which will flounder. You would be hard pressed to find a single one whose grand declarations came true entirely. The point is, there are a ton of unknown and uncontrollable factors that transpire throughout the season (such as injuries) for all the teams. So, despite the supposedly favorable schedule coming up, self-proclaimed ‘cheeseheads’ would be wise to slow their rollers before booking any tickets to Las Vegas for Super Bowl LVIII.
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