Green Bay’s game in Seattle is a big one, but what other results would help the Packers this weekend?
With four Sundays left in the 2024 regular season, the Green Bay Packers’ path to a playoff berth looks fairly clear. Green Bay cannot clinch a postseason spot this weekend any more — thanks to the Rams-49ers game on Thursday night not ending in a tie — but a win over the Seattle Seahawks would be a big step towards doing so.
In fact, beating the Seahawks would give the Packers a very clear path to clinching: they would simply need to win any one of their final three games to do so. That would then create a pathway where they lock up a spot by beating the New Orleans Saints at home on Monday Night Football in week 16, or in either of their divisional matchups in the final two weeks.
Still, playoff seeding considerations and tiebreaker scenarios are still very much in play, and nearly every game around the NFL this week can have some impact on one or both of those concerns. With that in mind, let’s look at who to cheer for in the rest of the NFL’s week 15 games to give the Packers the most help possible.
Early Games
Cowboys-Panthers, Chiefs-Browns, Dolphins-Texans, Ravens-Giants: ¯_(ツ)_/¯
None of these games will impact the Packers in any way. Yeah, pull for the Browns if you want the Chiefs to get what’s coming to them, but that’s about it. The Packers played and beat both the Dolphins and Texans, so neither team winning affects the Packers’ strength of schedule or strength of victory, two of the deep tiebreakers.
If you are desperate for something that could feasibly have any impact, look to the Commanders’ strength of victory and strength of schedule. Those would take a hit if the Ravens, Chiefs, and Cowboys win.
Jets vs. Jaguars: DUUUUVAALLLLL
The Packers played and beat the Jags earlier this season, so them winning another game would be a slight boost to the Packers’ SOV/SOS. Also, schadenfreude.
Bengals vs. Titans: Flaming Thumbtacks
Same as above, the Titans winning would give the Packers a small SOV/SOS boost.
Commanders vs. Saints: Who Dey?
Not to be confused with “Who Dat?,” the Bengals, slogan. Here, the Packers would benefit from a Saints upset at home behind backup QB Jake Haener. The Commanders are the closest team trailing the Packers in the playoff hunt, sitting at the 7th seed with an 8-5 record. The Saints winning would help give the Packers a little breathing room and ensure that they end up no worse than the 6th seed even with a loss to the Seahawks on Sunday night.
Late Games
Buccaneers vs. Chargers: Go Bolts
The only contest in the five-game late afternoon slate that does not feature a Packers 2024 opponent, this one doesn’t really matter. But the Chargers winning helps ensure that there’s virtually no chance of two NFC South teams making a run at the Packers for a Wild Card spot. Tampa Bay has a one-game lead on the Falcons, and one of those two teams will probably end up as the division winner, but every loss by either team helps keep them out of the Packers’ way for a Wild Card.
Patriots vs. Cardinals: Meh
The Packers beat the Cardinals earlier this season, so an Arizona win boosts the Packers’ SOV/SOS. But they’re also still theoretically able to pass the Packers in the standings and a Patriots win ensures that they cannot mathematically do so. Probably skew towards New England here just in case, as the SOV probably won’t end up coming into play.
Colts vs. Broncos: Horsies
See SOV/SOS in some of the games above. The Packers have a Malik Willis-led win over Indy in week 2.
Bills vs. Lions: Let’s break some folding tables
The Packers still have a pathway to winning the NFC North, but they need the Lions to lose out as part of that plan. This will be one of Detroit’s toughest games all season, and they will probably need to win in another shootout. Josh Allen going super-Saiyan yet again would be a welcome sight.
Steelers vs. Eagles:
This one comes down to a seeding question. Would you rather the Eagles be the #2 seed and risk drawing them in the Wild Card round if the Packers slip to #7? Then cheer for the Steelers to win this weekend. Would you rather they pass the Lions for the #1 seed? Then go Eagles.
If the Packers manage to win their first-round game, odds are good that they would run into whoever has the #1 seed in the Divisional game instead. I feel good about Green Bay getting the 5 or 6 and avoiding the #2 seed, and I think I’d rather take my chances in Philadelphia than Detroit in round two, so I’m leaning Philly here, but I would understand that being personal preference.
Monday Night Football Doubleheader
Bears vs. Vikings: Cheer for Chicago
This would be a perfect time for Thomas Brown to get his first win as a head coach and for the Bears to break their losing streak. The Packers need to beat Minnesota to catch them, but they also need the Vikings to lose one other divisional game — either Monday against Chicago or in week 18 in Detroit — to give Green Bay the tiebreaker.
Also, the Packers need the Bears to beat the Vikings on Monday and the Lions next weekend to help Green Bay’s division dreams alive. No pressure, Thomas!
Falcons vs. Raiders: Come on (checks notes) Desmond Ridder!
Yes, that’s the former Falcons starting quarterback who will presumably be under center for the Raiders on Monday after Aidan O’Connell was injured a week ago. A Raiders win gives the Falcons 8 losses and ensures that the Packers will finish no worse than tied with them in the final standings. After all, this result would have been the other result that the Packers needed to clinch a spot this weekend, along with a win over Seattle and a 49ers-Rams tie.