Do not count out the Green Bay Packers just yet.
They kept their slim playoff hopes alive on Sunday afternoon with a come-from-behind 26-20 win over the Miami Dolphins that saw them intercept Tua Tagovailoa on his final three drives of the game.
The win brings the Packers to 7-8 and keeps them right in the thick of the NFC Wild Card race.
They still need to win two more games against Minnesota and Detroit (both at Lambeau Field) and get some help, but the fact they still have something to play for after falling into a 4-8 hole is a minor Christmas miracle in itself.
After losing to Philadelphia, 40-33, at the end of November the Packers’ season seemed like a lost cause, and there were even calls for the team to bench Aaron Rodgers and try and see what they had in backup Jordan Love.
All the Packers have done since then is rip off three consecutive wins against Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami to keep their hopes alive.
They are now tied with Detroit and Seattle with matching 7-8 records, while all three teams are just a half game behind the 7-7-1 Washington Commanders for the final playoff spot.
So what needs to happen for the Packers to get in?
Green Bay has to beat Minnesota and Detroit, while one of these two scenarios needs to play out: Washington needs to lose one game (against Cleveland or Dallas), OR the Giants need to lose both games (Indianapolis and Philadelphia).
As absurd as this seemed a couple of weeks ago, it is not impossible. Not by a long shot. And do you know what team better be hoping the Packers do not sneak in?
The Vikings.
Because if the Packers do end up playing their way into a playoff spot, they would almost certainly open on the road against the No. 2 seed Vikings.
Imagine being a Vikings team that wins 12 or 13 games, still can not get a bye week, and your reward for that great season would be a single elimination playoff game against Aaron Rodgers.
That does not sound fun.
Minnesota can put an end to that scenario next week, and it might benefit it to do just that.
