MOMENTUM SHIFT: Packers keep playoff hopes alive after two wins

With the Packers 24-12 win over the Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay now holds a 9% chance to make the playoffs.

While 9% does not seem very high, it is up from the 6% that the team was facing last week. Of course, the Packers still cannot afford to lose a game yet this year.

That continues as Green Bay travels to Miami on Christmas Day. Miami has been one of the better teams in the league this year, with its 8-6 record. The Dolphins excel on the offensive side of the ball, recording 370.4 yards per game. Only the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions have recorded more yards per game.

“You win a game and vibes are pretty good,” said Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, on how the team’s feelings have changed about making the playoffs. “We have just been practicing better, the energy has been better. We have played a couple of teams that we should have beat — that being said, it’s still tough to win in the league. I have said it before, I think we can beat anybody — we can also lose to anybody. When you win a couple in a row, it just gives you some confidence.”

The Dolphins possess such a strong offensive attack, due in part to its receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Through 14 games, Hill has recorded 1,529 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. What makes Hill so dangerous, though, is his speed. Giving the three-team All-Pro even a inch of space will likely result in a large gain for Miami.

Hill has seemingly turned into the catalyst for this Miami offense, as the Dolphins rank third in the NFL in passing yards at 3,830. While Miami’s passing attack may be one of the better passing attack in the NFL, the Packers should be prepared, as Green Bay currently owns the second-best passing defense in terms of yards given up. Only giving up 2,592 yards through the air this year, the passing defense will have its work cut out for them.

That may need to start on the front end of the defense though. Preston Smith, Kingsley Enagbare and Kenny Clark will have to create pressure against Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. While Tagovailoa has shown a drastic improvement from last year, there are still deficiencies in in his game that Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Joe Berry should be able to exploit.

Making the playoffs starts with winning this game for Green Bay. After week 15, the Packers still sit in the 10th seed in the NFC. Only Detroit, Seattle and the Washington Commanders sit ahead of Green Bay, as it is looking for a wild card spot. Since the Giants beat the Commanders on Sunday night last week, Packers fans need to root for Washington to lose two more games. Its upcoming schedule includes the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys.

Detroit holds a 7-7 record and a head-to-head win over the Packers. Unfortunately for Green Bay, the Lions have the Panthers and Bears upcoming in its next two games. With a combined record of 8-20, it seems likely that Detroit wins both of these games. Assuming Green Bay wins its next two games, the week 18 matchup between the two division rivals could have major playoff implications.

While it may seem unlikely after a five-game losing streak in the middle of the season, Green Bay has a realistic chance of making the playoffs. So far, Green Bay has done its part in making those playoff dreams come true — beating Chicago and Los Angeles. These two teams have a combined record of just 7-21. The Packers’ next three opponents have a combined record of 26-16.

“You have to keep the focus on what is right in front of you,” said Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. “If you look at the totality, all three teams are really good football teams, so I don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves and we just want to be the best that we can be each and every day, each and every game and that starts with Miami.”

After losing five games in a row in the middle of the season, it has to feel good for Packers players, coaches and fans to see the team rip off two wins a row. Even though those games weren’t against the best teams in the NFL, it should create some sort of momentum for the team, as each game from here on out is a must-win game.

“Momentum is real,” said LaFleur. “We hit that lull in the middle of the season, where we lost five straight. It’s hard, when it’s going one way, to get it going the other way. We all have seen the competitiveness in this league each and every week — it doesn’t really matter who you play. Anybody is capable of beating anyone else and there is great examples each week. It just speaks to how competitive this league is.”

lreimer@newmedia-wi.com