Despite going 0-4-1 the last five weeks and suffering an embarrassing loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, the Green Bay Packers are still in the hunt for the NFC North division title, keeping alive a slim hope the team makes the playoffs this year.
The Packers (5-6-1) stand a game and a half back of the Lions, who face the Philadelphia Eagles this week. If the Packers win the rest of their games and the Lions stumble in two of their remaining games, the NFC North crown will return to Green Bay, along with a playoff berth.
“We care about our chances and knowing we’re still in it. We have to win out and we need Detroit to lose two out of four,” injured quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “The biggest part of that is us winning out, controlling what we can control. That starts this weekend. We have to get a W and root for Philly.”
Rodgers, who broke his collarbone against the Chicago Bears in Week 9, has not been medically cleared to return, but as of Thursday has not been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. The return of the elite quarterback would no doubt boost the Packers’ prospects of sneaking into the postseason.
If Rodgers can’t go, Matt Flynn will get the start against a Falcons team that, like the Packers, has not lived up to expectations this season.
At least the Packers still have a chance at the postseason. The Falcons (3-9) became the first NFL team to be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention with the San Francisco 49ers’ victory over the Washington Redskins on Monday night.
The Falcons are coming off a 13-3 season, losing the NFC championship game to the 49ers.
With the acquisition of Steven Jackson in the offseason, the Falcons appeared primed to make another run at the Super Bowl, but injuries piled up and the team underperformed.
“I know we’re both not having the season that we anticipated having, but you have to keep going,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “That’s what I think both teams are doing.”
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said the records should be tossed out Sunday.
“They’ve obviously had some challenges throughout the year and it probably reflects in their record,” McCarthy said. “But every week is a different in the NFL. That’s the beauty of it; it doesn’t forgive. We have to be ready to play. We need this football game.”
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