"Still playing meaningful games" - Aaron Rodgers refuses to give up on Packers' playoff hopes

Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are now 6-8 and miraculously still mathematically in chance with a playoff spot. That did not look likely earlier in the season, when they had fallen to a 4-8 record. The Packers' quarterback was the only person to still hold out hope of qualifying for the postseason, saying he was not giving up his starting spot as long as they had the chance to theoretically make the postseason.

Now, two games shy of a 0.500 record, it does not look as hopeless as it was a couple of weeks ago. However, expectations must be tempered by knowing that a lot of things have to fall their way before they can make it. When asked on the Pat McAfee show what he learned from the victory against the Los Angeles Rams, Rodgers said he liked the way the team was developing and believed all the upcoming games would be hugely consequential.

He said,

"I like the way our team has evolved & we're still playing meaningful games".

Is Aaron Rodgers justified in playing up the Packers' playoff qualification chances?

Aaron Rodgers will always talk-up his own chances. However, we have to look at how likely it is for the Packers to make the postseason.

One thing we know for sure is that they cannot make it as divisional champions. The Minnesota Vikings have already qualified for the top spot. The best they can do is fight for a Wild Card berth. The Packers must win three straight games and if they do, they will improve to a 9-8 record.

One of those games will be against the Detroit Lions, who are in great form and have a 7-7 record, putting them ahead of Green Bay in the division. Only by defeating them, the Packers will have a chance of winning a head-to-head tiebreaker if they both finish with identical records. Aaron Rodgers upped the stakes for that game with his postgame comments needling the Lions.

They would also need the New York Giants, the Washington Commanders, and the Seattle Seahawks to lose more of their games as they are currently ahead of the Packers in games won with each of them being either 0.500 or over. The Commanders and Seahawks have lost in their last few games. Therefore, they don't have great momentum going into the last few weeks of the season. Further good news for the Packers is that they have a winning 4-3 Lambeau Field record with two of their three remaining games at home in what is expected to be frigid temperatures.

Aaron Rodgers might not be fully mistaken in his belief that they might still make the playoffs. But it will be tough.