With a straightforward 34-0 win over the New Orleans Saints on Monday, the Green Bay Packers are within the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons underneath head coach Matt LaFleur.
The win raised LaFleur’s December document with the Packers to 20-3 — the very best profitable proportion (.870) within the month for a coach in Packers history, per ESPN.
Over the previous 5 video games, the Packers are 4-1, scoring no less than 30 factors in every. That is the second-longest streak of 30+ level video games since 1963. Throughout this stretch, Inexperienced Bay has outscored opponents 163-74.
However the massive query now could be: Will this momentum carry over to the postseason?
Regardless of reaching the playoffs in 5 of the previous six seasons, the Packers are 3-4 in postseason play underneath LaFleur, reaching the NFC Championship Sport twice in that span however no Tremendous Bowls.
This 12 months’s playoffs will current a tricky activity. Though they’re 11-4, the Packers are third in the top-heavy NFC North, trailing the Detroit Lions (13-2) and the Minnesota Vikings (13-2).
Final season, because the No. 7 seed within the NFC, the Packers confirmed promise by defeating the No. 2 seed Dallas Cowboys 48-32. Nonetheless, they fell to the No. 1 seed San Francisco 49ers 24-21 within the NFC divisional spherical, a recreation by which Inexperienced Bay led 21-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
What makes this group totally different from the others is the addition of two powerhouse gamers: working again Josh Jacobs and security Xavier McKinney.
In opposition to New Orleans, Jacobs scored his thirteenth speeding landing of the season, essentially the most in a season in his profession.
“I imply, we enjoying for one thing… it simply looks like our ceiling simply hold going up. I do know for me, man, I am simply pleased to be part of it” Jacobs said following the win on Monday Evening (h/t: Matt Schneidman of The Athletic).
McKinney, who’s tied for the most interceptions in the NFL with seven, is placing collectively the strongest season of his profession
One other key addition is first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who has made a big influence (335.1 YPG in 2024 to 313.4 final season).
With the current playoff picture, Inexperienced Bay seems more likely to be seeded sixth or seventh. Nonetheless in search of his first Tremendous Bowl look in Inexperienced Bay, LaFleur and the Packers are hoping for a unique consequence this time round.
