The Green Bay Packers’ dominant 34-0 victory over the New Orleans Saints was enough to secure them a playoff spot, a significant achievement in a season filled with highs and lows. However, while the Packers have sealed their place in the postseason, the race for seeding is far from over. The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings both won on Sunday, effectively eliminating Green Bay’s chances of claiming the NFC North title. This may have led some to believe that the Packers have little left to play for over the final two weeks of the regular season, but that’s far from the truth.

While the NFC North title may be out of reach, playoff seeding remains a critical factor, and the Packers are still fighting for positioning. They have a legitimate shot at landing anywhere from the fifth through the seventh seed in the NFC, which could make a substantial difference in their playoff path.

“We have a big test next week, to go on the road in a short week, with a holiday,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said following the Saints game on Monday. “It’s never easy, especially going into Minnesota. It’s one of the tougher places to play, against a team that’s playing as good as anybody in the National Football League. We’ve got to flip the script here really quickly and get on to the Vikings.” LaFleur’s words reflect the reality of the situation: the Packers still have plenty to play for, and they need to be at their best to finish strong.

Over the next two weeks, the Packers face a crucial road game against the Minnesota Vikings followed by a home game against the Chicago Bears. While the NFC North is out of reach, these games will play a pivotal role in determining Green Bay’s playoff seed and their chances of making a deep run in the postseason.

5th Seed: A Difficult but Possible Path

The Packers’ road to the fifth seed is a challenging one, as the Vikings currently sit at an impressive 13-2, while Green Bay is 11-4. The scenario is straightforward, though: the Packers must win out, and the Vikings must lose their remaining games. After their Week 17 matchup, the Vikings will face the Detroit Lions in Week 18. If Green Bay takes care of business and Minnesota falters, the Packers could secure the fifth seed and face the NFC South champion — either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Atlanta Falcons — in the wild card round. This path would set up an intriguing showdown with one of the NFC’s weaker divisions, but getting there requires flawless execution from the Packers and some help from their rivals.

6th Seed: The Most Likely Scenario

The most probable outcome for the Packers is securing the sixth seed, but even this is not guaranteed. The Washington Commanders are just one game behind Green Bay, and if both teams finish with the same record, the Commanders would win the tie-breaker. Washington faces the Atlanta Falcons on the road and the Dallas Cowboys at home over the final two weeks, so if they win out, the Packers will need to do the same to hold on to the sixth seed. In this scenario, the Packers would likely face the Los Angeles Rams in the wild card round, a winnable matchup that could allow them to advance deeper into the postseason.

7th Seed: The Toughest Path

If the Packers are unable to secure the sixth seed and the Commanders outperform them in the final two weeks, Green Bay could find themselves in the seventh seed, just as they were in 2023. This would likely set up a rematch with the NFC East champion, most likely the Philadelphia Eagles, who are currently one of the top teams in the NFL. A matchup with the Eagles would be a daunting challenge for the Packers, as it would require them to go through both the second and first seeds in the NFC just to reach the conference championship. It’s the toughest route, but it’s a path that Green Bay has navigated before. Last year, the Packers made history as the first seventh seed to win a playoff game, although no seventh seed has advanced beyond the divisional round.

A Week 18 Decision Looms

The Packers’ playoff seed won’t be locked in after Week 17, meaning there will still be plenty to play for in Week 18, regardless of the outcome of their Week 17 game against the Vikings. Coach Matt LaFleur will face the difficult task of balancing his priorities: should he rest his starters to keep them fresh for the postseason, or should he push for the best possible seed by playing his key players in the final game against the Bears? The team’s performance over the next two weeks will likely dictate this decision, but for now, the Packers’ focus is squarely on Minnesota. The stakes are high, and every game counts as they fight to secure the most favorable path possible to the playoffs.

As the season winds down, the Packers have a clear understanding of what’s at stake. The road to the Super Bowl is still wide open, but how they perform over the final two weeks will have a lasting impact on their chances of making a deep playoff run. Fans can expect a thrilling conclusion to the regular season, with Green Bay’s playoff fate hanging in the balance until the final whistle.