Two scenarios for the Packers to clinch a playoff spot this week

The Green Bay Packers have been rolling but they can also clinch a playoff spot already in Week 14 if the chips fall the right way.

The Green Bay Packers are going to be a playoff team this season. That shouldn’t be a shock to anyone given their three-game lead in the NFC North at 9-3 as they prepare to face the rival Bears in primetime for Week 14.

However, Green Bay has looked good enough that they can actually lock up a spot as soon as this week.

Specifically, there are two scenarios for the Packers to lock up a playoff spot with the way things play out in Week 14.

Packers playoff scenarios: How Green Bay clinches a berth in Week 14

1. GB win + NO and SF loss

The Packers have a slight chance of this happening.

Green Bay hosts the Bears on Sunday Night Football, and it should be an easy victory for the home team. Chicago is 4-8 on the season, sitting in third place in the NFC North.

The Bears will get Justin Fields back after the rookie quarterback missed the last two games with a rib injury. Allen Robinson will also be returning to the lineup after missing multiple games with a hamstring injury. Nonetheless, the Packers possess one of the best defenses in the league and no one wants to be playing in Lambeau this time of the year.

The problem with this scenario is the teams Green Bay needs to lose. San Francisco can easily lose to the Bengals, but it is hard to imagine the Saints falling to the Jets.

There are many questions about New Orleans’ passing attack, but the return of Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill’s rushing threat should be enough to beat the Jets. In addition, the Jets will be without key weapons in Elijah Moore, Michael Carter, and Tevin Coleman. The Saints are not likely to lose a game against a team that is suffering from numerous injuries.

2. GB + NO loss and LAR loss

As mentioned earlier, the Saints will most likely win against the Jets on Sunday. The Rams are no pushover either and it would not be surprising if Los Angeles evened up the season series against Arizona.

The Rams are more desperate at this point in the season, and LA may go into a more run-heavy scheme. Sean McVay utilized the run game early and often against Jacksonville last week, resulting in a more balanced offense. Also, the Cardinals are a run-funnel defense that prioritizes defending the pass.

With the threat of Cooper Kupp, Arizona will be focused on neutralizing him, opening up the run game. McVay will want to control the game by dominating the pace and physicality-two things the Rams failed to accomplish in their last meeting against the Cardinals.

The Packers are a surefire playoff team and, in theory, could lock up a spot in Week 14. But based on what’s needed to happen, Green Bay may have to wait until next week for that.