As they pursue the seventh spot, the Green Bay Packers’ hopes of making the playoffs remain alive.

December 11, 2023: At MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, head coach Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers watches as the team plays the New York Giants in the first quarter. Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports is required to be credited.

The Green Bay Packers are still in the running to make the playoffs despite having an unpredictable season. The wildcard spots are still up for grabs, even though the Detroit Lions won the division.

For the Green Bay Packers to succeed, they will need luck.

Sep 24, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; A Green Bay Packers helmet sits on the sidelines during the game against the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY Sports

Right now the Packers are on the outside looking in with the Rams and Seahawks owning the two remaining playoff spots. Since the Packers beat the Rams in November, they could potentially steal their spot. The Rams play the Giants and 49ers to end the season. The Rams are hot right now, but if they lose one of these last two games and the Packers win out, they will take over their spot. If the Packers win out, that will take care of the issue of the Vikings, who have the same record. The Falcons hold a tie breaker on the Packers and finish their year with the Bears and Saints. Packers fans must hope they do not win out. The Seahawks have their destiny in their own hands as they have an easier remaining schedule of the Steelers and Cardinals. If they do not win out, that playoff Spot will be up for grabs as well.

The final two games should be won by the Packers.

During their game on Sunday, September 10, 2023, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Green Bay Packers linebacker Lukas Van Ness (90) makes an open field tackle on Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) close to the end zone. © Mike De Sisti, USA TODAY NETWORK, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

One thing stays the same despite all of these possibilities. The final two games for the Green Bay Packers must be victories. Both of these games are highly winnable. The Vikings are having trouble at quarterback and haven’t even decided who will start at the position yet. Although this squad continues to play hard and has matured more each week, the Packers have a superior quarterback and should win. Since they began playing competitive football, the Bears’ defence has improved each week. But the Bears have to travel to Lambeau in late December and are on a nine-game losing streak versus the Packers. For Green Bay, this is a winning formula. The only thing left for the Packers to do is win that game.

The defence Has to Put in More Work

At Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Monday, September 20, 2021, during the fourth quarter of the team’s game, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry is seen. The Detroit Lions were defeated 35–17 by the Green Bay Packers.Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/Mark Hoffman

It’s undeniable that the Packers’ defensive performance this season has been lacking. They have good pass rushers and youthful prospects. It is perplexing to see how much this defensive team struggles when looking at their roster on paper. To help the Packers win, the defence doesn’t need to be the best; it just needs to be effective. Perhaps the defensive plan is to blame, or perhaps some players’ attitudes are to blame. Fans of the Packers, regardless of their stances, can agree that if the team is to enter the playoffs, it must perform considerably better. It is unacceptable to allow one of the worst football offences to score thirty points. They support Love and the offence, but they don’t have to be the 85 Bears. With any luck, the Packers can continue to dominate the run game and keep this defence off the field.