The Green Bay Packers have a football game to play Sunday against the Chicago Bears, but we’re not on the team and have the luxury of being able to look ahead to what really matters: the start of the NFC playoffs.
Based on the results in Week 18, the Packers will be either the No. 6 seed or No. 7 seed. And they have only three possible opponents: the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Matt LaFleur’s team would be on the road regardless of opponent.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the three possible opponents for the Packers to start the postseason:
Philadelphia Eagles
Possible seed: No. 2
Week 18 opponent: vs. New York Giants
Record: 13-3 (clinched NFC East title)
Home record: 6-1 (1-0 neutral site)
Last matchup vs. GB: Won, 34-29 in Week 1 (Brazil)
Points per game: 27.7 (7th)
Points per game allowed: 18.1 (3rd)
Point differential: +153 (3rd)
Offense DVOA: 6.5% (12th)
Defense DVOA: -15.0% (2nd)
Overall PFF grade: 93.2 (2nd)
Turnover margin: +10 (6th)
Third down % offense: 43.0 (9th)
Third down % defense: 36.0 (7th)
Red zone TD % offense: 57.8 (14th)
Red zone TD % defense: 51.1 (8th)
Last 5 games: 4-1
Most metrics suggest the Eagles are one of the NFL’s 4-5 elite teams. Jalen Hurts produced a passer rating over 100.0 and 14 rushing touchdowns, Saquon Barkley went over 2,000 rushing yards during a historic first season in Philadelphia and A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith combined for almost 2,000 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns despite the Eagles becoming more run-heavy. Defensively, the Eagles gave up more than 23 points just three times — including Week 1 against the Packers in Brazil. Philadelphia’s defensive front is deep and talented, and rookies Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell stabilized the secondary. Nick Sirianni’s team has won six straight games at Lincoln Financial Stadium. There’s little doubt that a trip to Philadelphia would be the toughest test for the Packers in the first round.
Los Angeles Rams
Possible seed: No. 3 or No. 4
Week 18 opponent: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Record: 10-6 (clinched NFC West title)
Home record: 5-3
Last matchup vs. GB: Loss, 24-19 in Week 5
Points per game: 21.4 (20th)
Points per game allowed: 22.5 (15th)
Point differential: -14 (18th)
Offense DVOA: 10.4% (9th)
Defense DVOA: 3.1% (21st)
Overall PFF grade: 83.8 (12th)
Turnover margin: +7 (10th)
Third down % offense: 36.9 (23rd)
Third down % defense: 39.9 (19th)
Red zone TD % offense: 52.5 (23rd)
Red zone TD % defense: 47.5 (5th)
Last 5 games: 5-0
The Rams have won five straight games, including an upset win over the Bills and three road games, to rebound from a 5-6 start. Returning Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua from injuries — neither played in the first meeting against Green Bay — helped revitalize the offense, while the Rams defense has allowed fewer than 10 points in three straight games entering Week 18. This is a balanced team with playmakers on offense (Kyren Williams has 16 total touchdowns), a veteran quarterback with Super Bowl experience and an ascending young defense. The Packers won in Los Angeles in early October, but the Rams are playing much better football down the stretch.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Possible seed: No. 3 or No. 4
Week 18 opponent: vs. New Orleans Saints
Record: 9-7
Home record: 4-4
Last matchup vs. GB: Won, 34-20 in Week 15 (2023)
Points per game: 29.7 (4th)
Points per game allowed: 22.9 (17th)
Point differential: +109 (7th)
Offense DVOA: 12.4% (7th)
Defense DVOA: 2.1% (18th)
Overall PFF grade: 85.3 (19th)
Turnover margin: -4 (18th)
Third down % offense: 50.0 (1st)
Third down % defense: 39.1 (15th)
Red zone TD % offense: 66.7 (4th)
Red zone TD % defense: 54.5 (11th)
Last 5 games: 4-1
Baker Mayfield and offensive coordinator Liam Cohen have created one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses. Mayfield is completing almost 72 percent of his passes and has 39 passing touchdowns, running backs Bucky Irving (1,430) and Rashaad White (1,006) both have over 1,000 total yards and veteran receiver Mike Evans has 11 touchdowns. The Bucs started 4-2, including a win over the Eagles, then labored through a four-game losing streak before winning five of the last six since the bye. This team has scored 30 or more points in eight games and would be a handful for a Packers defense that has struggled against the top offenses in 2024. Could Green Bay win a shootout in Tampa Bay?