With just one week left in the NFL regular season, the playoff picture is becoming clearer, with two teams securing the top spots in their conferences.
Baltimore Ravens Dominate, Securing AFC’s No. 1 Seed
The Baltimore Ravens showed their strength with a 56-19 win over the Miami Dolphins. Quarterback Lamar Jackson played a key role by throwing five touchdown passes and earning a perfect passer rating.
This dominant victory not only gave the Ravens the No. 1 seed in the AFC but also boosted Jackson’s chances of winning his second NFL MVP award. The Ravens can now rest their starters in the final week and wait for their opponent in the divisional round on January 20-21.
49ers Claim Top Spot in the NFC
In the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers secured the No. 1 seed with a 27-10 win over the Washington Football Team. The 49ers’ path to the top spot was made even clearer by the Arizona Cardinals’ comeback victory against the Philadelphia Eagles.
With a 12-4 season record, the 49ers will enjoy a week off before heading into the divisional round, aiming for a Super Bowl title.
Dallas Cowboys Benefit From Weekend Outcomes
The Dallas Cowboys had a successful weekend, starting with a narrow 20-19 win over the Detroit Lions. Controversial officiating calls went in favor of the Cowboys, helping them stay in control of the NFC East. The Cardinals’ win over the Eagles also helped the Cowboys’ chances, positioning them to secure the division and the No. 2 seed with a victory against the Washington Commanders in Week 18.
Green Bay Packers celebrates after a field goal in the 2nd half
Remaining Playoff Scenarios and Contenders
As the season winds down, several playoff spots and seeding battles remain undecided. The Miami Dolphins, with an 11-5 record, now need to beat the Buffalo Bills in Week 18 to win the AFC East title.
The defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (10-6) secured their eighth consecutive AFC West title by defeating the Cincinnati Bengals. In the AFC South, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, and Houston Texans, all sitting at 9-7, will compete for the division title and a playoff spot in the final week.
In the NFC South, the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are all in the race, with the Buccaneers still in contention to win the division if they defeat the Carolina Panthers in Week 18.
The playoff picture also includes wild-card spots, with the Los Angeles Rams (9-7) and Green Bay Packers (8-8) fighting for their places. The Packers, holding the final wild-card spot, will need a win against the Chicago Bears in Week 18 to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Jaire Alexander returns an interception for a touchdown in the 1st half
The Green Bay Packers will likely have to continue their playoff push without cornerback Jaire Alexander, a two-time Pro Bowler. Head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed on Wednesday that Alexander is having surgery to fix the knee injury that has kept him out for most of the last two months.
“Most likely, he’s going to be done for the rest of the year,” LaFleur said.
The injury first took Alexander out of the game during a 24-14 loss to the Detroit Lions on November 3. After the Packers had a week off, Alexander returned for a game against Chicago but played only 10 defensive snaps before the injury forced him to leave the game. Since then, he has missed six consecutive games. Now, it looks like he won’t return for the remainder of the season.
“It’s the situation,” LaFleur said. “It stinks that we’re here, but we’re here.”
Alexander’s absence is a significant setback for the Packers’ Super Bowl hopes as they compete for a wild card spot. The Packers (11-5) are currently the NFC’s No. 7 seed, meaning they would need to open the playoffs on the road against the top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) and remain away for the entire playoff run.
Matt LaFleur (NFL)
However, if the Packers beat the Bears (4-12) at home on Sunday and the Washington Commanders lose to Dallas, Green Bay could still secure the No. 6 seed.
The Packers have allowed 17th most passing yards in the NFL this season. This weakness showed on Sunday, as they allowed Sam Darnold to throw for a career-high 377 yards in a 27-25 loss at Minnesota.
Despite Alexander’s injury, the Packers believe they can still make a deep playoff run with the defensive backs they have left.
“I have full trust in the guys in our room,” said safety Xavier McKinney. “We have a lot of talented guys, a lot of guys who are smart and can adjust on the fly. I feel good about our group. Obviously, we have guys who are being called upon each week. I feel really good about this group and what we have.”
With Alexander out, 2023 seventh-round pick Carrington Valentine and 2021 first-round pick Eric Stokes have stepped up. Valentine played every defensive snap against the Vikings and recorded his second interception in three games.
Sam Darnold scrambles in the 1st half
“It’s really next-man up mentality,” Valentine said. “We’re always going to go out there and compete and just put our best foot forward.”
Alexander, 27, has been one of the league’s top cornerbacks when healthy. However, he has been limited to just 34 regular-season games over the past four seasons. He played only four games in 2021 due to a shoulder injury that ended his season.
Alexander missed only one game in 2022 but was sidelined by injuries this season as well. He missed three games with a back issue, six with a shoulder injury, and served a one-game suspension last year. This season, he was out for two games due to a groin injury before his knee problem took over.
“I know how badly he wants to be out there,” said Stokes. “The moment I found out, I was just like, ‘Dang.’ I sent him a text. ‘I know how you feel. I know what type of player you are. I know you really want to be out there for us,’ and all that stuff. He said, ‘Anything y’all need help with, just hit me. I’m going to be there.’”
Jaire Alexander returns an interception for a touchdown in the 1st half
Sam Darnold’s strong performance against Green Bay’s defense highlighted one of the Packers’ biggest issues heading into the playoffs.
Injuries in the secondary have made the Packers vulnerable to strong passing teams.
Jaire Alexander, the Packers’ two-time Pro Bowl cornerback, missed his sixth straight game with a knee injury on Sunday. Darnold threw for a career-high 377 yards in the Minnesota Vikings’ 27-25 win over Green Bay.
When asked Monday about the possibility of Alexander returning this season, Packers coach Matt LaFleur responded, “I don’t know.”
Alexander is known for his excellent pass coverage when healthy, but he has only played 10 defensive snaps in the past two months. He missed a game against Detroit on Nov. 3 due to the knee injury and only played 10 snaps the following week against Chicago before the injury kept him out again. He hasn’t played since.
“I do know that he’s been dealing with swelling, and, you know, he doesn’t feel right to go out there and play,” LaFleur said.
Other Packers defensive players are also dealing with injuries. Rookie safety Evan Williams has missed the last two games with a quadriceps injury.
Matt LaFleur watches his team warms up
Rookie safety Javon Bullard returned on Sunday after missing two games with an ankle injury, but Zayne Anderson left the game with a concussion, just days after his breakout performance in a 34-0 win over the New Orleans Saints.
The Vikings (14-2) took advantage, as Darnold threw three touchdown passes and gave Minnesota a 27-10 lead.
“We’ve got to do a better job in coverage, for sure,” LaFleur said. “I think your coverage is going to get better if you can get a better pass rush, as well, so it all goes hand in hand.”
The Packers (11-5) are currently the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs, but they could move up to the sixth spot if they beat the Chicago Bears (4-12) and the Washington Commanders (11-5) lose at Dallas (7-9) on Sunday. As the No. 7 seed, the Packers will have to face the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) in the wild-card round.
The Packers have little chance of winning playoff games on the road if they play the way they did in Minnesota.
“I didn’t feel like it was to our standard, and you’ve got to give them credit,” LaFleur said. “I mean, that’s a good football team. But I thought there was a lot of things within our own control in terms of playing with fundamentals and discipline that we did not do a very good job of. And that was disappointing. It just was sloppy football.”
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft’s low block on Patrick Jones did not seem to cause any serious injury to the Minnesota Vikings edge rusher.
However, it sparked a lot of debate between the two NFC North teams.
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday that Jones might still play in Sunday’s game against Detroit, which will decide the NFC North champion and the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. Jones left the Vikings’ 27-25 win over the Packers after the incident with Kraft in the second quarter.
“He’ll have a chance to even possibly make it this week,” O’Connell said. “We’ll see how he works through it.”
Vikings edge rusher Jonathan Greenard took to social media to criticize Kraft’s block, which did not result in a penalty. During his Monday news conference, Packers coach Matt LaFleur defended Kraft’s actions, calling it a “totally legal play.”
The play happened in the second quarter when Kraft was trying to help create space for Josh Jacobs on a 5-yard run.
“Dude motioned from 30 yards away to STILL cut him,” Greenard wrote after the game on an X post. “Pathetic. Be a man block up high. NFL, get rid of this block PLEASE.”
LaFleur said Kraft’s move was allowed by the rules and pointed out that “it’s the same thing that their guys were doing to our defensive ends.”
Green Bay Packers players in the practice
“That’s a way to try to slow down just the speed off the edge,” LaFleur said. “It’s a great equalizer. That’s tough for the offense, to have to deal with that, so you’ve got to have some sort of recourse to try to slow somebody down.”
LaFleur suggested that if low blocks were banned, all hits below the knee should be as well. He pointed out that receivers often get hit low when crossing the middle. He proposed having a strike zone for each player from below the neck to above the knee in that case.
“Our intent is not to go hurt somebody,” LaFleur said. “You never want to see that. I don’t want to see that from either team. The intent is to slow somebody down, and I do think it’s part of our job as coaches, is to teach our, whether it’s an edge rusher or whoever, how to defeat a cut block.
And conversely, you’ve got to teach them how to throw a good cut, you know? That’s part of our responsibility, and then the players have got to go out there and apply that.”
Packers Secure Playoff Spot with 34-0 Win Over Saints but Face Uncertainty After Watson Injury
The Green Bay Packers had an almost flawless performance on Monday Night Football, securing a dominant 34-0 victory over the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field. With this win, the Packers clinched a playoff spot, ensuring they will finish with no worse than the No. 7 seed in the NFC. While they can no longer win the NFC North, finishing strong could push them into the No. 5 spot. Head coach Matt LaFleur has now led his team to five playoff appearances in six seasons, solidifying his success with the franchise.
However, the game wasn’t without its concerns, as wide receiver Christian Watson sustained a knee injury during the game. Watson initially went to the medical tent after briefly leaving the field in the first half but returned to play. Unfortunately, he took another hit in the second half and was forced to exit the game with a knee injury, not returning. While the Packers were comfortably ahead, the situation remains troubling for the team, especially as the playoffs approach.
Packers Secure Playoff Spot with 34-0 Win Over Saints but Face Uncertainty After Watson Injury
Watson’s injury is particularly concerning due to his importance to the Packers’ offense. Not only is he a major playmaker with the ball, but his presence also forces opposing defenses to adjust their coverages, opening up opportunities for other players. The official report from the team confirmed the knee injury, though it remains unclear whether Watson would have been able to return if the game had been closer. With the Packers already clinching a playoff berth, they can afford to be cautious, but his availability for the postseason is uncertain.
Despite the injury concerns, it was a highly successful night for Green Bay. The Saints were depleted, with key players Derek Carr, Alvin Kamara, and Chris Olave all ruled out prior to the game, which contributed to the Packers’ dominant performance. From the very first possession, Green Bay took control, methodically driving down the field and scoring. Jordan Love connected with Dontayvion Wicks for an early touchdown, and the Packers continued their offensive onslaught with a 12-play, 96-yard drive capped by a Josh Jacobs 2-yard touchdown.
Josh Jacobs continued to be a key part of the Packers’ offense, contributing 107 total yards and a touchdown on 17 touches. LaFleur wisely reduced his workload in the second half with the game well in hand, but Jacobs will remain a critical player for Green Bay as they head into their next game against the Minnesota Vikings. While the Packers secured the crucial win they needed, Watson’s injury casts a shadow over their upcoming playoff hopes, and fans will be hoping for positive news on his condition.
Week 16 concludes with another playoff spot secured.
The Green Bay Packers have officially earned a postseason berth following their dominant 34-0 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Monday night.
This marks the Packers’ second consecutive trip to the playoffs under the guidance of Matt LaFleur with Jordan Love as his starting quarterback and their fifth postseason appearance in six seasons since LaFleur took over as head coach in 2019.
Although Green Bay has yet to reach a Super Bowl during LaFleur’s tenure, the team has consistently advanced to at least the Divisional Round in their previous four playoff appearances.
This includes last season when Love and his teammates secured a significant road win against the Dallas Cowboys during Super Wild Card Weekend before narrowly falling to the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers in a thrilling showdown.
“Making the playoffs is huge,” Love remarked following Monday night’s victory. “Obviously, the ultimate goal is the Super Bowl, but this is the critical first step.
Tonight’s game was a big one for us to clinch that spot, and I’m proud of how we came out here and took care of business.”
Packers Win Against Saints (Photo: NFL)
With 11 victories so far—already two more than they achieved during the 2023 regular season—Green Bay has a chance to match LaFleur’s hallmark 13-win seasons from his first three years as head coach. Despite this success, the Packers’ playoff journey will again demand resilience on the road.
The NFC North has proven to be an intense battleground this season. Green Bay currently sits third in the division behind the 13-2 Detroit Lions and the 13-2 Minnesota Vikings, both of whom are engaged in a fierce race with the 12-3 Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC’s top seed.
All four of Green Bay’s losses this season have come at the hands of these three teams, including two defeats by Detroit.
Against all other opponents, the Packers have been nearly flawless, showcasing remarkable consistency and balance throughout the year.
Heading into this week, Green Bay was on track to finish with both its offense and defense ranked in the top 10 in scoring—a feat the franchise hasn’t achieved since 2010, the year of their most recent Super Bowl triumph.
While a return to the Super Bowl remains a distant goal even with their playoff spot locked in, Green Bay still has pivotal divisional games ahead against the Vikings and Bears that will play a critical role in determining their seeding.
From there, the road to the Super Bowl will likely require overcoming at least one of the teams that previously outmatched them during the regular season.
Packers Edge Bears 20-19, Extend Dominance in Historic Rivalry with 11th Straight Win
The Green Bay Packers narrowly defeated the Chicago Bears 20-19 in their 209th meeting on November 17 at Soldier Field. The game’s dramatic finish came with the Packers blocking a last-second field goal attempt by the Bears, preserving their 11th straight victory in this storied rivalry. Dating back to 1921, the Packers and Bears have faced off nearly every season, with only two exceptions: 1922, due to scheduling, and 1982, during the NFLPA strike. The Packers’ win further cemented their recent dominance in this historic series.
The Packers came into the game with confidence but remained focused on the challenge at hand. Quarterback Jordan Love spoke of the team’s mindset, emphasizing the expectation of a tough, four-quarter battle. Despite not playing their best game, Love praised the team’s determination and ability to fight through adversity. The Packers overcame several obstacles, including a red-zone interception, to emerge victorious in a game that exemplified grit and resilience.
Packers Edge Bears 20-19, Extend Dominance in Historic Rivalry with 11th Straight Win
Christian Watson delivered a standout performance, hauling in 150 receiving yards on four catches, including two critical receptions of 48 and 60 yards. Watson’s contributions were instrumental in the win, and both Love and Head Coach Matt LaFleur praised his resilience and work ethic. After a challenging start to the season, Watson’s breakout performance highlighted his potential as a key offensive weapon. LaFleur emphasized the importance of making the most of opportunities, and Watson did just that.
The game’s turning point came in the final moments, with the Packers’ special teams stepping up to block the Bears’ field goal attempt. This marked the team’s second field goal block of the season, showcasing their defensive readiness in clutch situations. The play not only secured the victory but also underscored the team’s ability to excel under pressure, a hallmark of their current winning streak against Chicago.
This victory, the latest in a series of 11 consecutive wins against the Bears, began during LaFleur’s debut as head coach in 2019. It’s a streak that holds special significance for the Packers and their fans, reflecting their sustained dominance over their rivals. The team’s ability to find ways to win, even in hard-fought and imperfect games, continues to define their approach to one of the NFL’s most enduring rivalries.
An NFL logo is pictures before an NFL football game
Netflix is preparing to offer some special treats for viewers of its two Christmas Day games, starting with a performance by Mariah Carey of “All I Want for Christmas is You.”
However, Netflix executive Brandon Riegg is aware that streaming issues would ruin the experience, no matter how exciting the content is.
Riegg, who is the vice president of nonfiction series and sports, has been asked many times about Netflix’s readiness for the large number of viewers expected on what could be the company’s busiest day ever. This comes after streaming problems during the November 14 fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.
“The sheer tonnage of people that came to watch was incredible. And for all the testing that the engineering team had done ahead of that, and I think they’re the best in the business, the only way to test something of that magnitude is to have something of that magnitude,” Riegg said.
“We never want to have technical issues or a disappointing experience for our members. There was a subset of people that were watching that struggled with that and we acknowledge that.
The good news is they stress-tested the system to such a degree that there’s a lot of these fixes and improvements that they realized that they could make, and they’re applying all that stuff.”
Netflix logo (NETFLIX)
Netflix will air two games on Wednesday. The first, with a two-hour pregame starting at 11 a.m. EST, features the Pittsburgh Steelers playing the Kansas City Chiefs. The second game, between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans, kicks off at 4:30 p.m. EST.
The games will be available to Netflix’s 282.3 million subscribers in more than 190 countries, marking the first time that one service will broadcast an NFL game worldwide.
Many people didn’t expect Netflix to start airing games from one of the four major sports leagues, but these NFL games are part of a larger effort by Netflix to become a key destination for sports fans.
Recently, Netflix secured the U.S. rights for the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Additionally, starting January 6, Netflix will begin a global partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment when “Monday Night Raw” moves to the service.
Netflix reported that the Tyson-Paul fight had 60 million viewers worldwide and peaked at 65 million concurrent streams, with 38 million concurrent streams in the United States. However, according to the website Down Detector, nearly 85,000 viewers had problems with outages or streaming during the fight.
In comparison, the largest audience for an NFL game streamed exclusively was 23 million viewers on Peacock for the AFC Wild Card game between the Miami Dolphins and the Chiefs last season. For a regular-season game, Amazon Prime Video had 17.3 million viewers on December 5 when the Detroit Lions beat the Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay Packers players celebrate after an interception
Nielsen will track the ratings for the Christmas Day games, with early numbers expected in the afternoon on December 26.
The games will also be shown on CBS affiliates in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Houston, as part of a long-standing NFL policy that ensures games on cable or streaming platforms are also available on local over-the-air stations in the teams’ markets.
The most demand will likely come around 6 p.m. EST, during halftime of the Ravens-Texans game, when Beyoncé will perform.
These games are the first in a three-year deal with Netflix, which will also air one game each in 2025 and 2026. Netflix paid $150 million for this year’s package.
While Netflix doesn’t usually take on a season-long sports package, airing games on Christmas Day made sense to them.
Mike North, the NFL’s vice president of broadcast planning, said in May that the league wasn’t initially planning to air games on Christmas this year because it falls on a Wednesday. However, the potential for high ratings made it an opportunity that couldn’t be ignored.
Last year, the three Christmas games had an average of 28.68 million viewers, with the early afternoon game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Chiefs attracting the highest average at 29.48 million.
NFL owners agreed to hold two games on Christmas during meetings in March. Soon after, Netflix expressed interest.
Netflix had already built a relationship with the NFL through the “Quarterback” and “Receiver” series.
“It’s sort of an event. It’s not just a random Week 17 game,” Riegg said. “My north star to everyone has been this needs to feel warm, festive, family and fun. We’re really going to try to make it feel elevated and something that feels consistent with what holiday represents.”
Netflix is also aiming to make this a family event with its announcers. The father-and-son duo of Ian and Noah Eagle will handle the play-by-play. JJ Watt will be the analyst for the Chiefs-Steelers game, while his brother, TJ Watt, plays for Pittsburgh.
Jason and Devin McCourty will join the pregame crew from Pittsburgh, with Laura Rutledge as the host.
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Ian Eagle will call the Pittsburgh game with Watt and Nate Burleson as analysts, while Melanie Collins and Stacey Dales report from the sidelines.
Noah Eagle and Greg Olsen will handle the Houston game, with Jamie Erdahl and Steve Wyche reporting.
Pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage will come from NFL Network’s studios in Inglewood, California. Kay Adams will host, with analysis from Drew Brees, Robert Griffin III, Mina Kimes, and Manti Te’o.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and CBS Sports rules analyst Gene Steratore will also be involved.
CBS Sports will produce the games, while NFL Media will handle the studio programming. EverWonder Studio will be in charge of producing NFL Christmas Gameday.
Hans Schroeder, the executive vice president of NFL Media, praised Netflix’s efforts in planning.
“It’s going to feel like a high-quality football experience, but also a global event. I think they’ve done an incredible job delivering that vision,” Schroeder said.
Edgerrin Cooper sacks Matthew Stafford in the 1st half
Green Bay Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper has made the most of the chances he’s had.
The Packers are excited to see what the rookie second-round pick from Texas A&M will do next.
In his return after missing three games, Cooper recorded a sack and his first career interception in the Packers’ 30-13 win at Seattle on Sunday. Pro Football Focus gave him the highest grade of any NFL player, regardless of position, for that week.
“My plan is just to go out there and have fun,” Cooper said afterward. “I’ve been doing this a long time. It’s just football, at the end of the day. Go out there and do what I need to do.”
Cooper’s performance at Seattle earned him NFC defensive player of the week honors for a second time, making him the first Packer to win that award multiple times in a single season since Clay Matthews during the Packers’ Super Bowl championship run in 2010.
Cooper’s first NFC defensive player of the week award came after he had a sack and forced a fumble to help the Packers win 30-27 at Jacksonville in his first career start.
Edgerrin Cooper celebrates with the players in the 2nd half
He has been on the field for less than 36% of the Packers’ defensive snaps (10-4) because he missed three games due to injury and didn’t get much playing time early in the season. Cooper has only played more than two-thirds of Green Bay’s defensive snaps in one game this year.
Even so, he ranks fourth on the team in sacks (3½) and sixth in tackles heading into Monday night’s game against the New Orleans Saints (5-9).
“I think he’s just scratching the surface of what he could become in this league,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said.
Cooper’s ability to make plays is clear from his season totals. He’s the first rookie linebacker to have at least three sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble since Patrick Queen in 2020 with the Baltimore Ravens.
The only other Packers rookie to reach those numbers since at least 2000 is A.J. Hawk in 2006.
“He’s a playmaker, so somebody that we’re definitely leaning on and expect to make a lot of plays for us,” defensive lineman Kenny Clark said.
Cooper’s skill for making plays comes mainly from his incredible speed, which earned him the nickname “Flash” from his teammates due to his ability to cover the field from sideline to sideline.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley pointed to a recent play where Cooper was about 8 yards away from a receiver when a screen pass was thrown. By the time the ball arrived, Cooper was already there to make the play.
“He can eat up the grass really fast,” Hafley said. “Sometimes he might not be in the right position, but he has that ability to make up for it. The more he learns, the better he gets. He’s going to get better and better and better. He’s really matured and developed.”
His speed and understanding of the game helped him earn first-team Associated Press All-America honors at Texas A&M last season.
“He’s got two gifts,” said Jimbo Fisher, who coached Cooper at Texas A&M. “One, he can process and is very instinctive. And two, if he’s ever a half-step wrong or a step wrong, he’s usually got the burst to change.
Green Bay Packers players in the practice
“And he has length to be able to cover taller guys and run down the field with modern-day tight ends and some of the inside receivers they put on him. That’s a big advantage, too. Linebackers who can play in space and tackle in space are worth their weight in gold now.”
Cooper was playing tailback as well as linebacker when Fisher recruited him out of Covington (Louisiana) High School. Fisher believes Cooper could have been great at either position.
But his skill for defense has been clear from the start. “He loves contact,” Fisher said. “The physical side of the ball, he never shies away from. And he’s a smart guy. He can learn.
“I always say this about linebackers. You can learn everything you want, but there’s so much instinct to being able to diagnose and process information.
He’s always been able to do that. There’s a naturalness to linebackers, and sometimes you can’t coach all of that, you know what I’m saying? They can just process it and sort of do it. He’s always been able to do that.”
Matthew Stafford has faced Aaron Rodgers many times over the years, so he’s not one to get overly excited about any single game.
The results have mostly favored Rodgers, who has won 13 of their 17 matchups, all while playing for the Green Bay Packers. But this upcoming game is different—both teams and cities have changed, along with the circumstances.
Stafford, who spent many years with the Detroit Lions and is now in his fourth season with the Rams, will face Rodgers, now in his second year with the New York Jets, on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
“It’s always a good battle,” Stafford said. “A ton of respect for him. (A) great player in this league, an all-time great, has unbelievable talent and has accomplished a bunch. It’s always a challenge going against him.”
The last time they met, Rodgers’ Packers defeated Stafford and the Rams 36-28 at Lambeau Field. Rodgers won his fourth NFL MVP award that season, while Stafford led the Rams to their second Super Bowl win in his first year with the team.
This time, Stafford aims to guide the Rams (8-6) to their fourth consecutive win and keep them in the lead in the NFC West. Meanwhile, Rodgers and the Jets (4-10) are wrapping up a tough season.
Aaron Rodgers leaves the field after the game
“It’s two greats and two guys that I look at as Hall of Famers,” Rams coach Sean McVay said.
Stafford has played a big role in the Rams’ recent success. He hasn’t turned the ball over in their last five games, marking his longest streak in 16 years in the NFL. The 36-year-old is also among the league’s leaders with 3,463 passing yards.
“Matt’s one of my all-time favorite competitors to go against,” Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday. “Just a lot of fun battles over the years, just a lot of respect for him. He plays the game the way I totally respect. He’s as tough as they come. He’s savvy, he’s smart, he’s gritty, he’s competitive.”
Rodgers, at 41, had to deal with leg injuries earlier in the season, after playing only four snaps last year due to a torn Achilles tendon. However, he has recently performed well, passing for 628 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions in his last two games. Rodgers is also just two touchdown passes away from reaching 500 for his career.
“He’s a hell of a player and does a great job,” Stafford said. “He’s still doing a really good job for them. He played fantastic in the last couple of weeks. He looks to be healthy, moving around and doing his thing.”
Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers don’t want to wait as long as they did last season to secure a playoff spot.
The Packers (10-4) have played well enough that with some help, they could make it to the playoffs on Sunday. If that doesn’t happen, the Packers can still clinch a playoff spot by defeating the injury-hit New Orleans Saints (5-9) on Monday night at Lambeau Field.
Last year, the Packers made it to the playoffs only after beating the Chicago Bears in the final game of the regular season.
“It definitely is a better position than having to try and win every game and fight for that last position not knowing what might happen,” Love said. “I think we did a better job this season winning some games early on and putting ourselves in a better position.”
The Packers have won eight of their last 10 games, with the only two losses in that stretch coming against the Detroit Lions. Green Bay still trails Detroit and Minnesota in the NFC North.
If the Atlanta Falcons lose or tie and either the Los Angeles Rams or Seattle Seahawks also lose or tie, the Packers would secure a playoff spot before Monday night’s game. The Falcons are playing the New York Giants, the Rams are playing the New York Jets, and the Seahawks are hosting the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Derek Carr throws a pass in the 1st half
New Orleans’ slim chances of making the playoffs could be gone before Monday’s game begins. The Saints can only make it to the postseason if they win all three of their remaining games while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Falcons lose their final three games. Tampa Bay is playing Dallas on Sunday night.
The Saints might have to play without their starting quarterback Derek Carr and five-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara.
Carr has an injury to his left (non-throwing) hand that kept him out of the Saints’ last game — a 20-19 loss to the Washington Commanders. However, Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi hasn’t ruled him out for Monday. Kamara left the game against the Commanders with a groin injury, which is expected to keep him out of this game.
If Carr can’t play, the Saints would turn to Spencer Rattler, who came off the bench and led four straight scoring drives in the loss to the Commanders.
“We have the players that we have,” Rizzi said. “Everybody across the league right now is dealing with injuries, some more than others. I think the best teams in the league are the teams that are able to overcome those, regardless of the position. That’s really how we’ve been approaching it.”
Green Bay needs to build a more consistent pass rush if they want a chance at a deep playoff run as a likely NFC wild-card team. The Packers’ 30-13 win in Seattle on Sunday was a big step forward.
Green Bay (10-4) consistently pressured Geno Smith, who was injured in his right knee midway through the third quarter. They kept the pressure on Sam Howell, who took over for Smith. The Packers ended up with seven sacks, three on Smith and four on Howell.
“We were just able to pretty much pin our ears back all day, and (our) offense pretty much did a good job putting them boys behind,” said Kingsley Enagbare, who had two sacks. “We got a couple three-and-outs early, so the offense was pretty much able to score early a lot, too, so we kind of put them in a pass-first situation.”
Green Bay’s pass rush has been inconsistent throughout the season as the team adjusts to the switch from a 3-4 to 4-3 scheme under first-year coordinator Jeff Hafley.
The Packers recorded eight sacks in a win at Tennessee on Sept. 22, four in a win over Houston on Oct. 20, and five in a Thanksgiving night win against the Miami Dolphins.
Tua Tagovailoa walks off the field after the game
But in five of their first 14 games, they had zero or just one sack, including a Dec. 5 loss to Detroit that likely ended their chance at winning the NFC North. They know they need to pressure quarterbacks more often.
“I think that’s the plan every week, right?” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “It’s just whether or not you’re able to go out there and do it. Yeah, obviously we’re always trying to get pressure on the quarterback. That’s the No. 1 way to disrupt anything on offense.”
These last three regular-season games give the Packers a chance to keep putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks as they prepare for the playoffs. While the Packers have not yet secured a playoff spot, NFL Next Gen Stats gives them a playoff chance of over 99%.
The win against Seattle showed the Packers’ pass-rushing potential. Six players combined for the seven sacks.
One came from Rashan Gary, who has bounced back from a slow start and now has four sacks in his last five games. Enagbare had one standout series where he sacked Howell twice and limited him to a 2-yard rush to force a three-and-out.
“Our D-line came to play,” LaFleur said. “They did a hell of a job and just got constant pressure.”
