Even after Green Bay clinched back-to-back victories with a 24-12 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday, the Packers’ (6-8) chances of making the playoffs by the end of the season remain slim.
First they need to win their last three games – in Miami ahead of visits from Minnesota and Detroit. They must then lose Seattle at least once, Washington at least twice, and the New York Giants must lose all three of their remaining games.
Aaron Rodgers knows all this.
Making Rodger’s post-game media session even more enjoyable, he boldly addressed the pack’s chances, outlining winning scenarios and sending positive messages to his own dressing room, while perhaps sowing doubts in opponents should that happen.
Mostly, he’s acted like a guy who’s spent his career orchestrating unlikely fourth-quarter comebacks, some of them in the 21 playoff games he’s started.
Here towards the end of a season marred by unusual failures — eight losses for the Packers, ten interceptions intercepted by Rodgers — one might have expected him to revert to his old confident, even cocky, self in the face of a glimmer of hope.
Even if those two wins came against Chicago with three wins and LA with four wins — not exactly a killer streak.
“We have two [victories]’ Rodgers said. “Have two in my pocket. Look, before Bears week, some of us peaking knew we had to win five and then have a lot of things going our way.
“So we won two and almost everything we had to do went our way so it’s looking good…”
He’s not wrong. It’s going up, if only because it couldn’t have looked worse. Earlier this season, Green Bay lost five games in a row.
The Packers are unlikely to make the playoffs. But don’t blame Aaron Rodgers, who has led many unlikely comebacks in his career, for playing up their odds after they won back-to-back games. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
This was classic Rodgers, though, and it was likely a very pointed declaration of pseudo-confidence intended to inspire his teammates that the near-impossible is possible.
When ESPN’s Lisa Salters mentioned to Rodgers after the game that all three remaining opponents had records on the podium, Rodgers cut her off by remarking, “Well, one of them is .500 right now.”
The story goes on
That would be the 7-7 Lions, a franchise Rodgers has tortured over the years. Rodgers later admitted Detroit was playing “really well,” but he’d still like to try and play some mind games in case the season finale in Lambeau turns into a win-or-go-home proposition.
Chances are the playoffs will be without Rodgers and the Packers for the first time since 2018, so maybe this was just his chance to stay in the mix for as long as possible. Or does he really believe?
“We have two at home, on this field, in cold weather and Miami at Christmas,” Rodgers said. “Start with Miami, get a good performance, come out with a win.
“A lot happened to us with other teams that we had to lose, lose,” he continued. “We need a little more of that. Take care of business and see where we are at the end of the season.”
He wasn’t done yet.
“These are all good football teams,” Rodgers conceded. “Miami is playing for the playoffs, Minnesota is a division winner and Detroit has won six out of seven, they’re playing really well. It’s going to be three really tough games.
“But two of them play Dome teams at home [Minnesota, Detroit],” he continued. “It’ll be January for those two. We’ve been known to be pretty good at those games over the years. This one [Miami] is important because it’s on the street, they have a strong offense. They’ve been up and down the past few weeks, so maybe we’re catching them at a good time.”
Perhaps. This has been a tough season for Rodgers. His unwillingness to commit to a return this year played a role in top receiver Devante Adams’ departure for Las Vegas. Finding a replacement was a long process.
Rookie Christian Watson is certainly not Adams, but he’s playing better and, as Rodgers notes, he’s not lacking in speed. “When he goes into space, everyone will hold their breath,” Rodgers said.
Of course, Green Bay then plays against lousy teams that mostly play the string. The Rams are an injury-ridden mess, “that didn’t upset anyone [Aaron Donald] didn’t play,” Rodgers noted.
So now he’s trying to hit an inside flush and find a way back into the playoffs. The packers have to be perfect. Many other teams have to stumble. Rodgers just keeps pointing out that it’s not over yet.
“We can beat anyone,” Rodgers said. “We can lose to anyone. But you win a few games, that gives you confidence that you can go to Miami and win…there’s still a lot to play, a game and a half from the playoffs.
It would be one of his most outlandish comebacks ever.