Packers playoff chances: What do Aaron Rodgers and co. need to make it into the postseason?

Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers kept their season alive with an impressive 26-20 win over the Miami Dolphins on Christmas Day. The victory was the Packers' third straight win and helped them improve to 7-8. Green Bay's defense had a terrific second half as they picked off Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa thrice.

The Packers' final two games of the 2022 regular season are against divisional rivals Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. The Vikings have already won the NFC North title, while the Lions are still vying for a playoff spot. Neither game will be easy for the Packers, but if they go 2-0, will they make it to the postseason?

Packers playoff chances: Can Green Bay still make it to the postseason this year?

The Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys have already punched their tickets to the playoffs. One of those two teams will enter the postseason as a wildcard team, which leaves only two wildcard spots for the rest of the NFC teams.

With two weeks left in the regular season, five teams are running for those two spots: the 8-6-1 New York Giants, the 7-7-1 Washington Commanders, the 7-8 Seattle Seahawks, the 7-8 Detroit Lions, and the 7-8 Packers. The Giants can seal their playoff spot with one win in their remaining two games (Indianapolis Colts and Eagles), which leaves one spot for four teams.

The Packers have to win their remaining two games to have a realistic chance of qualifying for the playoffs. Green Bay faces Detroit in Week 18. A win for Rodgers and co. will automatically end the Lions' (Chicago Bears and Packers) season. Green Bay will also hope that the Commanders (Cleveland Browns and Cowboys) and Seahawks (Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams) lose at least one of their remaining two games.

In conclusion, if the Packers go 2-0 and the Commanders and Seahawks lose one game each, Green Bay will book their place in the playoffs.