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Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a Monday night victory over the Los Angeles Rams- a win that officially eliminated the defending champions from contention. The win moved them to 6-8, which leaves the door open for a potential playoff appearance.
ESPN analyst Marcus Spears admitted after the win that the team does look better. The chemistry problems that plagued them early in the season are minor. The young wide receivers have matured and Rodgers is playing better.
That was all he was willing to say on ESPN:
"They're not making the playoffs, okay? If they run the table, I'll be the first one to come on TV and eat crow. First of all, they played a bad Los Angeles Rams team, so let's not get carried away about what we saw..."
He continued:
"I saw times and opportunities for the Rams to make plays, they still pressured Aaron Rodgers at a high clip.... I look at the Lions, I look at the Minnesota Vikings and the Miami Dolphins. If you think what we've seen from Green Bay tells you that they're going to go 3-0... we've been watching a totally different team."
Spears thinks the Packers have improved from the beginning of the season, but that it's too little too late.
How can the Green Bay Packers make the playoffs?
In order for the Packers to make the playoffs, they will need help. Here's how they can get in:
- Packers must win out and finish 9-8
- The Seattle Seahawks must lose one game
- The Washington Commanders need to lose two out of their final three games or the New York Giants must lose out
The division is already out of the question. Minnesota clinched the division after their stunning, NFL-best 33-point comeback victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
They must beat the Vikings, the upstart and playoff-hungry Lions and the Dolphins in order to even have a chance. Given how they've looked all year long, Spears' criticism isn't invalid.
However, they deserve credit for at least sort of righting the ship thus far.
