The Green Bay Packers have a chance to join the NFL playoffs with a victory Sunday over their eternal rivals, the Chicago Bears (Green Bay can also advance in other ways, which we’ll get to). You can track the Green Bay Packers playoff chances with BetWisconsin.com, even going into the final weekend of the NFL regular season.
Of course, the best teams have clinched playoff berths already in the past few weeks, and it’s no surprise that at 8-8, the Packers are still trying to forge a postseason berth for themselves. That Green Bay is in this position at all is a bit remarkable. The Packers were 6-8 after losing to Tampa Bay on Dec. 17, but they have won road games against the Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings since then.
Packers Vs. Bears Odds
DraftKings Sportsbook lists Green Bay as a 3-point favorite for Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field (kickoff time 3:25 p.m. Central, CBS). Check out our Packers vs. Bears odds page at BetWisconsin.com for more details.
This situation got us wondering: How do teams fare in the postseason when they get into the playoffs in the final weekend of the NFL regular season? Using Champs or Chumps, BetWisconsin.com looked at how teams performed after they wrapped up a playoff spot in the final week of the season since 2013. In those 10 seasons, 29 teams have clinched a playoff spot in the last week. Before 2021, the data below refers to Week 17.
Performance of Teams Clinching in Last Week
According to the data at ChampsorChumps.us, clinching a playoff berth in the final weekend of the season might be a thrill at the time, but it does not augur well for a long postseason run. None of those teams emerging from that circumstance reached the Super Bowl in that time frame. The last time the Packers clinched a playoff berth in the season finale was in 2013, when coach Mike McCarthy’s bunch finished 8-7-1 and won the NFC North title despite a minus-11 point differential. That allowed the Packers to host a first-round playoff game, but they lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 23-20.
There are no legal online Wisconsin sports betting operators for folks to use in wagering on NFL action. The state has retail sports betting at a few locations.
Green Bay Packers Playoff Chances
The NFL has put together a list of scenarios for the final weekend for each contending team. The easiest path for Green Bay, of course, involves beating the Bears. The Packers are currently in the No. 7 spot and would be certain of a wild-card spot with a victory.
But if the Packers lose, they could still get into the playoffs with a Seattle loss, a Minnesota loss or tie against Detroit, and a loss by either Tampa Bay or New Orleans. If the game at Lambeau Field ends in a tie — something that has not happened in a Packers-Bears game since 1953 — then the Packers would need one of three scenarios: A Seattle loss or tie plus a New Orleans loss or tie; a Seattle loss plus a Bucs loss; or a Seahawks tie and a Bucs loss or tie.
Got all that?
And if you believe the boys in green and gold can not only make the playoffs but go on a huge run, check out our Green Bay Packers Super Bowl odds from BetWisconsin.com.
