This NFL season has not gone as hoped for the Green Bay Packers or their fans, with time running out on the team and the playoffs seemingly out of reach. A weekly Back the Pack philosophy in Wisconsin sports betting certainly would be risky.
If there is one bright spot for fans still holding out hope for a playoff spot, it is their history of strong December records, a history that will need to continue if they want to miraculously pull themselves into the NFC wild card race.
With such a pivotal month ahead, BetWisconsin.com looked at each NFL team’s historical December records to see where Green Bay stands. We did this by utilizing StatMuse.com and compiling each team’s December record since 2013 before ranking them 1-32 by win percentage.
December Record Since 2013
The Packers have been the cream of the crop in the NFL during the month of December with a sparkling 32-9 record, their .780 win percentage good for tops in the league. This year's version of the team has set a pace well below that thus far and will need to find that historical December groove for the Packers’ playoff chances to improve.
Of course, the pundits will point out that many of those December wins came with future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers at the helm. With Jordan Love now under center, the chance for Green Bay to even have a winning record in December is unlikely. Love has struggled in his first full season as a starter, averaging 6.9 yards per pass attempt with a completion percentage under 60.
While this is clearly a rebuilding season for the Packers, he still has not shown enough to prove to anyone that he is the long-term solution as Rodgers replacement. Yes, Rodgers was a key cog in the Packers’ December success, but he wasn’t the only factor.
No one can deny the impact that Wisconsin weather has on opposing teams coming into Lambeau Field in December. With two December games, Green Bay has a chance to take advantage of perhaps the most noticeable home field advantage in the entire NFL - Lambeau in December. The schedule-makers didn’t do Green Bay any favors early in the month. though. A Dec. 3 home game against Kansas City is a tough way to get started.
Luckily, the schedule lightens up considerably later as Green Bay plays the Giants and basement-dwelling Panthers later in the month in addition to a game against the Buccaneers and a New Year’s Eve showdown against the division rival Minnesota Vikings.
Even if Green Bay takes care of business against the weak opponents they face in the month, the likelihood of them compiling the record they need to get into the playoff mix is extremely unlikely.
That starts on Thanksgiving Day, with a tough road assignment against the division-leading Detroit Lions. The Packers are a 7.5-point and +295 moneyline underdog at FanDuel Wisconsin.
However, they can still take pride in being a great December team as a strong performance gives them a chance to hold on to the top spot when it comes to December winning percentage. The Chiefs will have a chance to take the top spot with a good month, but if Green Bay can win more December games than they lose, they will once again have to be considered a threat in any December game they play.
