WATCH: Packers safety Darnell Savage returns pick six 75 yards against Minnesota
The Green Bay Packers’ playoff hopes are on the line Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, and they are off to an absolutely scorching hot start in the first quarter. First, Keisean Nixon returned a kickoff 105-yards for a touchdown, then Packers safety Darnell Savage took a pick six 75-yards for a touchdown. Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins threw a pass across the middle, where it was deflected by Rasul Douglas into the air, Savage picked it off, and it was off to the races down the left sideline for the score. The Packers are up 14-3 early in this one.
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Packers’ playoff scenarios
The Green Bay Packers are currently in control of their own destiny for the 2023 NFL Playoffs. They got a belated Christmas present from the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Cleveland defeated the Washington Commanders 24-10 on Sunday and that dramatically simplified the Packers’ 2023 playoff hopes.
Basically, all Green Bay needs to do is win its final two games of the year and they will officially punch their ticket to the playoffs as the No. 7 seed in the NFC. They face off against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at 4:25 PM EST. Then on January 8th, they face off against the Detroit Lions at 1:00 p.m. EST.
The Washington Commanders dropped to 7-8-1 and they won’t be able to do any better than 8-8-1, which would be just a bit worse than Green Bay’s 9-8 overall record if the Packers win out. Regardless of what Washington does next week, the Detroit Lions (8-8 overall) would finish in a better ranking than Green Bay if the Packers lose one of their final two games on their schedule. Aaron Rodgers has done his best to carry his teammates on his back this year, despite dealing with multiple injuries.
The Packers won’t be able to finish higher than the No. 7 seed in the NFC, since the New York Giants (9-6-1) are guaranteed a better overall record than Green Bay. The Packers won’t be able to catch up with either the New York Giants or the Dallas Cowboys for a wild-card position, or the Minnesota Vikings for the NFC North. That means the only spot that would be available is the No. 7 and final NFC spot.
It’ll be interesting to see if Green Bay can make it in the playoffs. They’ve rattled off three straight wins in their last three games to put themselves in control of their own destiny.