In the history of the NFL, 183 teams have begun the season with a 4-8 record. Only one has ever reached the playoffs. There could be at least one more joining that exclusive company in 2022.
The Packers got off to a dismal start this season and watched as the Vikings ran away with the NFC North to prevent a fourth straight Green Bay division title. On Sunday, the Packers got a measure of revenge, boat-racing Minnesota 41-17 in Lambeau Field and keeping their own playoff chances alive.
Green Bay has now won four straight games, setting up a pivotal Week 18 clash with NFC North foe Detroit in a race for one of the last wild-card spots.
What is the path to the playoffs for the Packers? Here's what you need to know.
MORE: Breaking down the Lions' playoff chances entering Week 18
Packers playoff picture
Just about everything that needed to break for Green Bay has gone its way. The Commanders lost to the Browns in Week 17 and the Packers took care of business in a big way against the Vikings to eliminate Washington from the NFC playoff hunt.
The top two wild cards are locked up, with the runner-up in the NFC East between the Eagles and Cowboys earning the No. 5 seed and the Giants clinching the No. 6 seed with a demolition of the Colts on Sunday. The best Green Bay can do is reach the No. 7 seed.
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What playoff tiebreakers are in the Packers' favor?
As long as the Packers' game against the Lions doesn't end in a tie, there is only one team with which Green Bay could be tied with at the end of the year: the Seahawks. Seattle plays the Rams in Week 18, and could wind up in a tie with the Packers for that last playoff spot.
Should both Green Bay and Seattle win, the Packers and Seahawks would both have identical 7-5 records in NFC play. They would also have identical 3-2 records against common opponents. Where Green Bay takes the edge is in the strength of victory. Entering Week 17, the Packers had the edge with a strength of victory at .420 to Seattle's .397. With wins over the 12-4 Vikings and a possible win over the 8-9 Lions compared to Seattle's wins over 7-9 New York and 5-11 Los Angeles, the Packers would only strengthen their advantage.
In the event the Lions and Packers tie, the two teams would finish with identical records. However, Detroit has the tiebreaking edge since the Lions won the previous matchup against the Packers.
MORE: How Eagles or Cowboys can clinch NFC East
Packers' remaining schedule
There's only one game left for the Packers, and that's against the Lions, who kept their playoff hopes alive with a win against the Bears.
Can the Packers still make the playoffs?
There is one way and one way only for the Packers to reach the playoffs: beat Detroit. A tie or a loss, and the last wild card will be either Detroit with a Seattle loss or tie, or Seattle with a win against the Rams.
Considering that the last and only team to reach the playoffs after starting the year 4-8 was the 2008 Chargers, it would be an incredible feat for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers to pull off.
