A couple scenarios and Packers could face Bears in Wild Card round. Of course, this means Bears beat Packers.

Scenario A: Bears, Saints, Cardinals and Seahawks win.
Scenario B: Bears, Panthers, Rams and Seahawks win.

49ers beat Seahawks, then neither scenario comes into play. Of course, if Packers win, they don't play next week either.

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Kinda hope the Cowboys make the playoffs for Mike.

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If I'm the Packers offense scouting, I'm studying the Buccaneers defense ASAP... how to beat that pass rush and speed LBers without Bak.

I think the best answer is power running and more speed, so I'd be asking LaFleur to get RBs AJ Dillon and RB/WR Tavon Austin hot hands... though preferably in practice where the Buccaneers can't see and film study it... but if you got to do it in a game then gotta...

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This could be it's own thread or can continue it here.

The NFL playoffs games are (mostly) set.

NFC Playoffs

1) Packers (Bye Week)

7) Bears @ 2) Saints
6) Rams @ 3) Seahawks (Division Rematch where they're 1-1 this season, but Rams are without their starting QB)
5) Buccaneers @ NFC East Division winner (Red-team or Giants)

~ Bears/Saints is a Week 8 rematch of the 26-23 overtime win for Saints, with QB Foles starting for the Bears, so this might be a nice match-up.

~ Rams/Seahawk a division round 3 with them being 1-1 against each other, but Rams might be without their starting QB.

~ Bucs/NFC East, if the Giants get the division, it will be another week 8 rematch, where the Bucs barely beat the Giants in a 25-23 win. And if the Red-team wins, then Brady could have a tough match-up against one of the top DLs in the NFL, though lots of questions about the Giants and Red-teams offense.


AFC Playoffs
1) Chiefs (Bye Week)

7) Colts @ 2) Bills
6) Browns @ 3) Steelers
5) Ravens @ 4) Titans

~ Colts and Bills haven't played this year. So first for sure new match-up.

~ Browns/Steelers... another division rival match-up, Steelers killed the Browns in week 6... as the Browns are adjusting to their new offensive scheme... in week 17, the Steelers rested some of their starters, including starting QB and the Browns barely won (but didn't they have some guys on the Covid list? so maybe both teams will get some help from guys whom didn't play in week 17.

~ Ravens/Titans, I KNOW the Ravens really want payback... after going 14-2, Titans ran them out of the playoffs last year... and this years week 11 rematch when to overtime, where the Titans took charge in overtime... Ravens lost two important ones at home, surely want to give the Ttians payback! This one might be extemely physical.

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And now we know the order of the Wildcard playoff round as well.

Saturday
7) Colts @ 2) Bills
6) Rams @ 3) Seahawks
5) Buccaneers @ Red-team

Sunday
5) Ravens @ 4) Titans
7) Bears @ 2) Saints
6) Browns @ 3) Steelers


It would be nice if the Packers got to play on Saturday and have an extra day to rest should they win.

And I'm sure some will hate this, but the easiest way to get into the Super Bowl might be the Bears knock of the Saints, and Packers knock off the Bears.... then only have to beat one of the remaining teams to get in.

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beast, I was actually wondering the same thing. I was watching the Saints-Vikings game on Christmas Day and it was clear Brees didn't want to get hit. If a Vikings player got near Brees but Brees got the ball out, he would instinctively drop his arms to protect his ribs. I gotta wonder about his ability to stand in the pocket and make a throw. Michael Thomas is supposed to be back and near 100% but he's had injury trouble this year. It's also possible that Kamara may not have a positive test for COVID before the game either.

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Absolutely.

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