With an easy 34-0 win over the New Orleans Saints on Monday, the Green Bay Packers are in the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons under head coach Matt LaFleur.
The win raised LaFleur’s December record with the Packers to 20-3 — the highest winning percentage (.870) in the month for a coach in Packers history, per ESPN.
Over the past five games, the Packers are 4-1, scoring at least 30 points in each. This is the second-longest streak of 30+ point games since 1963. During this stretch, Green Bay has outscored opponents 163-74.
But the big question now is: Will this momentum carry over to the postseason?
Despite reaching the playoffs in five of the past six seasons, the Packers are 3-4 in postseason play under LaFleur, reaching the NFC Championship Game twice in that span but no Super Bowls.
This year’s playoffs will present a tough task. Although they are 11-4, the Packers are third in the top-heavy NFC North, trailing the Detroit Lions (13-2) and the Minnesota Vikings (13-2).
Last season, as the No. 7 seed in the NFC, the Packers showed promise by defeating the No. 2 seed Dallas Cowboys 48-32. However, they fell to the No. 1 seed San Francisco 49ers 24-21 in the NFC divisional round, a game in which Green Bay led 21-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
What makes this team different from the others is the addition of two powerhouse players: running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney.
Against New Orleans, Jacobs scored his 13th rushing touchdown of the season, the most in a season in his career.
“I mean, we playing for something… it just feels like our ceiling just keep going up. I know for me, man, I’m just happy to be a part of it” Jacobs said following the win on Monday Night (h/t: Matt Schneidman of The Athletic).
McKinney, who is tied for the most interceptions in the NFL with seven, is putting together the strongest season of his career
Another key addition is first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who has made a significant impact (335.1 YPG in 2024 to 313.4 last season).
With the current playoff picture, Green Bay appears likely to be seeded sixth or seventh. Still looking for his first Super Bowl appearance in Green Bay, LaFleur is hoping for a different result this season.
