Packers Move Ever Closer to the Improbable Sixth Wildcard Playoff Spot

Remember when I outlined what needed to happen in order for the Green Bay Packers to secure a 2006 wildcard playoff spot? Well my friends, we are halfway there.

The Eagles beat Dallas, but that makes no difference to the outcome of slot 6 in the NFC playoff picture. Dallas is getting slot 4 or 5, and Philly is getting whichever one Dallas doesn’t take. Simple as that.

Atlanta lost to Carolina, and they need only lose their remaining game to the Philadelphia Eagles, in Philly. The Minnesota Vikings are out of the picture. So are the 49ers. The Carolina Panthers did their job of beating Atlanta, but now they have to lose to New Orleans in week 17. The Redskins took St. Louis to overtime but lost, so the Vikings have to step up and beat the Rams to keep this thing alive. But that Viking offense is so damn pitiful, and couple that with a rookie quarterback in Tarvaris Jackson filling the starting roll, and it might be a minor miracle if the Vikings beat their monkeys next week, let alone a professional football team.

And this still leaves us with the New York Giants. The Saints pounded their heads in on Sunday, leaving only the game against the Redskins. If they lose to the Redskins, all the better. And the Redskins, playing only for pride, have been a hot tamale the last few weeks.

But regardless of whether the Giants win or lose, the Packers must beat the Bears on the very last game of the NFL’s regular season. If the Giants win Sunday, then the Packers have to win by at least six.

To recap, here’s what to pray for Sunday morning in church:

1) Vikings beat the Rams
2) Atlanta loses to Philadelphia
3) New Orleans beats Carolina
4) Giants lose to Washington (you better hit your knees early on this one; this game happens Saturday evening). If they don’t not a huge deal, because…
5) The Packers MUST beat the Bears (by six if the Giants win). If this doesn’t happen, none of the rest of it matters.

I looked out into the sky this evening and believe I saw the planets aligning, which is good, because they’ll have to for this mathematical improbability to end with the Packers being invited to the Big Dance.

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