Week 16 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Packers on ‘Life Support’
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers had everything going their way a couple weeks ago.
They had won three in a row, including what seemed like defining wins against the Lions and Chiefs. Not only did they have momentum, but they had a soft finishing schedule. Not only could the Packers make a surprise run to the playoffs, they should make a run to the playoffs. And, who knows, maybe they could even challenge the Lions for the NFC North title.
Well, forget that. Back-to-back losses have the Packers’ playoff chances relying on a three-game sweep of the Panthers and Vikings on the road and the Bears at home. Their sudden skid is reflected in the latest NFL power rankings,
Two weeks ago, the Packers’ average spot in our weekly survey of 10 national power rankings was 12.7. Now, it’s 19.9.
Here is a look at the latest rankings, with deeper analysis available by clicking the links.
The Athletic: 18th
Last week: 10th
In this week’s rankings, Josh Kendall focused on the biggest surprise for each team. For the Packers, it’s their inconsistency – though it’s hard to say how that’s a surprise given the youth on offense and injuries on defense. “Beat the Lions and Chiefs? Lose to the Giants and the Buccaneers? Sure, the Packers have done all that in the last month. Oft-analyzed quarterback Jordan Love hasn’t been the biggest problem, either. The defense is 29th in success rate (56.4) and 23rd in yards per play allowed (5.4).”
NFL.com: 19th
Last week: 16th
Forever and always, the least popular member of the Packers is their defensive coordinator. Add Joe Barry to the list. Wrote Eric Edholm: “The problems with the run defense have been debated ad nauseum, but Sunday provided a new talking point, as Baker Mayfield carved up the Packers’ secondary. Pair that with the late-game breakdowns defensively against the Giants, and you can see why the Packers’ chances of making the playoffs have sunk like a stone over the past week-plus.”
Pro Football Network: 19th
Last week: 13th
The Packers tumbled from No. 7 in the NFC to No. 11 with their loss to the Buccaneers. “While the Packers had a chance to solidify themselves in the NFC wild-card race,” Dalton Miller wrote. “No matter how the Packers’ season turns out, it’s hard to imagine defensive coordinator Joe Barry will be asked to return in 2024.”
Yahoo: 19th
Last week: 15th.
The Packers “really hurt” their postseason chances, Frank Schwab said, by losing to the Giants and Buccaneers in a span of six days. Now, they’ll probably have to run the table to sneak into the No. 7 seed. “No team epitomizes the roller coaster of an NFL season better than this season’s Packers.”
Sports Illustrated: 20th
Last week: 16th
Conor Orr called the loss to the Buccaneers a “bummer” – a much more polite term than one fans would use. “To see the Packers beat the Lions and Chiefs in back-to-back weeks, only to fall to the Giants and Buccaneers shows just how much stress and magnification is going to be put on the shoulders of embattled defensive coordinator Joe Barry. Matt LaFleur’s Achilles heel has seemed to be an inability to nab an elite defensive coordinator.”
CBS Sports: 20th
Last week: 16th
Pete Prisco said the Packers are “basically out of the playoff” race and changes could be coming on defense.
Pro Football Talk: 20th
Last week: 17th
“The chariot is turning into a cheesehead,” wrote Mike Florio.
The 33rd Team: 21st
Last week: 14th
The Packers’ playoff hopes are on “life support,” says Ryan Reynolds. “It’s been a bizarre month for the Green Bay Packers, who were ascending after convincing wins against the Lions and Chiefs. Then they lost to the Giants on Monday Night Football, before getting borderline blown out by the Buccaneers last week.”
ESPN.com: 21st
Last week: 14th
This week’s rankings focused on being “No. 1” at something. Packers beat writer Rob Demovsky focused on having the youngest roster in the NFL at the start of the season. Moreover, “they're especially green at the skill positions. Twenty-five-year-old quarterback Jordan Love has 25 touchdown passes, and 24 have been to players with two or fewer years of NFL experience. That's the most touchdowns scored by first- and second-year players for any team since the 2015 Jaguars (with 28).”
USA Today: 22nd
Last week: 15th
The two-game losing streak provided a reality check for Nate Davis. “In retrospect, we all probably got a little too excited about a team with so little experience … and so many key injuries.”
Next Opponent: Carolina Panthers
The Panthers’ average spot in our rankings is 31.8. They are 32nd at Sports Illustrated even while finally coming off a 9-7 win against Atlanta. In fact, they are 32nd in eight rankings and 31st in the others.
Wrote Conor Orr: “So it wasn’t exactly a hero moment, and I’d argue that the rainstorm robbed Bryce Young of the chance to throw a game-winning touchdown, but he did dig the Panthers out of their own end zone to lead a game-winning scoring drive. While aided by a beautiful D.J. Chark sideline grab, Young was throwing tough under awful conditions.”
