This Game Could Keep the Packers From Making the Playoffs

The Green Bay Packers could only sit there stunned after watching the Chicago Bears usurp the throne of the NFC North and take the division title in 2018. Last year, Aaron Rodgers and Co. got things back on track, winning back the divisional crown and an all-important playoff spot.

This year, the outlook for the Pack is a similar one -- take care of business, ride Aaron Rodgers, and produce enough big plays on defense to survive a tough slate. But apart from their usual battles with their traditional rivals, there's one game in particular that could derail their postseason hopes at a critical time:

Week 13 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Green Bay will be at home in Lambeau for this one, but the context for the game matters. The Eagles have routinely found themselves in down-to-the-wire fights with the Cowboys for the NFC East title, and will be full of intent -- and quite possibly in win-or-die mode -- when they head up to Wisconsin on Dec. 6. Doug Pederson's team is not to be taken lightly.

Why? Well, they beat the Pack last season with a late touchdown, 34-27.

And they did it at Lambeau Field.

In bringing drama upon themselves by drafting QB Jordan Love in the first round of this year's draft and creating a distraction for Rodgers, the Pack increased their own level of difficulty for 2020. With Vegas putting their estimated win total for the season right around nine, they cannot take a single game for granted.

When Philly shows up in December, they had better be ready. It could be the difference between winning the NFC North and watchin the postseason from home.