Down to the Green Bay Packers two games in the loss column, the Commanders got a gift Thursday night when the Lions nipped the Packers 34-31 at Ford Field in Detroit.
With the score tied 31-31, the Lions started on their own 30 and began an 11-play drive, which concluded with Jake Bates’ 35-yard walk-off field goal. This goal gave the Lions the victory and clinched their playoff spot (12-1).
The Commanders are 8-5 and enjoying a much-needed bye week, while the Packers, with this walk-off loss on the road to the Lions, fall to 9-4. Thus, the Commanders are now only a single game back in the loss column to the Packers.
The Commanders are the No. 7 seed, while the Packers are the 6th seed. In this 2024 season, there is a colossal difference between being the seventh seed and the sixth seed in the NFC playoff picture.
In the opening round of the playoffs, the seventh-seeded team will travel to the second-seed, who will most likely be the Lions or Eagles. The sixth-seeded team will travel to play the third-seeded team. If you’ve noticed, the Falcons and Bucs are tied at 6-6 in the NFC South, while the Seahawks (7-5) lead the NFC West. The third-seeded team will be either the NFC South or West divisional leader.
The Commanders and the Packers have now played 13 games and will have four remaining games on their respective schedules.
Oh, how the Commanders must be kicking themselves for playing so poorly at home and losing to the Cowboys two weeks ago. They all know now they should actually at least be tied with the Packers for the 6th overall seed in the NFC.
The Packers remaining schedules is as follows:
- @ Seattle Seahawks
- New Orleans Saints
- @ Minnesota Vikings
- Chicago Bears
The Commanders remaining schedule is as follows:
- @ New Orleans Saints
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Atlanta Falcons
- @ Dallas Cowboys
