The Packers go into Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season trying to do what they couldn’t in 2022 — win to lock down a wild-card berth in the NFC playoffs.
Green Bay is 8-8, the same record it had a year ago before losing to Detroit and failing to make the playoffs in the last season with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.
Now, it’s trying to make amends in Jordan Love’s first full season as the top QB.
Here’s what needs to happen for the Packers to punch a playoff ticket this time on Sunday:
NFL teams with their playoff spots secured are resting plenty of their starters in Week 18.
The Steelers are fighting for their postseason lives, and one of their starters might be at risk of missing time if Pittsburgh’s season continues.
During the third quarter of Saturday’s contest with the Ravens, star linebacker T.J. Watt was injured after a collision with a teammate attempting to defend a pass from Tyler Huntley to Nelson Agholor.
Watt immediately reached for his leg and pounded the turf as training staff rushed out to attend him.
The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year is in the midst of another DPOY-caliber campaign, and he was looking to make his final push for the honors on Saturday.
He had racked up a pair of sacks and three tackles for loss, pushing his totals to 19 and 18, the former leading the league and the latter tied for fourth.
An extended absence of Watt would be crushing for the Steelers’ postseason hopes should Pittsburgh make it into the playoffs.
