After a hard-fought but thrilling win over the Houston Texans, the Packers (5-2) have now reeled off three in a row, inserting themselves in the Playoff race, albeit one where they must navigate a brutal-looking NFC North. All four teams in the division have a winning record, and all four teams would qualify for the Playoffs (the Packers, Vikings, and Bears would get wildcards; the Lions top the division) if the season were to end today.
Of course, the season has a long way to run yet. The Packers are looking in good shape to exceed the 10 wins that were projected for them at the beginning of the season, yet there are still questions in several areas for the Packers. Indeed, as those betting on NFL player props will tell you, there’s a sense of inconsistency about several players that has frustrated fans, as well as, undoubtedly, Matt LeFleur. In short, while the Playoffs are looking likely, there’s still a lot for the Packers to work on.
However, instead of looking forward, let’s look back. A 5-2 record is a decent start to the season after seven games. But what happened the last time the Packers began with five wins and a couple of losses? As you will see, it has always led to the Playoffs, but it’s not always a straight road. Let’s dive in:
2020
Final record: 13-3
The Packers’ second season under LeFleur started with a bang, had a few hiccups in the middle, and saw a strong finish for the Packers to secure the No.1 seed position for the NFC. Aaron Rodgers was in tremendous form across the season, securing his third of four MVP awards in a Packers uniform. Hopes were obviously high going into the Playoffs, and the fans began to believe more when the Packers routed the NFL-leading defense of the Rams in the Divisional Round, but a combination of Tom Brady and a dogged Buccaneers defense meant the Packers couldn’t secure a ticket to Super Bowl LV.
2014
Final record: 12-4
The Packers started this one slowly, not able to get their offense going in losses to the Seahawks and Lions, but they soon found their groove across the fall, with Rodgers clicking into gear. By November, in particular, the Packers’ offense looked great, with successive 50+ point winning games over the Bears and Eagles. A hard-fought win over the Cowboys set up a showdown with the Seahawks in the NFC Championship. Fans are painfully aware of what happened next, with the Packers losing despite being 16-0 up at halftime and having a 19-7 lead late in the 4th quarter.
2013
Final record: 8-7-1
After starting the season 1-2, the Packers came out of their Bye Week with a point to prove, reeling off four wins in a row to transform a poor start into a very respectable one. Yet, it should also act as a cautionary tale for Packers fans getting too ahead of themselves this season. After going 5-2, the Packers failed to win in their next five, heading into the final four games with a 5-6-1 record. They did enough to finish the season with three wins from four, sneaking into the wild card game. That would end in disappointment, though, with yet another defeat to the 49ers at an absolutely freezing Lambeau Field that ended the Packers’ season.
2001
For the next 5-2 start, we have to go way back to the start of the 2000s. Defense was on top in the early part of the season, with the Packers only conceding 13 points across the first three games (all wins). Despite beating the Bears twice in the regular season, Chicago (13-3) still pipped the Packers to the NFC Central title. The Wild Card Playoffs represent a crucial point in the Packers’ modern history, as it was the last time they beat the 49ers in postseason football (5 playoff losses since then). The Packers came up short against the Rams in the Divisional Round.
1998
Finishing up with the 1998/99 season, the Packers were coming off two successive Super Bowl appearances, and big things were expected with Brett Favre in his pomp (coming off three consecutive MVP-winning seasons). Things didn’t exactly pan out that way, though. While the Packers went on to secure an 11-5 record, they were miles behind the Vikings (15-1) in the NFC Central, losing twice to the divisional rival in the regular season. In the Wild Card Playoffs, it was another chapter in the storied history of the Packers-49ers rivalry, with the latter coming out on top in a tight game at Candlestick Park.