The Green Bay Packers lost the NFC North crown on the final day of the regular season, and with it the chance to host a game during the postseason. SB Nation's weekly NFL power rankings reflect that shortcoming, which has Green Bay slotted next to last among the playoff teams, coming in at No. 12.
For weeks, the Packers have tried to come out of their funk and fallen short. Aaron Rodgers and the offense produced just 13 points on Sunday, their latest sub-standard performance. Though the defense kept them in the game until the final whistle, it couldn't make up for the fumble the Minnesota Vikings returned for a score. That, among other factors, explains how Green Bay finds itself ranked lowest among the NFC playoff teams and ahead of only the Houston Texans in the field as a whole.
Here's what power ratings curator Danny Kelly had to say about the Packers' season finale:
On the other hand, Minnesota's passing game is underwhelming, but it features the NFL rushing champion in Adrian Peterson, a strong defensive group, and explosive special teams group. The Vikings finished the year on a high note as well by beating the Packers in Lambeau to win the NFC North, so they'll look to ride that wave of confidence into the playoffs.