The Green Bay Packers picked up a crucial road victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday afternoon. Not only did they avoid losing consecutive games, but they also took down an NFC rival and pushed the Rams further away from playoff contention.
Green Bay had its share of mistakes, including an inexcusable blunder from Jordan Love that resulted in a pick-six, but Matt LaFleur's squad kept fighting.
Love threw two touchdown passes after that moment, Xavier McKinney made NFL history with another interception, and the defense came up with one final stop to pick up the win at SoFi Stadium. Winning on the road isn't easy, and Green Bay has now done it twice in the space of three weeks.
Unfortunately for the Packers, the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears also won in Week 5. Minnesota remains first in the NFC after holding on for victory over Aaron Rodgers' New York Jets in London, while Chicago destroyed the struggling Carolina Panthers.
Updated NFC playoff picture and standings after Week 5
Here's what it means for the NFC playoff picture after Week 5:
Playoff teams
- Minnesota Vikings (5-0)
- Washington Commanders (4-1)
- Atlanta Falcons (3-2)
- Seattle Seahawks (3-2)
- Detroit Lions (3-1)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)
- Green Bay Packers (3-2)
In the hunt
- Chicago Bears (3-2)
- New Orleans Saints (2-2)
- Philadelphia Eagles (2-2)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-2)
- New York Giants (2-3)
- San Francisco 49ers (2-3)
If the season ended today, three NFC North teams would make the playoffs. Like last year, the Packers would hold the seventh seed, sending them into a road game against an NFC East team. The Vikings, Washington Commanders, and Atlanta Falcons surprisingly lead the way in the conference.
One name you don't see in the playoff spots? The San Francisco 49ers, who lost at home to the Arizona Cardinals to fall to 2-3. Arizona visits Lambeau Field next week.
Tough challenges await LaFleur and the Packers in the weeks ahead, making this victory even more important. Green Bay needed to bounce back, and at 3-2, it has set the platform for games against the Cardinals, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars over the next three weeks.
