Heading into the final weeks of the 2024 NFL regular season, the playoff picture is coming into focus with eight of the 14 participants already decided.
In the NFC, five teams have won 10 or more games through Week 16, led by Detroit and Minnesota as both franchises have identical 13-2 records.
However, there’s another team from the NFC North that analysts believe could be a dangerous opponent in January.
Analyst Scott Van Pelt believes the other team to have secured a playoff berth from that division – the Green Bay Packers – is a squad that could make a deep postseason run following this season.
“I think they could absolutely win the Super Bowl,” Van Pelt said of the Packers.
🗣️ “I think they could absolutely win the Super Bowl.” 🗣️@notthefakeSVP and @StanfordSteve82 think the @packers could be DANGEROUS in the postseason 👀#GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/103Bi6PRIR
— SVPod (@_SVPod) December 24, 2024
Van Pelt pointed to the team’s stout defense as his primary reason for making this selection.
The Packers have allowed the sixth-fewest points in the NFL, giving up 19.1 points per game in 2024.
Green Bay is also in the NFL’s top eight in fewest total yards, passing yards, and rushing yards allowed this season.
Van Pelt also pointed to the team’s ability to keep running back Josh Jacobs fresh as another reason to believe the Packers could be a team to contend with in January.
Jacobs has rushed for 1,216 yards and 13 touchdowns through 15 games while he has also caught 35 of his 42 targets for 340 yards and one score this season.
Van Pelt’s podcast partner “Stanford” Steve Coughlin said that he liked this young team, especially quarterback Jordan Love.
The youthful roster has shown zero fear to play any team during the regular season, Coughlin added.
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