The Packers (4-3): Reasons Why They Will and Will Not Make the Playoffs

Seven games into the Packers' season they stand at 4-3 and in relatively good position to make a playoff run. Their schedule matches up favorably compared to other teams and the talent is there for them to make it to the second season.

In honor of their current record, here are four reasons the Packers will make the playoffs and three reasons they will not.

Why They Will

1. Remaining Schedule

When one takes a look at the NFL playoff picture, it’s safe to assume the Saints (South), Vikings (North), and Cardinals (West) will win their respective divisions.

The NFC East is a little cloudy with the Cowboys, Giants, and Eagles all in contention.

In the North, the Packers and Bears stand at 4-3 and in the South the Falcons are very much alive as well.

The Falcons have the easiest schedule moving forward, playing just three teams with records above .500 the rest of the season. The Bears, Cowboys, and Giants all play six teams with records above .500, while the unlucky Eagles play seven.

As for the Packers, they play just five teams with winning records, the best being the currently 5-2 Steelers. They have gotten the Vikings out of the way and lost to a very good Bengals team, but the Bears still have to play the Vikings twice, the NFC East is going to beat up on each other, and the Falcons have another matchup with the Saints looming.

There are games on the Packers’ schedule that are relatively easy wins (Detroit, Tampa Bay) and games which are probably going to be losses (at Pittsburgh), but the big games are against other playoff contenders in Dallas, Chicago, and Arizona.

Those will be deciding games in the Packers’ season.

2. Aaron Rodgers

Football is a team game.

It’s impossible to win with just one guy, but if you are going to attempt to do so, start with a quarterback.

Rodgers has been the highest-rated passer in the league this season and has thrown just two interceptions, which is a big reason the Packers lead the league in turnover differential.

The Packers’ defense is not good enough for Rodgers to be average the rest of the way and expect to make the playoffs.

If they earn a Wild card spot, it will be Rodgers that gets them there.

Questions of him holding the ball too long or being afraid to throw an interception still linger, but any way you slice it, he has played well.

Greg Jennings has yet to get going as a No. 1 receiver, but we all expect a breakout.

Rodgers has the poise and consistency to match his talents this season and it has really shown in his stats.

Now it’s time for it to show in the wins column.

3. Talent

Whether you blame Ted Thompson or Mike McCarthy for the Packers’ struggles this season, the fact is this team has a ton of talent and has shown flashes of greatness over the last three seasons.

When healthy, they have the deepest receiving corps in the league, a top five secondary, a fantastic up-and-coming LB in Clay Matthews, and a defensive line playing very well.

Putting everything together is a completely different story, but the talent is there for the Packers to make a run.

If McCarthy and Capers can put their team in the best position to win based on the talents they have, there’s no reason the Packers can’t win 11 games this season.

They don’t need to be the New Orleans Saints to earn a playoff spot, and as of now the Packers have enough talent to win games.

4. Time

The best part about the Packers is that they have time to get better. It will be on the go and during a potential playoff run, but the offensive line is settling down and is at least looking more cohesive than the first couple weeks.

Rodgers has developed good chemistry with Jermichael Finley and his consistency is back.

Coming into the season, everyone spoke of how it might also take more than training camp and preseason for players to get comfortable with Dom Capers' 3-4 defense.

Either way, the defense is a new wrinkle that everyone is adjusting to.

It’s not as easy as it is in Madden to just switch the formation and have three down linemen instead of four. Time will allow the Packers to continue getting comfortable in