The Green Bay Packers (6-6) currently own the seventh and final playoff spot in the NFC after winning three games in a row and four of their last five.
But with five games remaining, work remains for the Packers to finish the job and get back into the postseason. Quarterback Jordan Love knows this, and is taking on a playoff-like mentality the rest of the way. Essentially, every game moving forward for Green Bay must be treated like a playoff game.
Win, or go home.
“We don’t doubt anybody or take a game off or anything like that,” Love said Thursday, via Pro Football Talk. “We give everybody respect and take it that one game at a time. Our mindset is just to focus and go win every week.
“We don’t need a reminder at all. We know what position we’re in. Every game is like a playoff game for us. We know [we need] that mentality — we’ve got to win out. So, this team doesn’t need a reminder of that.”
Packers, Jordan Love adjusting to life as favorites
The schedule down the stretch certainly favors Green Bay, as four of their remaining five opponents sit under .500. The Minnesota Vikings (6-6) are the lone exception. Love said that the team isn’t putting any stock into being favorites down the stretch.
“I don’t even know if guys even notice that,” Love said. “Obviously, that’s something that we don’t have any control of. We just focus on who we’ve got this week. We don’t look at who the underdog is or anything like that. Just focus on going out and winning.”
Much of their recent success has coincided with the breakout of Love, who looks every bit the part of a franchise quarterback. Over the last five games, Love has thrown for 1,374 yards, 11 touchdowns and two interceptions on 67% passing. Love was superb in the 27-19 Week 13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) this past Sunday, completing 25-of-36 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns.
“It’s huge. For me personally, obviously, I’ve had this game circled for a long time,” Love said after the game. “It was my first start [against the Chiefs in 2021], obviously, I didn’t play how I wanted to the first game, so being able to see these guys again and get the victory is huge. This is a great team win tonight. Everybody just balled out, so it was an awesome win.”
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