For Aaron Jones, the Green Bay Packers have now proven that they are a playoff team when they are playing their best football.
Jones made the declaration on Sunday following their Week 16 win over the Carolina Panthers, allowing them to stay in the playoff hunt and improve their chances of claiming a Wild Card spot.
It wasn’t an easy victory against the Panthers, and their performance did spark some concerns about their defense. But what’s important is the Packers got the job done, securing the 33-30 victory to improve to 7-8 on the season, tied with the Minnesota Vikings.
Speaking to reporters postgame, Jones claimed that the Packers “definitely feel like a playoff team.”
“We show when we’re playing our best ball that we can compete with anybody,” the Packers running back added, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.
Aaron Jones and the Packers did play like a playoff team on Sunday, at least offensive. Jordan Love stepped up big time, completing 17 of his 28 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Love also had a rushing TD, along with AJ Dillon.
Jones, for his part, led the team in rushing with 21 carries and 127 yards. For comparison, the rest of the team only has 35 rushing yards combined.
With such a well-balanced offense, it’s not a surprise the Packers took the victory.
Are Aaron Jones and the Green Bay Packers a Playoff Team?
For what it’s worth, Aaron Jones’ claim isn’t as wild as others think it might be. While the Green Bay Packers don’t have a winning record, it’s important to note that they had a three-game winning streak from Weeks 11 to 13 when they beat the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions in back-to-back games.
The Lions are heading to the playoffs this 2023, while the Chiefs are virtually secured of their spot as well.
Unfortunately for the Packers, a slow start to the season that saw them go 3-5 in their first eight games really hurt their playoff odds down the stretch.
It’s not yet too late for the Packers. They are currently ninth in the NFL Playoff Picture, so they still have a chance. Nonetheless, they will need to hope that the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams fumble in their last few games, while they win out in order to qualify.
It won’t be easy, but as Jones said, the Packers have all the makings of a playoff-caliber team. They just need to show it when it matters most.
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