Lovestruck: The case for surprising Packers to make the playoffs

Following a 23-19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 10, the Green Bay Packers fell to 3-6 and seemed to be a lost cause.

At the time, Packers quarterback Jordan Love — in his first full season as starting QB — had thrown 10 interceptions and sported a completion percentage slightly below 60, far below average. After 30 years of stellar play from Hall of Famer Brett Favre and future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, the Packers didn't seem to have the answer at the game's most important position.

What a difference two weeks can make.

In Week 11, the Packers came from behind to beat the Chargers, 23-20. On Thanksgiving, just four days later, Green Bay stunned division-rival Detroit on the road, 29-22.

Now the Packers find themselves at 5-6, a half-game behind Minnesota and Seattle for a wild-card spot.

Given the remainder of Green Bay's schedule, a playoff berth seems likely for the Packers. Aside from a home game in Week 13 against Kansas City (7-3), Green Bay's schedule doesn't present any insurmountable obstacles (team records as of Friday):

• Week 14: at New York Giants (3-8)
• Week 15: vs. Tampa Bay (4-6)
• Week 16: at Carolina (1-9)
• Week 17: at Minnesota (6-5)
• Week 18: vs. Chicago (3-8)

It's a much easier schedule than wild-card contenders Minnesota (6-5), which still has two games left against Detroit (8-3), and Seattle (6-5), which has consecutive games against Dallas (8-3), San Francisco (8-3) and Philadelphia (9-1) remaining.

Green Bay's resurgence is thanks in large part to Love, whom former NFL scout and Yardbarker contributor Daniel Kelly is optimistic will continue to improve.

Over his past two games, Love has 590 yards passing, five touchdown passes and no interceptions. In back-to-back October losses — 17-13 at Las Vegas in Week 5 and 19-17 at Denver in Week 7 — the offense failed the Packers. Now, the offense is finally able to complement a defense that ranks 10th in the NFL in points allowed per game (20.4).

Since his selection by the Packers with the 26th pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Love has faced intense scrutiny. His development has taken time, but the QB appears to finally be coming into his own. Now the Packers are in position to reap the rewards.