The Green Bay Packers are in must-win territory ahead of their Week 17 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings (7-8), and things may be a little more difficult than expected.On Wednesday, Green Bay suspended Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander twice for one game for a very specific reason. The former first-round pick wasn’t supposed to be on the field for the pregame coin toss, but things took a turn for the worse when he called Tails, won the coin toss, and said, “I want our defense on the field.” .
Fortunately for the Packers, coach Matt LaFleur told officials before the game that if the Packers won the toss, the game would be postponed. Had LaFleur not made that move, the ref could have misread Alexander’s words and given the ball to the Carolina Panthers to start the first half two plays down.
After the game, LaFleur called the defenders’ tragedy a “big mistake.” This big mistake could cost the Packers dearly. According to NFL.com’s playoff picture, Green Bay (7-8) has a 26 percent chance to make the playoffs, but with a win it jumps to 56 percent and with a loss it drops to 1 percent.
Additionally, if the Packers beat their NFC North rivals, Minnesota’s postseason chances would jump from 29 percent to 5 percent, but if the Vikings win, those chances would jump to 51 percent. Minnesota’s chances of winning Sunday night will likely come down to T.J. Hockenson suffered season-ending ACL and MCL injuries in Week 16.
