The Packers Have a Bad Night

I don't want to talk about the Packers' 51-29 loss to the Saints.

The Green Bay Press-Gazette calls it the "Monday Night Massacre."

That's what it was.

The loss, though not fatal, is a major blow to the Packers’ playoff chances in their tight NFC North Division race. It’s all but guaranteed that the NFC North will send only one team, the division champion, to the playoffs.

The loss to the Saints dropped the Packers to 5-6, a game behind both Chicago and Minnesota for the division lead. The Bears and Vikings play at Minnesota on Sunday night, so unless that game ends in a tie, one is guaranteed to have a one-game lead with four to play. The Packers host 8-3 Carolina next week, so with a win there, they’ll at most be a game behind the division leader as the season heads into its final four weeks.

New Orleans, which faced a virtual must-win to keep its playoff hopes alive in the NFC South Division, is 6-5.

“We aren’t even worried about the playoffs, not the way we played tonight,” Packers defensive tackle Ryan Pickett said. “We need to worry about winning a game, that’s where we’re at. Because if we get (to the playoffs) and play like that, it won’t be any good getting there.”

I'd rather talk about the Packers' 37-3 win over the Bears.

Sometimes, denial is helpful.