The Packers' playoff hopes are on life support after the loss. An Atlanta win Monday night would eliminate them, ending a streak of eight straight years, one short of an NFL record. But if Tampa Bay wins, the Packers are still alive. Here is how the Packers can still make the playoffs.
MORE: Gallery of today's game
4th Quarter
Carolina 31, Green Bay 24
Rodgers-to-Rodgers 26 yards TD pass
2:43 left in quarter
Carolina 31, Green Bay 17
Newton-Byrd 13 yd TD pass
12:24 left in quarter
3rd Quarter
Carolina 24, Green Bay 17
Crosby 28 FG
1:23 left in quarter
Carolina 24, Green Bay 14
Newton-Byrd TD pass
7:20 left in quarter
Carolina 17, Green Bay 14
Newton-Olsen TD pass
11:34 left in quarter
2nd Quarter
Green Bay 14, Carolina 10
Rodgers-Cobb 33 yard TD pass
0:26 left in quarter
Carolina 10, Green Bay 7
Gano 33 yd FG
9:02 left in quarter
1st Quarter
Green Bay 7, Carolina 7
Rodgers-Adams 13 yard TD pass
:00 left in quarter
Welcome back, @AaronRodgers12!
TOUCHDOWN @PACKERS! #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/MIbFCfcWAm
— NFL (@NFL) December 17, 2017>
Carolina 7, Green Bay 0
Newton-McCaffrey 7 yd TD pass
5:57 left in quarter
Pregame updates
Pregame story
For the first time since October 15, it's a Packers Gameday, and Aaron Rodgers is the starting quarterback.
The highest-ranked quarterback in NFL history (by passer rating) is back in the lineup after a broken collarbone sidelined him for eight weeks, and he comes in at the most critical time of the season with a must-win gameday in Carolina.
Green Bay, however, faces the first of two daunting tasks on their schedule - beating 9-4 Carolina and 10-3 Minnesota in consecutive weekends.
The Panthers come in with the 5th ranked total defense in football. They happen to also be 7th against the pass and third against the run. This defense is more than stout.
However, it is vulnerable, with the last three opponents scoring at least 24 points each.
Carolina has made up for it with an offense that has scored at least 31 points in each of the three wins they've tallied in the past four games. In those contests, they rushed for at least 145 yards on the ground - twice topping 200 yards.
Perhaps the odds were better in Cleveland of the Packers winning with Hundley than they were with Rodgers today in Carolina. However, the chances would be very little to none if the Packers didn't have Rodgers today.
Plus, in any regular season game with Rodgers at quarterback where a loss would realistically end their playoff hopes, the Packers have a perfect 8-0 record.
Yes, fans, Aaron Rodgers is clutch. He will need to be, again.
Stay tuned.
