Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur preaches going 1-0 every week, and every week across a 17-game schedule has its own importance, but even LaFleur was willing to admit the added importance of Sunday's divisional showdown with the Minnesota Vikings.
The Packers are 6-3 but sitting in last place in the NFL's best division, and LaFleur's team already has two losses against teams from the NFC North, including the Week 1 loss to the Vikings.
"The reality is this: We are in last place in our division right now, so this is a very important game," LaFleur said Wednesday.
The Packers (1-2 vs. the NFC North) probably can't lose a third division game and expect to have a realistic path to winning the NFC North. Per The Athletic's NFL Playoff Simulator,
the Packers' chances of winning the division will drop to only four percent if they lose to the Vikings on Sunday.
"Divisional games, to me, they are (worth) a game in a half. We have to make sure come out and we have a great week of prep," LaFleur said.
Get a win on Sunday, and the Packers would suddenly have a 20 percent chance of winning the NFC North -- a feat the franchise hasn't accomplished since 2021.
The Vikings have lost back-to-back games after a 6-0 start and are transitioning again at quarterback after trading for Kirk Cousins at Tuesday's deadline.
It's go time for the Packers, who have won five of the last six after a 1-2 start and are coming off a 45-27 clobbering of the New England Patriots last Sunday. Green Bay has also won three straight games at Lambeau Field.
Entering Week 10, all four teams in the NFC North have at least six wins, and all four are currently holding playoff spots in the NFC. The Chicago Bears lead the division at 7-2 while the Packers, Vikings and Detroit Lions are in wild card slots.
"It's not surprising to me. I knew all the teams in this division are really strong. I knew it was going to be a challenge," LaFleur said.
The Packers and Vikings are scheduled for a noon kickoff from Lambeau Field on Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Matt LaFleur states the obvious: 'This is a very important game' vs. Vikings
