After one week in the top spot, the Green Bay Packers dropped back down to No. 3 in the USA TODAY NFL power rankings after Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
The Packers roared back after trailing by 13 points in the first half but were unable to finish the deal at U.S. Bank Stadium. Greg Joseph’s game-winning field goal as time expired sent the Packers back home to Green Bay with a 34-31 loss, the team’s first in Minnesota since 2018.
Matt LaFleur’s team has now lost two of the last three games and is 8-3 entering Week 12. If the season ended today, the Packers would hold the No. 2 overall seed in the NFC, trailing only the 9-2 Arizona Cardinals, who won another game with backup quarterback Colt McCoy and regained the top spot in the power rankings.
A big test awaits the Packers this week. The Los Angeles Rams, fresh off the bye week and two disappointing losses, are headed for Lambeau Field. The showdown is a pivotal one in the race for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Can the Packers secure a big win at home leading into the stretch run?
The long-awaited bye arrives after Sunday. The Packers, with injuries to several star players, need the time off. The hope is a handful of important players will be returning in December, including left tackle David Bakhtiari. This team needs to get healthy – or as healthy as it can be, given all the significant injuries – as the playoffs approach.
Packers in USA TODAY power rankings
Week 1: No. 4
Week 2: No. 14
Week 3: No. 16
Week 4: No. 13
Week 5: No. 10
Week 6: No. 9
Week 7: No. 6
Week 8: No. 5
Week 9: No. 2
Week 10: No. 3
Week 11: No. 1
Week 12: No. 3