The 2023 and 2024 Green Bay Packers might be different in a lot of ways, but as far as the national media is concerned, their postseason outlook feels the same: they’re underdogs. 

The Packers were five-point underdogs to the Philadelphia Eagles as of Thursday night. If Green Bay comes out victorious on Sunday, they’ll head to Detroit for a third matchup with the Lions, where they’d undoubtedly be underdogs again. It’s also possible they’d be considered underdogs against any remaining team in the NFC Championship Game. 

This year’s Packers, a more mature version of last year’s team, came into 2024 with higher expectations following a 9-8 season in 2023 where they snuck into the playoffs as a wildcard. Despite winning 11 games this season, fan optimism has dipped, and there’s good reason for that sentiment.

Green Bay went winless in five games against the NFC's top three teams, losing by an average of just 4.4 points to opponents with a combined 43-8 record. Moreover, they finished 1-5 in the division, and played poorly in the final two weeks of the regular season. They haven’t beaten a contender all year, and if they’re going to make a Super Bowl run, they’ll have to beat both Philadelphia and Detroit on the road. In 2023, there were no expectations, and any positive result in Dallas and Santa Clara was a bonus. This year, however, a step forward was expected, so securing only the seventh seed feels like an underachievement.

The Packers aren’t focused on the narratives. They’re not concerned with being underdogs or what the media says. They’re focused on handling their business, and once the game starts in Philly, they’ll believe they can win. The same mindset will apply if they move on to Detroit.

Few people will pick the Packers to win in Philadelphia, and even if they advance, not many will pick them to beat Detroit either. The way I see it? They have nothing to lose. But to be fair, the Packers would probably disagree with me, along with many fans. Just as Green Bay fans saw this team ready to take the next step, I’m sure the feeling inside 1265 was similar, so the idea of "playing with house money" might not sit well with them. Still, can anyone really argue that the 15-2 Lions, having their best season in franchise history, face the same pressure as the seventh seed? I don’t think so.

My point is, if there’s any narrative that can take the pressure off the Packers, why not embrace it? They aren’t exactly playing their best football right now. People will overlook them, including some Packers fans who already consider them eliminated. After all, if that’s the case, what is there to lose, right? LaFleur's team can go out there and play fast and loose. 

The "Everybody is counting us out" narrative will only continue to grow, and it’s something that Green Bay could use to their advantage. At the same time, the Packers need to play like a contender and prove they can beat one. They still have time to change the "they can’t beat contenders" narrative, and that starts by eliminating their own self-inflicted wounds.

I was at Corinthians Arena for the Packers' season opener, and it was clear they were the better team on the field. Green Bay averaged 7.1 yards per play compared to the Eagles' 5.5, won the turnover battle 3-1, and outrushed Philadelphia 163 to 144 yards. Defensively, the Packers recorded seven tackles for loss to the Eagles' five.

The game wasn’t about Philadelphia outplaying Green Bay. It was about LaFleur’s team repeatedly getting in its own way. The Packers managed just one touchdown in five trips inside the 25-yard line, settling for field goals four times and leaving 19 points on the board in a game they lost by five. The Eagles are a great team, but Green Bay’s mistakes hurt them more than anything Philadelphia did. 

If Green Bay can avoid the costly errors that derailed them in Brazil, they’ll have a much better chance of upsetting the Eagles. Getting some key players back, including Evan Williams and Quay Walker, should also bolster the defense and improve their chances.

I’d give the same advice to Packers fans as I’m giving to the team: stay loose on Sunday. I know I’ll grab a beer, sit on my couch, and root for the Green & Gold. Obviously, it’s impossible to fully shut down playoff nerves, but in the back of my mind, I know this team has the capacity to beat the Eagles. If they play like the narrative suggests, then what could really go wrong? And hey, enjoy. This could be the last time we watch them play until August.

The Packers going on the road and beating every contender on their way to a Super Bowl appearance would be one of the most incredible redemption storylines of the year. It won’t be easy, yet if any team can pull it off, it’s the most successful franchise in NFL history.