As the Green Bay Packers 2025 season is almost here, I wanted to continue to look back at the most important games in franchise history from the first half of the 21st century. This week, I will give my list of my top 10 playoff games since 2000.

My criteria: 1. The round the game took place , 2. How memorable was the game, 3. How competitive was the game, 4. Did the Packers win the game (I did not pick any losses).

Top 10 Packers playoff games since 2000

10. 2023 NFC Wild Card – at Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay’s most recent playoff win kicks off my list. The Packers were 9-8 going into the game, against the 12-5, heavily favored Dallas Cowboys. In Jordan Love’s first career start, the Packers immediately showed they were ripe for the big upset. Aaron Jones finished off two early drives with short touchdown runs and by halftime the score was 27-0 after a Dontayvion Wicks touchdown catch and a Darnell Savage pick six. The Packers picked up where they left off in the second half as Jones had his third touchdown run and Love had two more touchdown passes, a 38-yarder to Luke Musgrave and a 3-yarder to Romeo Doubs. The Packers improved to 6-0 in all-time games at AT&T Stadium.

When Jordan Love destroyed the Cowboys in the playoffs🔥 pic.twitter.com/SEGFRRHFFr

— VintageAaronRodgers (@VentageArod) March 14, 2025

9. 2020 NFC Divisional Playoff – LA Rams

The Packers have had homefield advantage three times since the turn of the century and the one victory in the divisional round was a 32-18 victory over the LA Rams. Aaron Rodgers had one of the best playoff performances of his career with 296 yards and two touchdown passes and another touchdown on the ground. Davante Adams had 9 catches for 66 yards and a touchdown reception in his matchup with Rams corner Jalen Ramsey. The win for the 13-3 Packers set up the franchise’s first home NFC Championship game since 2007.

When Aaron DESTROYED LA in the Divisional #Packers pic.twitter.com/pBXtoWYaVa

— BGPG (@BleedGreenPGold) June 17, 2025

8. 2007 NFC Divisional Playoff – Seattle Seahawks

A game remembered for being played in a snowstorm for the final three quarters, it started slow as the Packers fell behind 14-0 to the Seahawks. However, led by Ryan Grant’s career day, the Packers won in a landslide, 42-20, advancing to their first NFC Championship game in 10 years. Grant had a playoff, franchise-record 201 yards rushing and three touchdowns. In Brett Favre’s last win as the Packers’ starting quarterback he had three touchdown passes, including two to Greg Jennings. It would also be the last time Mike Holmgren would coach at Lambeau Field.

Do you remember this snowy game at Lambeau? ❄️🧀

The 2007 #Packers beat the Seahawks to advance to the NFC Championship game. #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/VaQEXMt5Dd

— ESPN Milwaukee (@ESPNMilwaukee) December 13, 2024

7. 2003 NFC Wild Card – Seattle Seahawks

Four years prior to the 2007 playoff matchup was the 2003 overtime thriller against the Seahawks. Al Harris’ 52-yard interception return was the first pick six to end a playoff game in NFL history. The Packers continue their fairytale run with a 33-27 overtime win, advancing to the divisional playoffs for the second time in three years. Sadly, it would be the Packers only overtime, playoff win of the century, with a 1-5 record in overtime games. Ahman Green had a tremendous game on the ground against his former team and head coach. He had his lone multi-touchdown playoff game with two fourth-quarter touchdown runs. Favre had his last 300 playoff game for the Packers with 319 yards and one touchdown.

Today in 2004: Al Harris' 52-yard pick-six sends Packers to 33-27 Wild Card win over Seahawks, marking the first NFL postseason overtime game to end on a defensive score.

- Brett Favre: 26/38, 319 yds, 1 TD
- Javon Walker: 5 rec, 111 yds
- Ahman Green: 110 total yds, 2 TDs pic.twitter.com/r6eJtgMtjx

— Packers History (@HistoricPackers) January 4, 2024

6. 2014 NFC Divisional Playoff – Dallas Cowboys

The first of three playoff meetings in a 10-year span with the rival Dallas Cowboys came in 2014. The Packers broke its four-game playoff-losing streak to the Cowboys with a 26-21 win, advancing to their first NFC Championship game since 2010. The game’s biggest playoff came with under 5 minutes left, when on 4th down, Tony Romo and Dez Bryant’s potential catch and run was ruled an incompletion after a replay review. What is sometimes forgotten is how good Aaron Rodgers played, despite an injured right calf. Rodgers had 316 yards passing and three touchdown passes, as the Packers overcame a 21-10 third-quarter deficit. Rookie wide receiver Davante Adams gave a preview of how great a player he would become, as he had 117 yards, the first of his four 100-yard receiving playoff performances.

10 Years Ago Today: Aaron Rodgers would go 24/35 in the air with 3 touchdowns and 316 yards to knock off the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round.

January 11th, 2015, Packers win 26-21 pic.twitter.com/fP8aozmaMc

— VintageAaronRodgers (@VentageArod) January 11, 2025

5. 2016 NFC Divisional Playoff – at Dallas Cowboys

This would finish as a legacy for both quarterback Aaron Rodgers and kicker Mason Crosby. After leading 21-3 in the second quarter, the Packers held on to a 34-31 win after Crosby made the second of his two long field goals in the game's final minutes. Rodgers had arguably the second biggest playoff win of his career, which came in the same stadium as his biggest career win (still to come on the list). Rodgers finished with 356 yards passing and threw two touchdown passes. His fourth-quarter miracle throw to Jared Cook on the sideline set up Crosby’s game-winning 51-yard field goal.

Throwback to the last time the Packers & Cowboys met in the playoffs, featuring an all-time catch by Jared Cook 🤯

Don't miss Packers-Cowboys, Wild Card edition, this Sunday at 4:30 PM ET on FOX pic.twitter.com/G9P9OkjVDi

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 11, 2024

4. 2010 NFC Wild Card – at Philadelphia Eagles

This is the highest ranked wild card win on my list and for obvious reasons. The 21-16 win over the Philadelphia Eagles launched the Packers on their playoff run in 2010, as well as exercised some demons from their heart-breaking loss in the 2003 playoffs in Philadelphia. It was the first playoff win of Aaron Rodgers’ career, as he finished with three touchdowns, throwing the three touchdowns to Tom Crabtree, James Jones and Brandon Jackson. The other heroes of the game were James Starks, Desmond Bishop and Tramon Williams. Starks set a team rookie rushing record with 123 yards. Bishop had a potentially game-saving tackle on his former Cal teammate Desean Jackson on his fourth-quarter catch-and-run. Williams sealed the win with his first of three playoff interceptions during the 2010 run.

2011: Aaron Rodgers vs. Michael Vick in the playoffs 👀

📺 Watch Eagles vs. Packers on NFL Game Pass on DAZNpic.twitter.com/Od7fe9oEwB

— NFL on DAZN (@NFLonDAZN) January 10, 2025

3. 2010 NFC Divisional Playoff – at Atlanta Falcons

It was a win where Packers fans truly believed its team could win Super Bowl XLV. A 48-21 demolition of the NFC’s No. 1 seeded Atlanta Falcons, put the Packers on the doorstep of its first Super Bowl appearance since 1996. Aaron Rodgers had the best game of his career, throwing three touchdown passes, running for another and finishing with 366 yards on a remarkable 31 of 36 passing. Rodgers had touchdown passes to Jordy Nelson, James Jones and John Kuhn.

And despite Rodgers’ amazing performance, the most important play of the game and possibly the entire 2010 Super Bowl run was Tramon Williams’ 70-yard interception return on the final play of the 2nd quarter. Williams had another interception earlier in the second quarter, but it was this catch and return, which put the Packers up 28-14. It was a gut-punch to the Falcons who were driving for a possible field goal and going down just 21-17 at halftime. Instead, a sack by Clay Matthews and then the play by Williams put the Falcons in a hole they could not climb out of. The 48 points would be matched in 2023 as the most points in a playoff game in franchise history, both coming on the road.

Week 2: Atlanta Falcons
"Tramon Williams! And he may go!"#GoPackGo #Packers pic.twitter.com/A4LGprUKOX

— /jəst-ən/ 🧀 ⁶𓅓 (@_jluko) September 11, 2023

2. 2010 NFC Championship – at Chicago Bears

It would be the Packers only NFC Championship win of the century, a 21-14 win over the Chicago Bears in the 2010 NFC Championship Game. Just like its 2013 regular-season win in Chicago, it was arguably Green Bay’s biggest win the last 25 years that did not come in a Super Bowl. The Packers had this great win over its archrival, the Chicago Bears, which made the win doubly sweet. Aaron Rodgers and James Starks had early touchdown runs to put the Packers up 14-0 at halftime. The defense finished off the win thanks to Sam Shields’ two interceptions and the “dagger,” which came from B.J. Raji on his 18-yard interception return which came midway through the 4th quarter.

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14 Years Ago Today: Aaron Rodgers and the Packers would go on to defeat the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game. Rodgers did what he had to do and the defense came up big.

Packers win 21-14, January 23rd, 2011. pic.twitter.com/8uFStye7w4

— VintageAaronRodgers (@VentageArod) January 23, 2025

1. Super Bowl XLV – vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

A clear No. 1 on the list of best playoff games in the past 25 years. The Packers returned to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1997, this time knocking off the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25, in a matchup of two of the most storied franchises in NFL history. Just like their three previous playoff wins, the Packers jumped out to be big lead on the Steelers. The Packers led by scores of 14-3, 28-14, 14-0 and now 21-3 at halftime during the 2010 playoff run. In this game, Aaron Rodgers had first half touchdown passes to Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings. The two touchdown passes sandwiched Nick Collins’ 37-yard interception return in the second quarter which gave the Packers their early, double-digit lead.

It was the fourth time the Lombardi Trophy was awarded to Vince Lombardi's former team. #OTD in 2011, the @Packers defeated the Steelers, 31-25, in Super Bowl XLV. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/QVUblwMYwB

— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) February 6, 2025

Just like the previous three playoff wins, the defense made several big plays to turn momentum when it was needed. In this game it was the fumble recovery by Desmond Bishop on the first play of the 4th quarter. After cutting the score to 21-17, the Steelers were driving but a Ryan Pickett and Clay Matthews hit on Steelers’ running back Rashard Mendenhell popped the ball out and it was scooped up by Bishop. The Packers would score on the ensuing drive, culminating in Jennings’ second touchdown catch of the game, to the put the Packers ahead 28-17. After a Steelers touchdown and two-point conversion, the Packers desperately needed big play on its next drive, and they got it with a Rodgers to Jennings pass on 3rddown and 10. In the biggest connection of their careers, the pass play set up Mason Crosby’s 23-yard field goal, giving the Packers a six-point lead which the defense would hold onto on the Steelers’ final drive.

Rodgers had an MVP performance, finishing the game with 304 yards and three touchdowns. Nelson had a break-out performance, totaling the best postseason game of his career with 9 catches for 140 yards and a touchdown. The defense did its part with three takeaways. The win was the fourth Super Bowl for the franchise, the first in 14 years, dating back to the 1996 Super Bowl win. It was the first in AT&T Stadium in Dallas, where the Packers are 6-0 all-time in games (5-0 against the Cowboys).

It was the fourth time the Lombardi Trophy was awarded to Vince Lombardi's former team.#OTD in 2011, the @packers defeated the Steelers, 31-25, in Super Bowl XLV.

📹: @NFL pic.twitter.com/aDfL1wvqto

— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) February 6, 2024

Honorable Mention:

• 2001 home to 49ers, win 25-15
• 2012 home to Vikings, win 24-10
• 2015 at Redskins, win 35-18
• 2016 home to NY Giants, win 38-13
• 2019 home to Seahawks, win 28-23