The Green Bay Packers were ruled out by many as playoff contenders after a 4-8 start, and NFL history suggests doing so wasn’t at all unreasonable.
With a win Sunday against the Detroit Lions, the Packers can become just the second team to overcome a 4-8 start and make the playoffs and just the third team to win four or fewer games through 12 games and make the playoffs.
The 2004 San Diego Chargers started 4-8, rattled off four-straight wins to get to 8-8 and snuck into the playoffs as the AFC West champion.
The 2014 Carolina Panthers started 3-7-1 but finished 8-9-1 – thanks, once again, to a four-game win streak to end the year – and got into the postseason as the NFC South champion.