After three consecutive losses, the Green Bay Packers can’t win the NFC North anymore — and now the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings all have won the Division since the Packers did it for the last time in 2021. However, the team has already clinched a playoff spot, so the Week 18 game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday is fairly meaningless.

Despite the lack of playoff or seeding implications, the Packers still have some things to play for — both as a team and because of individual achievements.

“I don’t think anybody was relieved that we made the playoffs,” head coach Matt LaFleur said after the 41-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. “We still had a ton to play for. It was the same routine in regards to how we went about our process and how we prepared for the game. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t good enough. That’s the bottom line.”

So let’s discuss what’s at stake against the Vikings next weekend.

Health

Injury reports have been a nightmare for the Packers. On Saturday, five players were ruled out during the game, some of them with serious injuries — safety Zayne Anderson (ankle), defensive tackle Jordon Riley (Achilles), cornerback Nate Hobbs (knee), wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (concussion), and cornerback Kamal Hadden (ankle). LaFleur didn’t make any final call on if starters will play.

“I don’t want to speak too soon on that,” LaFleur said in regards to quarterback Jordan Love. “We just want to get him through the protocol, and then we’ll have a decision to make.”

Especially after what happened in Week 18 last year, with Love hurting his elbow and Christian Watson tearing his ACL, resting key players is probably the smartest approach — whether that means starting Malik Willis or Clayton Tune at quarterback, that remains to be seen.

Confidence

Whether the Packers sit some starters or not, the big collective goal beyond avoiding more injuries is to get some good vibes entering the postseason. Last year, the Packers lost their final two regular season games, to the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears.

So while they made the postseason anyway, the negative momentum potentially affected how the team performed against the Philadelphia Eagles in the playoffs. If the Packers lose to the Vikings next weekend, that would mean getting to the playoffs coming off a wild four-game losing streak.

Reachable incentives

Individually, some players can still earn extra money. Beyond per-game bonuses, cornerback Keisean Nixon has one interception and gets a $50k bonus with one more — he has incentives up to $150k tied to a four-interception season, but that’s not realistic at this point.

Possible chance for upcoming free agents

The Packers have some players getting closer to free agency, and that includes backup quarterback Malik Willis. Left tackle Rasheed Walker, interior offensive lineman Sean Rhyan, wide receiver Romeo Doubs, and linebacker Quay Walker, among others, can make a good impression before their final playoff run before hitting the market.