Not gonna lie, I shuffled into Christmas thinking that, with all the injuries and late-game failures of late, my Green Bay Packers’ playoff hopes were in serious jeopardy. Sometimes, things just don’t work out the way you want them to, even during the magical season of Christmas.

And even though we went into the holiday break knowing that a Detroit Lions loss to the Minnesota Vikings would elbow Green Bay into at least a Wildcard seed, did anyone really believe a Vikings team led by third-string quarterback Max Brosmer would beat the recent bullies of the NFC North? I sure as heck didn’t.

And then the Spirit of Christmas came down from wherever the Spirit of Christmas hangs out and said, “Let it be so.” Brosmer led the Vikes and their co-opted “Skol” chant with a stellar line of 51 passing yards – and an impressive 3 net – with a mere seven sacks taken against a defense that once was feared. Brosmer didn’t even need to throw a touchdown pass, so fearsome was he in the defeat of the toothless Lions.

Per ESPN, the Vikings became just the third team in the past 40 seasons to finish with fewer than 10 net passing yards in a victory. That’s impressive. I guess.

OK, enough of the sarcasm. The Lions were awful. More than that, their quarterback, once revered, had what might have been the worst game of his career, with two interceptions and three lost fumbles after being assaulted all afternoon by a surprisingly dominant Vikings defense. Detroit's offensive line was, in a word, terrible. Minnesota is far from playoff contention, but the Vikes’ D was relentless all day in exposing the once-fearsome Lions offense as merely mediocre. At least for one afternoon.

How can one explain it? There’s only one way: It was a rare, mystical gift to the Green Bay Packers on Christmas – an unlikely gift that replaced a lump of stocking coal that once looked like injuries to both Jordan Love and Malik Willis, not to mention the lost seasons of Micah Parsons, Tucker Kraft and more.

It was easy to stumble into the long Christmas weekend wondering if the Packers could beat the Baltimore Ravens, even if Tyler Huntley was under center (remember that Huntley nearly beat Green Bay in a 31-30 nailbiter in 2021). And to be honest, watching the Vikings on Christmas day, I had to wonder just how much good fortune the Packers’ offensive line might have against that Minnesota defensive front, given what I was watching unfold as I nibbled on my last Christmas cookie and pondering what fate might be crawling out of the chimney hole.

I mean, what if Love doesn’t clear concussion protocol by Saturday? What if Willis can’t play after his shoulder injury just days ago? The reports on both have been positive, but if Clayton Tune is to be forced into action, what chance might Green Bay have against the Ravens, even without Lamar Jackson? And it’s not like any of those three could tackle Derrick Henry, even if they did line up on defense.

No, I did not expect a holiday miracle. And of all Christmas spirits (of which I generally prefer bourbon), it was the Vikings, the despised rival Minnesota-freaking-Vikings, with their stolen celebration and stupid horn, who delivered the blow in not only nudging the Packers into the playoffs, but in an unlikely win over a hapless-looking Lions team. It was a gift wrapped with a big green and gold bow.

And on top of that, former Packers fan favorite Aaron Jones scored the first touchdown in the affair to add an extra twist of the knife into the Lions’ annoying hubris. And just a week earlier, as we know, a guy who used to play in Green Bay by the name of Aaron Rodgers took down the Lions in his new black and gold duds to help his former team’s cause. I mean, could there there a better holiday movie script already written for some eager young screenwriter? (Maybe I should try to find an agent.)

No, Green Bay’s season has not been perfect, and two mental collapses in two straight weeks sure doesn’t instill confidence, but the Packers are in the playoffs. That alone means that, at least for now, it’s a wonderful life – a Christmas story for which we can at least temporarily be thankful.

Now, if the Packers can get a pair of wins against the Ravens and the aforementioned Vikings – who no doubt will want to play as playoff-seeding spoilers if they possibly can – who knows? Maybe the holidays will give way to a miracle on Lombardi Avenue and another NFC North title.