GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Win, then watch. And root like crazy for the New York Giants. That's all the Green Bay Packers can do Sunday.

"I don't think any of us going into the last game thought it would be for 8-8 and vaguely a chance for the playoffs," said quarterback Brett Favre.

But that's how this season of frustration has evolved for the Packers, and the playoffs are no longer solely in their control.

Staggered by a three-game losing streak, they teeter on missing the postseason for the first time since 1992, then-coach Mike Holmgren's first season. The six-year run has included two trips to the Super Bowl and one world championship.

Now the Packers must not only beat another struggling team, the Arizona Cardinals, who are already out of contention, but then huddle to watch the Giants-Cowboys game, which will start about when their game ends.

"We can't control what other people do, but that's been the case all year," receiver Antonio Freeman said. "We haven't won the games we've needed to. We've been given opportunity after opportunity all year and we just haven't cashed in."

Now the Packers have to take care of the Cardinals in Lambeau Field, where they are just 4-3 this year, and then rush to the TV sets.

"Because we do play first, we have to assume they (the Cowboys) will lose," Packers safety LeRoy Butler said. "I hate assuming that, but we dug ourselves in a hole. We have to play this game with the same desire as if we're already in."

A Dallas victory sends the Cowboys to the playoffs at 8-8 regardless of what the Packers do. Green Bay needs to beat Arizona and have the Giants win over the Cowboys.

Then the Packers could claim the NFC's final postseason spot over New York and Carolina with most net points in conference games. Green Bay enters Sunday's game with an 18-point edge over the Panthers, 56 over the Giants. Carolina faces New Orleans on Sunday.

"It'd be nice to get in. Whether we deserve it or not, it doesn't matter," said Favre, who battled a thumb injury most of the season that has limited his effectiveness. The three-time MVP has 20 interceptions and 19 touchdown passes.

"We'll see what happens. I don't have my bags packed yet. Some might, but I don't," he said.

The Cardinals have been hobbled by injuries to their defensive line, and their slow-starting offense hasn't scored a first-quarter touchdown this season.

And now they must cope with a dose of cold weather in their first meeting with the Packers since 1990.

Arizona, which made the playoffs last season for the first time since 1982, has also lost three straight after a four-game winning streak pulled the Cards to 6-6.

Coach Vince Tobin wants a contract extension once the season is over.

"The Cardinals have to sit down and decide what direction are we going," Tobin said. "Are the Cardinals moving in the direction we want to go with me at the helm? If that's so, then we'll work it out. If they think not, then I'm sure we'll work it out the other way."

ARIZONA Season schedule and results

GREEN BAY Season schedule and results

September 12 @Philadelphia W 25-24 September 19 @Miami L 16-19 September 27 San Francisco L 10-24 October 3 @Dallas L 7-35 October 10 NY Giants W 14-3 October 17 Washington L 10-24 October 31 New England L 3-27 November 7 @NY Jets L 7-12 November 14 Detroit W 23-19 November 21 Dallas W 13-9 November 28 @NY Giants W 34-24 December 5 Philadelphia W 21-17 December 12 @Washington L 3-28 December 19 Buffalo L 21-31 December 26 @Atlanta L 14-37 January 2 @Green Bay 1:00pm ET

September 12 Oakland W 28-24 September 19 @Detroit L 15-23 September 26 Minnesota W 23-20 October 10 Tampa Bay W 26-23 October 17 @Denver L 10-31 October 24 @San Diego W 31-3 November 1 Seattle L 7-27 November 7 Chicago L 13-14 November 14 @Dallas L 13-27 November 21 Detroit W 26-17 November 29 @San Francisco W 20-3 December 5 @Chicago W 35-19 December 12 Carolina L 31-33 December 20 @Minnesota L 20-24 December 26 @Tampa Bay L 10-29 January 2 Arizona 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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