The Packers ended their season with a thud as they fell to the 49ers 37-20 in the NFC Championship Game.
The Packers were bad in every phase of the game and trailed 27-0 at halftime. They finally got a touchdown only to give one up when the 49ers got the ball. Perhaps their final chance to make it a competitive game was when they trailed 17-0. They had a promising drive going but then a fumble on the snap ended up in a turnover. It just got worse after that. They got some touchdowns in the second half but it was too little too late.
The Packers went 13-3, won their division, and beat Seattle to become one of the final four teams playing. As it turned out, they were not a match for this 49er team. They were blown out in Santa Clara in the regular season and now in the postseason. In order to take it to the next level, they need to add more pieces on offense and defense. Aaron Rodgers is not getting any younger and he needs some proven receivers around him. The defense made some strides this season but they need to get better as well.
There are 12 teams that make the playoffs and 11 of them end their season with a loss. They have rebounded from two losing seasons to become one of the better teams in the league. It’s time to make another leap and become the best team in the NFL next season. They are fully capable of doing that but it will take a lot of work by the front office, the coaching staff, and the players.
The team has given us so many great wins and memorable moments this season and we definitely didn’t want to see it end like this. I had fun writing about the wins and providing my game previews. Thank you all out there for your support. I look for this team to be motivated by failure and to come out looking for something to prove next season. Perhaps these moments will belong to the Packers next year. Take care Packer fans!
The Green Bay Packers are one win away from the Super Bowl, but first they have to take care of the San Francisco 49ers on the road in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday night.
The Packers are playing in this game because of their 28-23 home victory over the Seattle Seahawks while the 49ers won 27-10 at home vs the Minnesota Vikings the day before the Packers won their game. As we all know, the Packers fell 37-8 to the 49ers on the road. The Packers haven’t lost since that meeting.
Jimmy Garoppolo has two Super Bowl rings as a backup to Tom Brady, but he would like nothing more than to write his own legacy. He has a lot of great offensive weapons around him like RB Raheem Mostert and Matt Breida. He also has receivers like Deebo Samuel and Emmanuel Sanders. Arguably none of them are as intimidating as TE George Kittle. The Packers need to find a way to keep the ball out of Kittle’s hands as much as possible and if the ball should land in his hands, they need to tackle him right away. They need to make Jimmy G as uncomfortable as possible back there. They got no takeaways in their previous meeting. I think they need at least a few to win this game.
The offense had their worst performance of the season in the first meeting between these two teams. Aaron Rodgers and the offense moved the ball very well at times vs Seattle. They will need to score touchdowns once again if they are to get past SF. It all starts at the line of scrimmage and the Packers were manhandled there on that Sunday night in late November. They need to give Rodgers time to throw. Aaron Jones and the running game must produce and the receivers need to catch whatever is thrown their way. Jimmy Graham made some plays vs Seattle, including the clinching first down, and it was a first down. Let’s put that to rest. If you are out there, get open and make a play.
The 49ers have won 5 Super Bowls but none since the 1994-95 season. That was one year before the Dallas Cowboys won their most recent Super Bowl. We enjoy making fun of the Cowboys and their fans about how they are stuck in the past. In that case, we should include the 49ers as well. The 49ers were once 5-0 in Super Bowls but that perfect record ended when they lost to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII, two years after the Packers won their most recent SB.
The Packers and 49ers have met in the playoffs 7 previous times. The Packers hold a 4-3 edge, including a win in the NFC Championship Game at SF in January of 1998. The 49ers were the last road team to win at Lambeau Field in the playoffs.
Matt LaFleur has a sibling coaching on the other team’s sidelines. His younger brother Mike is a passing game coordinator for the 49ers, so it means that one LaFleur will make it to the Super Bowl.
If any of you are wondering how the Packers could possibly win after losing in blowout fashion in the regular season, I thought of 2014 and the Seahawks. Seattle prevailed in a 36-16 rout of the Packers in the opening game of the season. The Packers went there in the playoffs and we all know that they fell short in one of the most heartbreaking losses in Packer history. The point is they had a chance to win a game after being blown out in the regular season. On Sunday, the score will be 0-0 during the opening kickoff. The only thing that matters is what happens during those 60 minutes on Sunday. Whoever is the better team on that day will be the winner and advance to Super Bowl LIV.
Since that infamous Sunday night in Santa Clara, it should have been obvious that the Packers were going to have to face the 49ers once again in order to advance to the Super Bowl this year. Not many people are giving the Packers much chance in this game and that is fine. I don’t care as long as the players and coaches believe. We all put our pants on one leg at a time. I think the Packers will be much better prepared and we will see a competitive game. This is for a spot in Super Bowl LIV. Let’s go out there and shock the world on Sunday.
The Green Bay Packers will play in the NFC Championship Game next week after their 28-23 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night.
In their first home playoff game since a win over the New York Giants in the wild-card round three seasons ago, the Packers drove down the field and scored a touchdown on their opening possession. They added two more scores in the second quarter to take a 21-3 halftime lead. Seattle scored a touchdown in the third quarter but the Packers answered with a touchdown of their own to pull ahead 28-10. The Seahawks scored twice to cut it to 28-23, but the Packers made a key defensive stop and Jimmy Graham caught a pass on third down to move the chains and seal the victory.
My thoughts on the game:
Davante Adams saw a lot of action as he had 8 receptions for 160 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the first one of the game. Aaron Jones got the drive started with a 23-yard run. He didn’t put up monster numbers on the stat sheet but he ran it in for 2 touchdowns. Jimmy Graham had 3 receptions, all resulting in first downs, including the one that clinched the game.
There was controversy early in the game. On Seattle’s first offensive play, Russell Wilson hit Jacob Hollister for a first down but he fumbled the ball as he was going down. The officials ruled him down by contact and Matt LaFleur challenged it right away. After a review, they ruled it a fumble but no clear recovery, even though Chandon Sullivan came away with the ball. That cost the Packers a timeout and a challenge. They stopped Seattle from getting any more first downs but it cost the Packers almost 50 yards of field position.
Despite the controversy, the Packers scored 21 points in the first half and led by 18 at halftime. That is quite a contrast to the slow starts they had in their final 2 games of the regular season. Seattle did a good job making adjustments and scored touchdowns on their first 3 possessions of the second half. Russell Wilson got it done with his arms and his legs.
The Packers really needed their defense to come up huge when Seattle had the ball with 4:54 left and trailing 28-23. After a first down, the Packers stopped Seattle with Preston Smith sacking Wilson on third down. After a punt, the Packers needed first downs and Davante Adams came up with a clutch 32-yard reception to move the chains. Despite the catch, the Packers still needed one more first down to seal the victory and Jimmy Graham got just enough to pick up the first down. It went to review and the first down was upheld. After some kneeldowns, the Packers and their fans were able to celebrate victory.
There are many arguments about whether a bye week helps or hurts a team more. I think the bye definitely helped the Packers in this game.
This was not the Super Bowl or even the NFC Championship Game, but the win still felt great, especially after what happened the last time these two teams met in the playoffs. Many Packer fans were waiting for another chance to play Seattle in the postseason.
This win guarantees the Packers will be in the NFC Championship Game and they will be traveling to Santa Clara once again to face the San Francisco 49ers, who advanced with their 27-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings. The last time the Packers lost a game, it was to the 49ers in the same venue they will play the title game next week. This is a different game and a different week though. I’m sure the Packers have learned many lessons since that game.
In the meantime, I think we should just celebrate this win for a few days. It always feels good to win and advance in the playoffs, and the further they advance, the sweeter their wins become.
It’s only going to get harder but the Packers are one of four teams remaining and they are two wins away from where they want to be. Unlike 28 other teams, they have a game to play next week. Great win Packers! Let’s keep it going!
The Green Bay Packers are back in the playoffs for the first time in three years and will play host to the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round on Sunday night.
The Packers finished the regular season with a 13-3 record and the #2 seed while the Seahawks finished 11-5 and the #5 seed, earning a trip to the second round of the playoffs after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 17-9 on the road last Sunday.
Russell Wilson has had an MVP-type season for the Seahawks. It will be a challenge to slow him down. Injuries have hit the running back position and they brought back Marshawn Lynch to help give them a boost at the position. Lynch and Travis Homer will probably share the load on the ground. They have some great receivers in Tyler Lockett and rookie DK Metcalf. Metcalf had a huge receiving day at Philly. Wilson only threw 5 interceptions all year but he did get sacked 48 times. The Packer defense needs to get in his face and make him uncomfortable back there.
Aaron Rodgers and the offense looked out of sync a lot of times during the regular season. They will need to be on their game during these playoffs. Aaron Jones will probably see a lot of carries and passes thrown his way. The offense is a lot better when he gets going. I think Davante Adams will make plays but they will need contributions from the other receivers. We cannot afford to have dropped passes and miscommunication out there. They need to capitalize on every scoring opportunity, and that means scoring touchdowns when they get into the red zone.
The Packers and Seahawks have met 3 times in the playoffs before, and the home team has won all 3 games. The Packers won 33-27 in overtime in January of 2004 when Al Harris intercepted Matt Hasselbeck for the winning touchdown. Hasselbeck famously said during the overtime coin toss, “We want the ball and we’re gonna score.” The Packers won 42-20 in January of 2008. That was the last victory for Brett Favre in a Packer uniform. The Seahawks won 28-22 in overtime in the NFC Championship Game in 2015. That is all I will mention about that game. You all know what happened.
The Packers went 7-1 in the regular season at home and the Seahawks are 8-1 on the road this season, including last Sunday’s win at Philadelphia. Something has to give.
It wasn’t always smooth sailing for the Packers in the regular season, but here they are in the Divisional Round of the playoffs after missing the playoffs entirely the previous 2 seasons. Matt LaFleur is the first Packer head coach to make it to the playoffs in his first year with the team. On the other side, Pete Carroll has been with the Seahawks since 2010, winning a Super Bowl and reaching another. He is no stranger when it comes to coaching this deep into January.
When it comes to the NFL Playoffs, expect the unexpected. Last week’s wild-card games are a great example of that. How many of you actually thought the Patriots and Saints would be gone by now? Had the Saints won, they would have been the Packers’ opponent in this game. The point I am trying to make is never count anything out.
If the Packers hold onto the ball and get some consistency on offense, they have a great chance of winning the game. If they get an effective pass rush and generate turnovers, they have a great chance. It’s one and done now. There is no next game. They got away with lapses on offense and defense throughout the regular season and still found a way to win 13 games. They need to be a lot better if they are to win on Sunday and beyond.
Packers Coach – Matt LaFleur
The Minnesota Vikings and the San Francisco 49ers played their game on Saturday. The 49ers won the game 27-10 so that means either the Packers or Seahawks will be traveling to Santa Clara for the NFC Championship Game. The Packers just need to focus on winning this game first.
We have been waiting for the Packers to get back into the playoffs and it will be a great atmosphere at Lambeau Field on Sunday. Whether you are at the game or elsewhere, let’s get in playoff mode ourselves and be ready to cheer the team to victory on Sunday. Let’s get it done and get one step closer to our ultimate goal, and you all know what that is. All gas, no brake!
The Green Bay Packers will have a first-round bye in the playoffs as the #2 seed after their 23-20 road win over the Detroit Lions.
The Packers got off to a rough start and trailed 17-3 at halftime. They outscored Detroit 20-3 in the second half, including the game-winner.
My thoughts about the game and the playoffs:
The offense struggled right from the start as Jimmy Graham was wide-open and dropped a pass that would have given them a nice chunk of yards. They trailed 14-0, the first Detroit score coming on a trick play where WR Danny Amendola hit a wide-open David Blough for a walk-in touchdown. Mason Crosby hit a field-goal with 20 seconds left in the half, but the Packers gave up a 40-yard run to Ty Johnson. Kicker Matt Prater nailed a 42-yard field goal three plays later. For a team that was trying to earn a first-round bye in the playoffs, coming out flat and sloppy like that on offense and defense is inexcusable.
They played better in the second half. The offense still struggled somewhat but Aaron Rodgers started to move the ball downfield. They scored 10 straight points before Prater nailed another field goal, a 56-yarder. That guy just doesn’t miss. The Packers scored the final 10 points of the game, including the game-winning field goal by Crosby on the final play of the game.
I don’t know what it is with these slow starts and terrible first halves lately. It looked like the Packers were the ones with only three wins on the season the way they played. The offense played a little bit better in the second half and the defense played a lot better. Of course, the Lions were missing WR Kenny Golladay, who exited the game with an apparent concussion. Their offense is nowhere near the same without Golladay in there.
A key defensive sequence came in the fourth quarter with the Packers trailing 20-13. The Lions were right on the outside of field-goal range and were looking to put more points on the board. Blake Martinez sacked Blough and on the next play, Blough’s deep pass was intercepted by Martinez, who had a nice runback and the Packers got 15 more yards on a personal foul by Detroit.
Following the interception, the Packers drove down the field and Allen Lazard had a nice catch for a touchdown to tie the score. The Packers got the ball back with 1:20 remaining in the game. They drove to their own 49, where Rodgers hit Aaron Jones with a short pass and Jones took off for a long gain to the Detroit 20-yard line. After a few runs and a kneeldown by Rodgers, Crosby came out and nailed the game-winning field goal, giving the Packers the win and a week off.
In an amazing stat, the Packers swept Detroit despite leading for a total of 0:00 in game time. Both field goals were on the final play of their respective games and the Packers did not lead at any point in either game prior to those winning field goals. I may be wrong but I think the last team to do it was the 1977 San Francisco 49ers in two games vs the New Orleans Saints.
So here is the NFC playoff picture:
San Francisco 49ers
Green Bay Packers
New Orleans Saints
Philadelphia Eagles
Seattle Seahawks
Minnesota Vikings
Next Sunday, the Saints host the Vikings and the Eagles host the Seahawks. The Packers get the highest seed remaining from those two games. If the Saints win, they come to Green Bay. If the Vikings upset the Saints, the winner between the Eagles and Seahawks will come to Green Bay. The Packers are scheduled to play their first game on Sunday January 12th at 5:40 pm Central Time.
The Packers have a bye and will host every team except the 49ers. It will not be an easy road through the playoffs by any means, but the Packers are 13-3 and have earned their playoff position. From what we witnessed in their game at Detroit, they have a lot to work on before their next game. They have extra time to practice and correct their mistakes. They will definitely need it.
You can call the win ugly, sloppy, or whatever, but they did win and that is much better than the alternative. A loss would have meant the Packers would play in the wild-card round and host the Vikings. Let the Saints deal with them instead. Drew Brees and the Saints will be tough enough should the Packers have to face them, but at least the game would be in Lambeau Field and not in the Superdome.
The regular season is now over. The real season begins and the Packers will be a part of it. They will have to be a lot better than what they have shown lately, but they have defied the odds so far this year. I will not put any limitations on how far they can go. Enjoy wild-card weekend Packer fans. We have a much-needed and much-deserved week off.
The 12-3 Green Bay Packers will be taking on the 3-11-1 Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit Michigan on Sunday in the final game of the 2019 regular season. The Lions have lost eight straight games heading into Sunday’s game while Green Bay has won four in a row. During that stretch, the offense for Green Bay has scored 23.7 PPG while only giving up 12.7 PPG on defense. That’s a very impressive turnaround in just a bit over a month’s time since they last lost (November 24th vs San Francisco). The offense for Detroit hasn’t been anything special since starting QB Matthew Stafford went on injured reserve on December 17th due to a back injury he suffered in week 9 against the Oakland Raiders. They had gone 3-4-1 with Stafford as the starter but since he’s been out, they’ve gone 0-6 and are onto their 4th string quarterback in rookie David Blough out of Purdue. Blough has been anything but impressive for them; completing just over 56% of his passes (82/145), for 862 yards, 4 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, and a passer rating of just 68.8.
Green Bay needs to focus on getting running back Aaron Jones involved in the offense. Jones, who leads the league in rushing touchdowns with 16, is looking to break the all-time franchise single-season touchdown mark in both rushing (19, Jim Taylor), and total touchdowns (20, Ahman Green). It’s more likely that he breaks Ahman Green’s record of 20 total touchdowns on Sunday (Jones is 1 behind with 19). He has been an absolute offensive weapon for Green Bay and an intricate part of their offensive attack as of late. This will need to remain a trend well into the postseason if Green Bay wants to have any shot at capturing its fifth super bowl title in franchise history & league-leading 14th world championship overall.
We have yet to see a complete game from Green Bay on both sides of the ball. This could very well be the game where it finally comes to fruition. Detroit’s pass defense is 28th in the league in passer rating allowed with a 102.3 rating. They also are dead last in the league in passing yards allowed with 282.6 PYPG allowed. Aaron Rodgers could find himself having a field day on Sunday. Defensively, Green Bay has allowed just 12.7 PPG over this 4-game stretch, all have been wins. With a win on Sunday, Green Bay would also end up sweeping the NFC North, a feat they haven’t accomplished since the 2011 season.
Overall, this game looks to be another win for Green Bay. Yes, I know it’s a divisional game and anything can happen but with how much is on the line for them, I don’t think they overlook Detroit here. A win combined with a San Francisco loss would not only secure a first-round bye for Green Bay but would also clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs for them as well. They know what’s at stake and will definitely be playing to win.
The Green Bay Packers have clinched the NFC North and now have their sights set on a first-round bye when they face the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday.
The Packers are 12-3 after their division-clinching win at Minnesota last Monday night while the Lions are 3-11-1 and are coming off a 27-17 road loss to the Denver Broncos. This is the second meeting between these two teams this season. In the first meeting, Mason Crosby kicked a game-winning field goal on the final play of the game to win it 23-22 on a Monday night at Lambeau Field.
The competitive portion of the Lions’ season might as well have ended when Matthew Stafford got injured. David Blough is the current starter. He showed flashes at times such as his Thanksgiving Day performance vs the Chicago Bears, even though his team ended up losing. This is not a very good offense without Stafford in the lineup. The Packers still need to do their part and get stops. They had an impressive performance defensively on Monday night and they need to carry that momentum into this game.
Aaron Rodgers and the offense were much better in the second half at Minnesota than in the first half. This is a chance for the offense to get it together and score a lot of points. Aaron Jones had a rough performance in the first meeting with the Lions. He has an opportunity to shine this time. I believe he will pick up where he left off last Monday night.
Detroit’s return man Jamal Agnew returned both a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown this season. He is a guy who can give the team a spark and change field position. The Packers need to watch out for him and kick the ball away from him if possible.
The Packers are in the driver’s seat for a first-round bye after their win over the Vikings. They can clinch it with a win over the Lions. If they win and the Seattle Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, the Packers will clinch the #1 seed in the NFC. A win would give them no worse than the #2 seed.
A win sounds simple enough. After all, the Packers won 4 in a row while the Lions have lost 8 straight and 11 of their last 12 games. They have looked dreadful in most of their losses too. I obviously don’t expect this team to just roll over though. These players have a lot of pride. They won’t make the playoffs but they have a chance to end their season with a win. They also have a chance to play spoiler and deny the Packers a first-round bye. There is something else we can’t forget. When the Packers won the first meeting on Monday Night Football, it was a controversial win. Despite what anyone thinks about how things went down in the fourth quarter of that game, the players will likely use that as motivation.
Anything can happen on any given day. In the past few weeks we saw both San Francisco and Seattle lose at home to teams who aren’t anywhere near the playoffs. The Packers need to be ready to play. After all they accomplished this season so far, a loss would be a miserable way to end the regular season. I don’t think that will happen though. I think the Packers will come out with a purpose and end up with a victory and a week off. If you are making the trip, enjoy watching the NFC North Champions play and cheer hard no matter who is in your section. Let’s get it done this Sunday Green Bay and get a much-needed week off.
Amid all of Green Bay’s success this season, there came two realizations. Number one, this team no longer needs to rely on Aaron Rodgers solely to win games, and it’s shown through 15 games. Secondly, because of GM Brian Gutekunst’s strategy in free agency in the offseason, it’s paid off huge. Green Bay as a team and organization struck gold with the signings of Za’Darius and Preston Smith as well as safety Adrian Amos. I wanted to focus mostly on the first Smith, Za’Darius.
He most definitely deserves defensive player of the year consideration. Why? Both his play on the field as well as his words in the locker room and in games speak for him. Through 15 games, he’s tallied 13.5 sacks (6th), 41 solo tackles, 18 TFLs (7th), and 35 QB hits (1st). All but one of those defensive statistics are top ten in the NFL. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers spoke about the addition of Smith to the defense and what it’s meant to him and the team at their media availability session after their MNF victory over the Vikings: “It’s the same stuff that we’ve been talking about. It’s an energy, it’s a force. He just has a great presence about him. When he talks, guys listen. He reminds me a lot of Julius [Peppers], who was so special to our success over the years. I think Z is a more willing talker, Julius was a man of not too many words but when he spoke, he carried a lot of weight. Z’s that type of player and getting him while he’s still really young in his career is pretty special. When you pair that with Preston [Smith], and Kenny [Clark], [with] those guys, it’s a formidable pass rush. I’m glad he’s on our team but he’s meant a lot more to our success in more ways than just his play on the field.”
This defense definitely is sparked by Za’Darius’ play on the field as well as his overall presence. Like Rodgers said, it’s a force. He does and says the exact right things which is what you want in a star player like Smith. Immense credit goes to general manager Brian Gutekunst as the additions of both the Smith brothers have made and continue to make an impact on the defense as a unit. This type of defensive play will pay huge dividends for them once January hits and the postseason begins. It’s time for the mass NFL media to stop glossing over it. Za’Darius Smith is a top 10 defensive player in the league and deserves DPOTY consideration, his play on the field proves that.
On Monday night football, the 11-3 and NFC North-leading Packers traveled to Minneapolis to take on the 10-4 Minnesota Vikings at U.S Bank stadium. This game had so many momentum shifts throughout it. The first half couldn’t have gone worse for Green Bay, as they coughed it up a total of three times. Aaron Rodgers fumbled once and was intercepted once. RB Aaron Jones also had a fumble lost as well. The second half was a much better story.
The defense, more specifically Za’Darius Smith, was absolutely on FIRE in the game. He tallied 3 sacks along with five tackles for loss. It was his 6th game with at least 7+ QB disruptions (sack, pressure, or hit), which is the most in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats. His five tackles for loss were also the most by any player this season, per NFL Research. He definitely deserves to be at the top of the list of candidates for defensive player of the year, if he isn’t already. He had come into the game with 10 sacks on the year. He now has 13.5 through 15 games.
Both the Smith brothers have lived up to the hype, GM Brian Gutekunst absolutely struck gold in free agency by picking them up. They as a duo have combined for 58 QB hits, 28 TFLs, 25.5 sacks, and 80 QB pressures. Aaron Rodgers spoke about Za’Darius after the game: “It’s the same stuff that we’ve been talking about. It’s an energy, it’s a force. He just has a great presence about him. When he talks, guys listen. He reminds me a lot of Julius [Peppers], who was so special to our success over the years. I think Z is a more willing talker, Julius was a man of not too many words but when he spoke, he carried a lot of weight. Z’s that type of player and getting him while he’s still really young in his career is pretty special. When you pair that with Preston [Smith], and Kenny [Clark], [with] those guys, it’s a formidable pass rush. I’m glad he’s on our team but he’s meant a lot more to our success in more ways than just his play on the field.” Rodgers realizes how important it is to have an impactful defensive player, and he now has two with both Preston and Za’Darius Smith on the edge.
Speaking of Aaron Rodgers, he played relatively well from a game management standpoint. In total, he went 26/40 (65%), for 216 yards, and an interception. He ended the night with a passer rating of 68.3, his third-lowest this season, and was sacked just three times. Yes, there were some throws that were simply just off for him, but generally speaking, he did what he had to do to get the job done and win the game in the end for Green Bay.
One more player on offense I want to highlight would be RB Aaron Jones, who extended his touchdown streak to 19 total after tallying 145 yards on 23 carries (good for a 6.7 YPC average), and two touchdowns, which breaks a tie with fellow RB Christian McCaffrey for the most in the NFL. The proverbial nail in the coffin for Minnesota came with 5:56 left in the fourth quarter, as Jones would find the endzone for the second time on the night with a 56 yard scamper down the sideline. If Jones isn’t up for offensive player of the year consideration, he definitely should be. He was absolutely electric offensively.
With this win, Green Bay not only clinches the NFC North, but they also will have an opportunity for the #1 overall seed, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a win in week 17 as well as a Seahawk win over San Francisco on Sunday night. Marshawn Lynch returning for the Seahawks should give the team the boost they’ve been looking for in the run game. It will be an exciting game to watch, especially if Green Bay can take care of business next Sunday against Detroit. Green Bay controls its own destiny heading into the final week of the season, if they focus on what they can control and hope for some help from Seattle, the NFC would then go through Lambeau Field in January — and no team wants that to happen. Let’s hope it does.
The Green Bay Packers are the 2019 NFC North Division Champions after their 23-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium.
The game did not start out well for the Packers as Aaron Jones fumbled on their first possession of the game, giving the Vikings a first-and-goal. They held them to a field goal though and eventually tied the game on a field goal of their own. Two more turnovers lead to a touchdown and a 10-3 deficit. They were able to chip away at the deficit and went into halftime trailing only 10-9. The Packers did all of the scoring in the second half and left Minnesota with a 23-10 win and division champions for the first time since the 2016 season.
Some thoughts about the victory:
Aaron Rodgers and the offense were not very good in the first half. Three turnovers led to all of the Vikings’ 10 points in the game. Rodgers even threw a rare interception. Even more rare was that the ball wasn’t tipped. I believe that was the first such interception since the Carolina game in 2017. Davante Adams would fumble later in the half.
Rodgers was off in the first half and receivers were dropping passes. I was frustrated when Adams missed on a pass to the endzone right before the half. Instead of leading at halftime, they trailed by a point.
The Vikings had only two first downs in the first half but lead 10-9. I didn’t think that was a good sign because I figured that they would make the proper adjustments and start moving the ball effectively in the second half. Thank goodness that wasn’t the case.
Jones and Adams fumbled but they ended up having huge games. Jones had over 100 yards rushing and Adams had over 100 yards receiving. They both hit those numbers in the first meeting with the Vikings in September.
Kirk Cousins had a killer turnover in the third quarter when he threw deep but got intercepted by Kevin King. That was King’s second interception vs Cousins this season. The one he had back in September was late in the game and the Packers were able to hold them off.
Going into this game, the Packers were 0-3 at US Bank Stadium and Kirk Cousins was 0-8 as a starter on Monday Night Football. Something had to give. I’m glad it was Cousins and his record that was able to continue. It’s the Packers’ first season sweep of the Vikings since 2014.
The Packers do have a defense and they played their hearts out in this game. Kenny Clark seems to get better every week. The real star in this one though is Za’Darius Smith, who had 3.5 sacks and some huge tackles on the opposing running backs. The Vikings had only seven first downs in this game. You have to go back to 1971 when the offense was this inept at home.
I know the Vikings played without Dalvin Cook but they still had some playmakers on offense and Kirk Cousins has been a hot quarterback since their 2-2 start to the season. The defense had their hands full and they answered the challenge. The Packers can win in the playoffs with this defense. I would like to see their offense be a little more consistent. If that happens, this team will be very hard to beat.
So this win means that the Packers have won their division and will host at least one playoff game in January. A win vs the Detroit Lions on the road next week would mean that the Packers would have a first-round bye at the very least. A win next week and a win by the Seattle Seahawks vs the San Francisco 49ers would give the Packers the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. For those of you who question whether the bye helps or hurts a team more, consider a few things. A bye would mean the Packers get a week off instead of having to play another game just to make it to the next round. A bye would mean they would host a game in the second round. A team like the New Orleans Saints with Drew Brees is tough enough. Would you rather face them in Lambeau Field or go down to the Superdome in that madhouse? I think the answer is obvious.
What about the job that Matt LaFleur has done? This team has missed the playoffs the previous two seasons and he comes in and not only does he make the playoffs, which is something that no previous Packer head coach has done in their first season with the team, but they win a division title and have a great shot at one of the top two seeds in the NFC. I don’t know if he will win Coach of the Year, but he certainly is mine no matter what the voters say.
Even their t-shirts say, “The North is Not Enough.” That illustrates perfectly what the ultimate goal is in Green Bay. A division title is certainly nothing to sneeze at, but we are after much more than just finishing first in our division.
The Packers have a short time to enjoy this win because there is another game to be played on Sunday. They finish their regular season in Detroit and look to get a victory and wrap up a first-round bye. I wish all of you and your loved ones great joy, peace, and blessings during this glorious time of year. Have a great week and enjoy this win. The Packers are division champions! That’s music to my ears!
