By Chris Havel Special to EVENT USA GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers scored 14 first-quarter points on a kick return and an interception return to set the tone. Green Bay’s defense did the rest in an old-fashioned 41-17 blowout of the Vikings on a most delightful New Year’s Day at Lambeau Field. All of that makes possible one more fantastic return: A Packers’ return to the playoffs for a fourth straight season by beating Detroit (8-8) on Sunday in Green Bay. No game times were set as of this writing, but the Packers-Lions game will be played on Sunday. The notion of the Packers (8-8) advancing to the postseason was laughable at 3-7, but after wins in five of six – including four straight – Green Bay finally, amazingly, controls its own destiny. “Talk about a play-in game,” he said. “The stakes are going to be high.” “You can sit there and preach whatever you want, but they’ve got to buy into it and that’s a credit to the guys in our locker room,” he said. “And I’ve always said it and I think (GM Brian Gutekunst) and his staff do such a great job of bringing in high character people that in times of adversity you find out what you really have, not only from our coaches, our players, but really everybody in the building. And I think everybody stuck together. I never felt at one point there was any finger-pointing. So that is a credit to everybody in our organization.” The Packers knew before Sunday’s kickoff that they would control their fate with a win, thanks to Cleveland’s 24-10 victory over Washington. Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson threw for three touchdowns despite being sacked five times. It won’t earn Watson a “key to the city” ala the Cardinals’ Nate Poole back in the day, but it’s still appreciated. Meantime, the Packers’ defense rang in the New Year by ringing Kirk Cousins’ bell … repeatedly. There was so much banging and clanging of the Vikings’ quarterback that Quasimodo would’ve been proud. Cousins committed four turnovers, all of which led to Packers’ points. After the teams exchanged possessions at the outset, the Vikings blocked a Pat O’Donnell punt and recovered it at Green Bay’s 1-yard line. After three plays that totaled minus-1 yards, they settled for the field goal. Fueled by a Packers’ defense playing its best football of the season, the Vikings’ next seven possessions were a study in futility: Punt, “pick six,” missed FG, interception, missed FG, fumble and interception. Kenny Clark posted a third-quarter hat trick when he sacked Cousins to force and then recover his fumble. That led to A.J. Dillon’s 2-yard touchdown run to make it 34-3. Darnell Savage, Adrian Amos and Rudy Ford recorded the interceptions. Savage’s was the most spectacular of the trifecta. He gathered in a pass intended for T.J. Hockenson that was deflected by Rasul Douglas, picked up a few blocks and weaved 75 yards for the score. It went from Vikings 3-0 to Packers 14-3 in the blink of an eye. Amos’ second-quarter interception set up Aaron Rodgers’ 24-yard touchdown pass to Robert Tonyan. The Packers’ tight end ran a beautiful corner route and Rodgers hit him in stride to make it 24-3. Ford’s fourth-quarter pick set up Rodgers’ 2-yard touchdown run in which he waltzed into the end zone untouched. The Vikings tacked on two meaningless touchdowns and Jordan Love completed two meaningless passes to wind down the thrilling affair. Clearly, Green Bay’s defense led the charge. “I think this is the way they expected to play for much of the season,” Rodgers said of the defense. “It hasn’t been the way that they’ve played the entire time, but when you’re playing ball in December and January, the most important thing when you’re talking playoffs … you want to be playing the right way and you want to be healthy. “And if you look at our squad, outside of Rashan Gary, we’re pretty healthy and we’re playing the right way.” Rodgers wasn’t brilliant but he didn’t have to be. He completed 15 of 24 passes for 159 yards and the TD to Tonyan. He was sacked just once, didn’t commit a turnover and posted a respectable 95.7 passer rating. Aaron Jones keyed the offense with 111 yards rushing on 14 carries for a robust 7.9 average per carry. Dillon added 41 yards on 12 carries. The Packers played clean football with no turnovers and only three penalties for 30 yards. They converted seven of 12 third-down tries (58.3 percent) and spread the football around. Allen Lazard led the way with five catches for 59 yards. Tonyan had three for 52, including the 24-yard TD grab, and Romeo Doubs (three) and Randall Cobb (two) combined on five catches for 40 yards. Christian Watson played sparingly and had one catch for 11 yards. But on this day, with the Packers’ defense playing dominant football, Green Bay didn’t need the big-play dynamic to notch the win. Jaire Alexander and the secondary shadowed Justin Jefferson no matter which way he turned. The Vikings’ splendid receiver finished with one catch for 15 yards. Adam Thielen had one catch for 16 yards. And Cousins outrushed Dalvin Cook, 37-27, on six fewer carries. It was Vikings ugly at its finest. For the Packers, it looked the way most observers thought it would in what has been a stressful yet somehow atisfying season. It certainly was filled with the most adversity, but finally the pieces are falling into place. The offensive line has had a healthy David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins on the left side to go with the versatile Zach Tom. The rookie from Wake Forest played well after replacing Yosh Nijman (shoulder) at right tackle in the first half. On defense it’s been Clark, De’Vondre Campbell and Alexander leading the way, with strong performances from Preston Smith and the rest. It has produced four straight wins with a chance for much more. On Sunday, the fact that offense, defense and special teams were all feeding off each other makes Green Bay a dangerous opponent. “This is probably the first game all season we’ve played complementary football in all three phases,” Rodgers said. “The way our defense played, forcing turnovers. Offensively, not a huge game stat-wise but we did a good job holding onto the football and then running the ball effectively. And then Keisean, what can you say?” LaFleur seconded that notion. “Every phase definitely made an impact,” he said. Now it’s Lions-Packers to see who makes the playoffs. Buckle up. It’s going to be a wild ride in the regular-season finale.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur appreciates the opportunity.
LaFleur said he respects his players for staying with it in tough times.
That made it 41-3.
This might be LaFleur’s best coaching job in four seasons.
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"Kudos to Amy for making sure that the tickets to the tailgate party were waiting for me at the reception desk! Your personal phone call and text messages went above and beyond customer satisfaction! I can't wait for the 2024 season, rest assured that my go-to Packer's game supplier will be Event USA for a long time.
-Jean-Pierre Mallette, Montréal, Canada
"Thank you so much Cathy, greatly appreciate your help.
As always, EventUSA has been awesome to deal with in booking the Lodge Kohler package for the Tampa Bay Game,
particularly for me traveling from Sydney, Australia, it takes the stress out of the booking process. "
-Kayle
"Good Morning, Nicole - Everything you did turned out great. The seats were great. Access to the air conditioned club lounge was great. Lots of Packers fans in the club lounge and overall at the stadium. The tailgate party at the fancy restaurant in the hotel was fabulous. The servers just kept on bringing out different sliders and desserts. Good thing that I got in a 30-minute run along the river in the morning. So, thank you! You may be speaking with me in November if I can work out getting up to Green Bay for a game. It's been too long since my last time.
One of the best aspects of this weekend was interacting with so many people from Wisconsin and learning their personal stories of things Packers. And we even met a couple from St. Petersburg, Florida (my home county) and were able to tell them about the Varsity Club tavern and Packers bar in Clearwater where Mark Murphy's mother is in attendance -- very nice lady whose retirement home is in Clearwater, which borders my little city of Dunedin. Pre-COVID, I always went to the Varsity when the Packers games weren't televised locally -- lots of Wisconsin natives there, too + they serve brats and sauerkraut during Packers games. I'm glad that you are working for Event USA.
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-- Martin Lawyer, Dunedin, Florida
"Dennis - I was blessed to join Amy and some of your customers at the Morton's tailgate as well as after the game. She does an amazing job for you. Every single customer I met praised Event USA for being able to arrange the hotel and tickets and fabulous tailgate party in such a quick time. Having been to some great tour tailgate parties in Jacksonville and Kansas City and old San Francisco, a lot can be said of the long-term benefit of having really great tailgate parties. Morton's was probably one of the best - amazing food, patio sitting on the riverfront, walk to stadium, open bar!!! It was first class fun!!!"
-Matt
"Hi Amy-
Just wanted to say thank you for making Jacksonville happen! We had a wonderful time and looking forward to more Packers games with Event USA in the future!
Even though the game was not what we expected- we are packers fans for life-lol!
Go pack go!!"
-Julie Mastrianni
"I want to thank Event USA and in particular Amy Flores for the Jacksonville trip. We have used you before and always were very pleased with the packages you have set up and your service.
My son who lives in Charleston, SC and myself who lives in Minnesota, decided we needed to do a guys trip and decided to go through your company to see the opener in New Orleans. I initially called and talked with Amy about some questions I had and booked our trip. After itinerary and info was emailed to us, it soon became apparent that the trip to New Orleans wouldn’t happen. In steps Amy, wondering if we would be interested in Dallas if the game was moved there and a package was set up. Then finally the move to Jacksonville and continued communication from Amy on our interest. It was getting late at that point and I was wondering if she would be able to pull off setting up a package in Jacksonville. She did it.
We went to Jacksonville and had a great time. The accommodations and the tail gate were fabulous. If only the Packer team we were hoping for had made the trip.
Thank you Event USA and in particular Amy Flores."
-Tom Sohrweide, White Bear Lake, MN
"Thank you for all your help. I had a great time at the Packer-Raider game opening day. I have already begun telling interested Packer fans in Sacramento about your service. The next time I come to Green Bay for a game, I’ll be sure to ask for your help. God bless you and God bless the Green Bay Packers."
-Frank Chavez, Sacramento
"I just wanted to say that I had such a great time. The whole weekend was so much fun. I enjoyed the Player Autograph Party and the tailgate party was just the best. After coming from a country that loves soccer, it was nice to mix with people who have the same interests as me. Thank you once again, Green Bay is one very special place."
-Beverley Moore, Lancaster
"My accommodations at the Best Western Midway were excellent. I was picked up at the airport and returned promptly. No problems at all. Your representative at the hotel on game day was very pleasant and helpful. The tailgate party was super, great food, great drinks and lots of fun. Obviously, Lambeau Field and the game itself was great. I will continue to use Event USA in the future, and I will definitely tell anyone who I come across to give you a call. One last thing, the hospitality I experienced in Green Bay was incredible. I have traveled to many places, and I don’t think there are more friendly people than the people of Green Bay. Thank you again and see you next year!"
-David Anastas, Worchester
"My wife and I booked the tour to Tampa. The trip was so well organized from start to finish. It started with the people in the office with their friendly help over the phone, to receiving the tickets in the mail, and meeting the tour guides with their upbeat personalities. Signs guided us in the airport and information was posted in our motel lobbies to keep us posted. Your people had everything in order. Talk about organization, you had it. Event USA made this a most memorable trip. Thanks for all involved."
-Dick Koerner, Neenah
"I wish to convey my sincere thanks and gratitude for providing my husband and I with, what he refers to as the greatest experience of my life, apart from my wedding day."
-Lara and Matt Appleton, Thornhill, Ontario
"Thanks for all your help, the great tickets and service, and the chance to help me make one of my son’s dreams come true, seeing the Packers playing at home in Lambeau Field."
-Sam Jones, Sedalia
"I just want to thank you for the wonderful job your staff did last weekend for the Packers vs. Lions game. This was our first time utilizing your program and we were not disappointed at all. In fact, we can’t wait to schedule and event for next season’s games. From my first experience with your staff placing my order until the very end at checkout of the hotel, everything was perfect. You truly out-do yourselves to please everyone. Thanks again for making our stay in Green Bay one of the best."
-Kim Ewing and Bruce DeMaine, Ann Arbor
"Thanks so much for the best weekend ever! You not only got us in all the Magazines, TV, WWW pages and even the big screen at Lambeau Field, but Disney World on the side? Nice job – You and your family are top notch – we were on the best tour for the Super Bowl! Seeing the Green Bay Packers win back the Lombardi Trophy was a life long dream of this Packer fan, and you all were so dedicated to the job of taking care of us that, like the Packers, we were a winning team! Keep me on your list."
-William D Lorge, Representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly