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.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur appreciates the opportunity.

“Talk about a play-in game,” he said. “The stakes are going to be high.”
LaFleur said he respects his players for staying with it in tough times.

“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.
That made it 41-3.

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.
This might be LaFleur’s best coaching job in four seasons.

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.

By Chris Havel

Special to EVENT USA

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers didn’t play their best game of the season, or even their most complete, but they did play winning football.

The Packers’ 26-20 victory over the Dolphins on Sunday at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium was a terrific total team effort. It doubled as a wonderful Christmas gift for fans who’ve endured a rough ride thus far.

Green Bay (7-8) has won three straight to keep its playoff hopes alive.

If the Packers defeat Minnesota (12-3) and Detroit (7-8) to finish 9-8 they’ll reach the playoffs, but only if Washington loses one of its final two games or the New York Giants lose both of theirs.

Meantime, the Packers handled business by rallying from a double-digit deficit Sunday for the third time this season to claim the win.

Miami (8-7) sprinted to a 10-3 lead while racking up 172 yards (56 rushing, 116 passing) in the first quarter. That’s a 688-yard pace. They opened a 20-10 late in the first half, but amazingly the Packers’ defense hit the “reset” button and pitched a second-half shutout.

It’s crazy to think Jaylen Waddle (five catches, 143 yards and a touchdown) and Tyreek Hill (four for 103) had such huge games and Miami still lost. Much of that was because Tua Tagovailoa was as awful in the second half as he was brilliant in the first quarter.

Tagovailoa threw interceptions on the Dolphins’ final three possessions to seal their fate.

“Any time you get four takeaways in a game, you should win that game,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said. “Our guys seemed like they were getting more pressure up front on Tua and making him move out of the pocket. We knew he’s a guy who’s going to anticipate and going to let the ball go, and if you can read the quarterback right away, it also gives you opportunities.”

Jaire Alexander, De’Vondre Campbell and Rasul Douglas each corralled fourth-quarter picks.

Aaron Rodgers loved the defense’s multiple big plays.

“Our defense clamped down and played excellent football,” he said.

Rodgers also said he is pleased to be playing “meaningful” football in the wake of a 3-0 December.

“I’d like to be, you know, 10-5, 11-4, but considering where we were a few weeks ago, a lot has happened in our favor,” Rodgers said. “All the games that needed to go a certain way went a certain way. Now, there’s obviously much left (to do), but again, we’ve played meaningful games in December, we won all three of those. Now we’re playing meaningful games in January, and we’ve got to win those.”

Rodgers was 24 of 38 for 238 yards with one touchdown and an interception. He was sacked twice and finished with a 78.6 passer rating.

Rookie left tackle Zach Tom stoned Pro Bowl pass rusher Bradley Chubb, who finished with just one tackle and a quarterback hit. Royce Newman came off the bench to replace the injured Yosh Nijman (shoulder) and played better than in his previous go-round.

The offense also had to overcome injuries to Christian Watson (hip) and Aaron Jones (shin) – undoubtedly their two most explosive weapons – by relying on Allen Lazard (five catches for 61 yards) and Romeo Doubs (three for 36) to move the chains.

LaFleur was aggressive from start to finish, and that included winning the coin toss and deferring to the second half. It sent a message – intended or otherwise – to the Packers’ defense saying, “We trust you.” Then, the offense made it work by kicking a field goal to end the first half and scoring a touchdown to open the second half.

LaFleur also called an ill-fated fake punt – it should’ve been scuttled because Miami was set for it – but the aggressiveness was refreshing.

Far too often this season Green Bay has been the counterpuncher. The Packers have devised game plans based on an opponent’s strengths, rather than focusing on developing their own identity.

That wasn’t the case Sunday when LaFleur went for it on fourth-and-1 at Miami’s 1 while trailing 10-3 in the first quarter.

Marcedes Lewis, the 17-year veteran, faked a block and curled to the left corner of the end zone, where he was all alone for the easy touchdown to make it 10-10.

Lewis also delivered a clutch 31-yard catch on Green Bay’s opening drive of the second half. After Patrick Taylor picked up 17 yards on a nifty catch-and-run, Lewis was stride-for-stride with safety Eric Rowe up the left sideline when he hauled in a perfectly thrown ball for 31.

It set up A.J. Dillon’s 1-yard touchdown run to make it 20-20.

Lewis, a 17-year veteran, was part of a rarely deployed four-tight end personnel grouping. Some of that was dictated by injuries to Watson and Jones.

Again, the four-tight end formation reflected LaFleur’s creativity and aggressiveness. The personnel offers a “run heavy” look, but the Packers used that against Miami’s defense to hit the big play to Lewis.

Lewis, a consummate pro, was thrilled to contribute to the win.

“That play, even in practice, A-Rod doesn’t really let it go like that in practice to me,” he said. “I feel like I had him beat, saw the ball up there and the rest was fundamental after that. Been doing that all my life and I was just very grateful to be accountable when my number was called.”

Jones reveled in his teammate’s big play.

“I said, ‘Marcedes, you still have some wheels son,” Jones said. “That’s Big Dog. However you need him to show up, he’ll show up. No questions asked. He’s a team-first player.”

Lewis wasn’t the only “old-timer” to contribute in a big way.

Mason Crosby was a perfect 4-for-4 on field goal attempts while making his team record 256th straight start. He will surpass London Fletcher for fourth place all-time against the Vikings.

“It’s pretty awesome,” Crosby said. “A day like this, it’s Christmas, come down to Miami and get a great win, these are the memories and moments. It’s not my accomplishment. It’s just remembering all these types of things that have been so special.”

Now the Packers are on to preparing for Minnesota.

They’ll have to decipher how to proceed given the long injury list.

It starts with Keisean Nixon, whose 93-yard kickoff return in the first quarter set up Green Bay’s first field goal.
Nixon has four kick returns of 50-plus yards, which is the most in the NFL since Andre Roberts had six 50-plus yard returns for the Jets in 2018.

Nixon (groin) left the game early.

Watson (hip) also is a question mark going into the Vikings game.

According to the Press-Gazette’s Ryan Wood, Watson told him that his hip was Ok. “I’ll be alright,” Watson said.

The Packers hope to have Nixon and Watson against the Vikings, but if they stay aggressive and keep playing for (and with) each other, they ought to be Ok either way.

“It’s cool to see whenever you do lose somebody who’s going to step up and take the opportunity,” he said. “It was a total, collective team effort, and we did just enough to get the win.”

By Chris Havel

Special to EVENT USA

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers pounded out a must-win 24-12 victory over the Rams on Monday Night Football at snowy Lambeau Field to keep their feint playoff hopes alive.

Green Bay (6-8) wants nothing more than a do-or-die chance to prove itself against a playoff-caliber team on the road. For better or worse, the Packers won’t have to wait until the postseason to get their wish.

The Packers travel to Miami to face the explosive Dolphins (8-5) in a Christmas Day game Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.

“We know that we’re in a one-game season from here on out, from here until the end of the year,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “So we’ve got to take care of business.”
That begins with a singular focus on the Dolphins. The Vikings (11-3) and Lions (7-7) will have to wait their turn.

Aaron Rodgers acknowledged the Dolphins will be a great challenge, but he didn’t dismiss the Vikings or Lions, either.

“They’re all good football teams,” he said. “Miami’s playing for the playoffs. Minnesota’s obviously division winners and coming off a big win. Detroit’s won, what, six out of seven, they’re playing really well. So it’s going to be three difficult games.”

The Packers’ odds of reaching the playoffs rose to 12.2 percent if they manage to win out.
Meantime, they dispatched the defenseless Rams in convincing fashion.

Los Angeles (4-10) mustered a season-low 156 yards in total offense, the fewest since head coach Sean McVay took over in 2017. The one-week curiosity that was Baker Mayfield after his stunning debut in a 17-16 upset of the Raiders last week predictably came back to earth.

More precisely, Mayfield came back to the Frozen Tundra repeatedly as the Packers’ defense abused an injury-racked offensive line. The Packers sacked Mayfield five times and created constant chaos.
Mayfield’s night can be summed up like this: Aaron Rodgers completed more passes (22) than the Rams’ quarterback attempted. Mayfield finished 12 of 21 for 111 yards with one touchdown and an interception. He fell short of the “seven interceptions” predicted by the Packers’ Jaire Alexander, but he was hit early and often by Preston Smith and Co.

Smith had two sacks while Quay Walker and Kingsley Enagbare had one each. Devonte Wyatt and Justin Hollins shared the other sack.

Smith said the answer was simple: Playing together as one unit.

“Everybody was just doing their job a high level,” he said. “A lot of guys were benefiting tonight. We had five sacks as a defense. We were all on one accord tonight. We were playing at a high level in every phase. I feel like we were doing that pretty well, and guys were just maximizing off of the opportunities.”

LaFleur also liked what he saw from his defense.

“That’s what we need moving forward,” he said. “Certainly going down to Miami I think Tua (Tagavailoa) has been playing great. They’ve got a very, very, very explosive offense, a very creative offense, and it’s going to be critical for us to get pressure on the quarterback in order to give us an opportunity to win the game.”

The Packers’ offense looked pretty good, too.

Rodgers was 22 of 30 for 229 yards with one touchdown and an interception. He was sacked three times and posted a 92.2 passer rating.

The Packers’ opening drive was promising, but Rodgers retreated like a scared rabbit on third-and-goal at the 5 and was sacked by Leonard Floyd. Green Bay settled for a 34-yard Mason Crosby field goal.

Their second drive ended in an interception when Rodgers and Allen Lazard weren’t on the same page. The mistake led to an easy pick.

However, the Packers got it going to open the second half.

Green Bay marched 68 yards in 11 plays to score its first opening-half touchdown in the past 21 tries. A.J. Dillon capped it with his second touchdown of the game, a 1-yard blast through the Rams’ midsection.

“I like how we came out in the second half,” Rodgers said. “That first drive was really important, seven minutes, touchdown (and go) back up by two scores. That was winning football, and we haven’t really done that consistent enough throughout the season.”

The Packers’ balance was tremendous with 35 carries out of 68 snaps. Aaron Jones led the way with 90 yards on 17 carries and Dillon added 36 yards on 11 carries and the two touchdowns. Jones also caught four passes (in five targets) for 36 yards and the Packers’ final touchdown of the game, a 7-yard grab from Rodgers to seal it.

Rookie receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs also had strong performances. Doubs caught five passes (in five targets) for 55 yards, and Watson added four grabs (in six targets) for 46 yards.

“Romes has always been a bit more polished as a route runner,” Rodgers said. “Christian is just so explosive.”

Watson’s touchdown streak ended at four games, but his mere presence influenced the Rams’ defense to play “Cover 2” – a two-deep, five-under zone – which invites short passes but prevents big plays.

That’s in theory at least.

The Packers’ offense stayed patient – which is to say Rodgers stayed patient – and the run-pass balance was outstanding.

“They basically played a lot of two-shell,” Rodgers said. “If we’ve got to throw with the quick game and run the football to win, we’ll do that.”

The Packers’ future Hall of Fame quarterback said last week that the cold weather was Green Bay’s friend. That didn’t keep him from admitting he’s looking forward to playing in warmer temperatures.

“It’s going to have to be a really good effort to go out there and win (at Miami),” Rodgers said. “It’ll be a nice weather change. Nobody’s going to be bummed that it’ll be 40 or 50 above what it is, at least, maybe 50 or 60 above what it is right now. We’ll be looking forward to getting back home to some cold weather and hopefully we’ll be 7-8.”

By Chris Havel

Special to EVENT USA

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers return from their Week 14 bye with an opportunity to build upon their recent, modest success while praying for divine intervention from the football gods.

The Packers’ odds to reach the playoffs nudged up to six percent with their 28-19 win over the Bears last week. If Green Bay wins its final four games it has a 61-percent chance to make the playoffs. That’s the same odds as Giannis hitting a free throw, so there’s a chance.

The Packers (5-8) host the Rams (4-9) next Monday night.

After that they play the Dolphins on Christmas Day at Hard Rock Stadium, where Miami (8-5) is 5-1 this season. Then it’s a pair of home games against the Vikings (10-3) and Lions (6-7) to close out.

Packers’ receiver Allen Lazard and his teammates are clinging to hope.

“We haven’t given up,” Lazard said. “This whole year hasn’t gone our way. A lot of our losses have been one-possession games, for the most part. (It’s) a play here, a play there, a turnover there or not being able to make a turnover in some certain situations. That’s just kind of been the thing that’s been holding us back, so to speak.”

The Packers’ remaining opponents are a combined 29-23 (.558), but they play them in December and January, which historically has been “go time” for Green Bay under coach Matt LaFleur.

The Packers are an amazing 15-1 in December/January games since LaFleur took the helm in 2019. That is reflective of Super Bowl-caliber teams that proceeded to fall short in the postseason. That isn’t this.

Remember, the Packers were 10-1 in October games under LaFleur. Then they went a dreadful 1-4 to trigger the landslide.
Nevertheless, the Packers feel like they have a puncher’s chance.

The offense is averaging a Packers-like 27 points in its last four games.

Rookie receiver Christian Watson’s mercurial rise is a major reason.

Watson has eight touchdowns in four games, which has allowed the Packers to run the football more effectively. In addition, the offensive line has settled down a bit with Zach Tom pinch-hitting for David Bakhtiari at left tackle while Yosh Nijman – who just may be the Packers’ most underrated player – handling right tackle.

In turn, the defense hasn’t resembled a sieve lately.

When the Packers reduce or eliminate pre-snap penalties, assignment errors and turnovers they can compete with anyone. When they don’t they might as well dress in Texans’ uniforms.

“I told the guys … we’ve played good enough to beat anybody in the league, and at times played poor enough to lose to just about anybody,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “Our highs have been pretty solid.”

Matt Minor, a decades-long Packers fan in Green Bay, was kind enough to lay out his favorite team’s chances to make the playoffs. With great positivity, perspective and an aptitude for numbers, Minor writes:

“After sweeping the Rams, Dolphins, Vikings and Lions the Packers will finish 9-8, 4-2 in the NFC North and 7-5 in the NFC. Detroit can also finish 9-8, 4-2 and 7-5, but in this scenario the Packers would have a 5-5 versus 4-6 edge over the Lions based on common opponents, so the Packers win that tiebreaker.

“The Seahawks (7-6) must win three of four to get to 10-7. That is not going to happen with games against the 49ers, Chiefs, Jets and Rams. The best Seattle could do is 6-6 in the NFC. The Packers would be 7-5 and win the tiebreaker with Seattle.

“The Giants (7-5-1) and Commanders (7-5-1) play each other so one will fall to six losses. The Giants’ other games are against the Vikings (10-3), the Colts (4-8-1) and the Eagles (12-1).

“In conclusion, the Packers don’t control their destiny, but if they rise to the occasion they should make the playoffs at 9-8 as the No. 6 seed.”

Clearly, as Minor notes, the Packers must take care of business or they’ll miss the playoffs regardless of any breaks that come their way.

The Packers trail the No. 7 seeded Giants by 2 ½ games with four to play. It would be a tall mountain to climb if this were baseball and the Packers had Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff alternating starts.

Nevertheless, it’s the hand the Packers essentially have dealt themselves. Packers’ fans better hope Rodgers is better throwing a football with his fingers crossed than he is with a broken thumb.

Speaking of thumbs, here is a thumbnail sketch of the NFC’s sixth through ninth seeds entering Week 15:

** No. 6 – Washington (7-5-1)

Schedule: New York Giants, at San Francisco, Cleveland, Dallas

Comment: The Commanders could KO the Giants this week, but easily could drop its final three games. The 49ers are in a dogfight of their own, the Browns are dangerous with Deshaun Watson, and the Cowboys need to keep winning to remain the top wild card.

** No. 7 – New York Giants (7-5-1)

Schedule: at Washington, at Minnesota, Indianapolis, at Philadelphia

Comment: The Giants aren’t upsetting the Commanders in Washington, and the Vikings are much better at home than on the road (ask anyone at Ford Field that witnessed the Lions’ 34-23 rout Sunday).

** No. 8 – Seattle (7-6)

Schedule: San Francisco, at Kansas City, N.Y. Jets, L.A. Rams

Comment: The Seahawks’ 30-24 loss to Carolina leaves Seattle in a lurch with the 49ers and Chiefs beckoning. The Seahawks have lost three of four and I don’t see them halting the slide.

** No. 9 – Detroit (6-7)

Schedule: at N.Y. Jets, at Carolina, Chicago, at Green Bay

Comment: The notion that the Lions-Packers game Jan. 8 could be for the NFC’s final wild-card spot is enough to give goosebumps. After all that has gone wrong this season, it would be amazing to see Packers’ fans scoreboard watching and cheering for a win over the Lions on a frosty January afternoon at Lambeau Field.

By Chris Havel

Special to EVENT USA

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Christian Watson’s future is now.

The Packers’ rookie receiver burst onto the scene early last month and has never looked back … unless it’s to glimpse another would-be defender trying to catch his breath after failing to catch him.

Watson’s two-touchdown performance highlighted the Packers’ 28-19 victory over the Bears on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field.

Watson’s 14-yard touchdown catch whittled Chicago’s lead to 16-10 with 17 seconds to play in the first half. The Packers trailed 10-0 early.

Then, Watson’s 46-yard fourth-quarter gallop on a perfectly executed jet sweep and Marcedes Lewis’ catch for the two-point conversion put the Packers up by nine with less than two minutes to play to seal the deal.

While others may marvel at Watson’s speed the touchdown machine takes it all in stride, so to speak. While his exploits are new and thrilling to Packers fans, he’s been outrunning defenders his entire life.

“To be honest, if I see nothing in front of me, it’s looking pretty good,” Watson said. “Honestly that’s exactly what I saw: I saw no one. I saw the corner go in with Sammy (Watkins) on his little crack block and I knew if the corner’s not coming off there’s no one that’s going to make the play from the inside.”
Translation: Even with the angle nobody can lay a glove on him.

“That man got some burners,” Packers’ running back Aaron Jones said of Watson. “He can do it all. It just helps us. It gives us so many options. It keeps us versatile. I love having a weapon like that. Any time he touches the ball, he has a chance to take it to the house.”

Aaron Rodgers seemed to relish his front-row seat to Watson’s feats.

Rodgers completed 18 of 31 passes for 182 yards and the touchdown to Watson. He wasn’t sacked and scarcely hit. He had an 85.7 passer rating and an abundance of praise for Watson.

“It’s a rapid, wild development,” Rodgers said. “It’s hard to think about another player who goes from being kind of a here-and-there, minimal production to go-to type player, home-run player.”

Watson has eight touchdowns in four games. He is the first rookie receiver to accomplish the feat since Randy Moss did it in 1998.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was happy for Watson.

“It’s so cool to see guys respond in these moments, and then once you see confidence, once he’s gained confidence, to see him take off. I’m just really proud of him,” LaFleur said. “He’s a smart guy that works his tail off. It means a lot to him. I think it’s cool to see the other guys – they have confidence in him as well. It’s just a really cool story.”

Watson had three catches for 48 yards on six targets, but his presence was felt even when he didn’t catch the ball. He drew a 38-yard pass interference penalty on the first play of the fourth quarter. It set up A.J. Dillon’s 21-yard touchdown run that cut the Bears’ lead to 19-17.

The Packers trailed 10-0 early when Justin Fields raced 55 yards for a touchdown on the Bears’ opening drive. They tacked on a field goal on their next possession and the Packers could’ve caved in.

Instead, the defense figured it out and the offense turned it on by scoring 18 fourth-quarter points to rally for the win.

“Just super proud of our guys to be resilient and truly embody and embrace that one-play mindset and battle right to the end,” LaFleur said.

The Packers (5-8) have their bye this week. It should allow Rodgers’ ribs to completely heal. The quarterback said his broken right thumb is almost a non-issue at this point.

Green Bay’s offensive line had Zach Tom at left tackle after David Bakhtiari was ruled out Friday due to an emergency appendectomy. Tom wasn’t perfect, but he played well enough to keep Rodgers clean.

“The line played really good today,” Rodgers said. “I moved around a decent amount … and I went to the ground one time. So that’s like a dream game for somebody in my position with a pretty sore rib cage. I feel good going to the bye week that maybe both of these things (the ribs and the thumb) will be behind me.”

The Packers rushed for 175 yards on 32 carries. Dillon was the lead dog with 18 carries for 93 yards and the touchdown. Jones added just 26 yards. He left with a bruised shin in the first half, but returned in the second half. He said Dillon had the hot hand so they rode him.

“When a dog is being a dog let the dog be the dog,” Jones said with a smile. “I told (Dillon) that. I told him I’m proud of him, as well. He stepped up. I believe he’s getting better and better. I’m proud of him.”
The Packers’ defense forced three turnovers, including a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions – first to enable the comeback, and then to seal it.

After surrendering big plays to Equanimeous St. Brown for 56 yards in the first half, and to N’Keal Harry for 49 yards in the second half, Jaire Alexander remained undaunted.

Alexander stepped in front of Brown to intercept Fields with less than three minutes to play. Then Keisean Nixon notched the first interception of his career on the Bears’ final possession.

LaFleur wasn’t surprised by Alexander’s bounce-back ability.

“I just think that shows his mindset,” LaFleur said. “He’s going to go out there and compete, and sometimes he’s going to take a chance and he might get beat on it, and that’s just the way it rolls. As a corner, especially in this league, you have to have a short memory, and certainly I think Ja does. He goes out there and battles.”

The Packers’ comeback win moves them ahead of Chicago for the most wins in NFL history with 787. According to ESPN, the Packers are the first team other than the Bears to own the outright lead since the Buffalo All-Americans with 18.

By Chris Havel

Special to EVENT USA

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Matt LaFleur wasn’t surprised by the statistic.

He was appalled by it.

The Packers’ defense missed 15 tackles to aid and abet an Eagles’ offense that established a franchise rushing record on its way to a crushing 40-33 victory Sunday night at Lincoln Financial Field.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur could only shake his head.

“That’s tough to stop anything if you have 15 missed tackles,” he said while looking at the stat sheet in dismay. “It’s hard to look at that number. We’ve got to be better. We have to have a better plan and we have to go out and execute better. That just can’t happen in this league.”

Oh, contraire. It can. And it did.

The Eagles (10-1) scored on seven of eight possessions (five TDs and two FGs) as quarterback Jalen Hurts knifed through Green Bay’s defense for 157 yards on 17 carries. He also threw for 153 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles retained the NFC’s top seed through Week 12.

Hurts became the first player since at least 1950 to rush for 150-plus yards and throw for 150-plus yards and multiple touchdowns.

“(Hurts) did a lot of things that are tough to account for,” LaFleur said. “Certainly we were in some situations capable of making some tackles we didn’t make. He is an unbelievable talent. You saw it not only on the ground is one thing, but he made some remarkable throws as well.”

Miles Sanders added 143 yards on 21 carries and the aptly named Kenneth Gainwell chimed in with 39 yards on eight carries.

It was the Packers’ most rushing yards allowed since Oct. 30, 1977, when Walter Payton galloped for 205 yards to lead Chicago to 375 yards rushing in a 26-0 shutout win.

It should surprise no one that the Packers’ substandard defensive play – coupled with the news that Wisconsin’s football program hired Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell over Jim Leonhard – is going to stir up the “Fire Joe Barry – Hire Jim Leonhard” chatter for weeks, if not longer.

When the Eagles started the game by running wild, Barry correctly brought in extra run defenders and dared them to pass.

So they did.

Philadelphia (10-1) converted 8 of 15 third-down attempts, clicked off 79 plays (to Green Bay’s 49) and rushed 49 times for 363 yards.

The Eagles’ offense played downhill all night.

Packers’ safety Adrian Amos said Hurts’ success unleashed Sanders. He also noted that the Packers face the Bears and Justin Fields – who set the NFL’s single-game rushing record for a quarterback (178 yards) earlier this season – next week at Soldier Field.

Fields didn’t play (sore left shoulder) in Chicago’s 31-10 loss to the Jets, but could return in time for the Packers-Bears noon game on Sunday.

“Getting Hurts running, it opens up the running back running as well, the threat with him and the zone read,” Amos said. “We’ve got a running quarterback (Fields) next week. We’ve got to be better against a scrambling quarterback.”

Packers’ newcomer Justin Hollins agreed. Hollins, a linebacker who was signed last week, arrived in time to register his first sack of the season. But he admitted it’s not easy trying to track down Hurts.

“He has a great awareness in the pocket,” he said. “It’s kind of hard to contain him all the way. They got a couple on us. Again, hats off to him.”

The Packers (4-8) showed fight by rallying from an early 13-0 deficit to briefly take a 14-13 lead and again later from a 34-20 deficit to make it a one-score game that was never that close.

“I thought we had some opportunities in the first half,” LaFleur said, “but we didn’t capitalize on every opportunity, and you can’t do that against a good football team.”

The Packers’ offensive game plan was easy to get on board with: It centered around and hinged upon getting the football to Aaron Jones.

However, wherever … whenever possible.

Jones flashed his brilliance on Green Bay’s first scoring possession, a four-play, 59-yard beauty that cut the Eagles’ lead to 13-7 and slowed the home team’s momentum. On the drive, Jones rushed for 10 yards, and then minus-1 yard, before catching a 30-yard screen that was beautifully set up behind by Josh Myers, Elgton Jenkins and others.

A.J. Dillon finished it off with 20-yard thunderbolt off the right side. The Packers’ powerful back dragged a defender across the goal line.

Alas, those were the highlights.

Jones carried the football just 12 times for 43 yards. Dillon carried it eight times for 64 yards and the touchdown.

That was the extent of the Packers’ running game.

Aaron Rodgers came out throwing and looked good early hitting 11 of 16 for 140 yards and two touchdowns. The problem was he also threw two interceptions – one on a tip, the other on a lousy route by Tyler Davis – that prevented the Packers from opening an early lead.

Rodgers exited late in the third quarter with sore ribs. He said there’s a chance he could play Sunday at Soldier Field, but the medical staff surely will conduct more testing before making a decision.

The Packers’ bright spots were Jordan Love and Christian Watson.

Love hit 6 of 9 passes for 113 yards and a 63-yard touchdown to Watson. On the play, Watson lined up in the slot right and ran an in-breaking route to his left. Love faked a handoff to Jones to the left, squared his hips and fired a strike to Watson.

The rookie receiver did the rest by outracing the Eagles’ secondary for the 63-yard touchdown catch-and-run. He finished with four catches (on six targets) for 110 yards.

According to NFL NextGenStats, Watson hit a top speed of 20.97 miles per hour, which is the fastest speed registered by a Packer this season. He also became the franchise’s first rookie to post receiving touchdowns in three straight games since Billy Howton in 1952.

“I was just able to show obviously the type of player I am, obviously the things I can do with the ball in my hands,” Watson said. “Be able to create mismatches out there, win one-on-ones. It’s hard to say after a team doesn’t get it done but obviously, I think I’ve been able to show who I am a little bit the last couple games.”

Rodgers briefly reminded TV viewers who he is Sunday night. His interceptions were offset by touchdowns to Jones and Randall Cobb. His strike to Cobb elicited a praiseworthy response from the TV booth.

“That looked like Aaron Rodgers,” NBC’s Cris Collinsworth said of the Packers’ four-time MVP quarterback. “You can pick out any year you want out of that quarterback’s career and it won’t be better than that.”

That was true. It was also short-lived.

Rodgers was sacked three times and absorbed considerable punishment before leaving in the second half with chest discomfort. He didn’t puncture a lung, but it was possible he fractured a rib or two.

Now, the Packers have to decide whether to go with Love on Sunday, or hope Rodgers can tape up his ribs and get through the game.

Right now, the smart money is on Love.

The bigger question is how many more games will Rodgers start for the Packers the balance of this season and beyond?

By Chris Havel

Special to EVENT USA

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The NFC North and the Packers have this much in common: Both invite criticism but defy meaningful analysis.

Eleven weeks in and it’s difficult to believe they can be this bad.

They can’t, can they?

Upon further inspection, the polite response is, “Uh, don’t ask.”

Misery is the NFC North’s and the Packers’ shared circumstance, subject to change given the NFL’s razor-thin margin between Ok and awful. That said … I wouldn’t count on a major rebound any time soon.

The NFC North isn’t very good right now. Neither are the Packers.

The sorry state of the division can be summed up thusly: The Lions (4-6) were the NFC North’s only team to taste sweet victory in Week 11. The Bears (3-8) were the only team to compete before losing by one score.

The Packers (4-7) had the momentum of a win over Dallas shoved down their face-masks by Tennessee. Green Bay’s 27-17 loss to the Titans at Lambeau Field came in front of a Thursday Night Football audience.

It was a low-point in a Packers’ season all too full of them.

The Packers came into the season with what felt like reasonably high expectations. I will be the first to admit I was right there with the prognosticators that believed an 11- or 12-win season was in the offing.

Now, the Packers must win out to get to 10-7, although an NFC team qualified for the playoffs at 9-8 last season. But the reality is four teams sit between Green Bay and the Commanders, which is a lot of teams to leapfrog with six games to play. It’s possible, to be sure, but a longshot.

The Packers mauled Dallas a week ago, but that was with Aaron Rodgers directing a run-oriented attack that featured 39 rushing attempts to just 20 passes. It produced Rodgers’ highest-rated passing game of the season and featured three TD passes to Christian Watson.

Against the Titans, the Packers reverted back to a “pass first” mentality, attempting 39 passes while exploring the run game sparingly. The result was a 10-point Titans win that wasn’t really that close.

Meantime, the Vikings (8-2) endured their worst home loss since U.S. Bank Stadium opened in 2016. The Cowboys embarrassed them 40-3 in an epic rout that saw Dallas score – get this – 37 unanswered points.

Ex-Packers coach Mike McCarthy had his Cowboys (7-3) ready to avenge a 31-28 overtime loss at Green Bay. Dallas’ dominance of the Vikings showed in third-down conversions. The Cowboys (12 of 17) converted more third downs than the Vikings (1 of 11) attempted.

The Vikings’ Kirk Cousins completed just 12 of 23 passes for 105 yards and a 64.6 passer rating. He was sacked seven times for 49 yards, which was more yards than any of Minnesota’s receivers (T.J. Hockenson had 34 receiving yards, Justin Jefferson had 33 and Adam Thielen had 25).

Obviously, Minnesota is positioned to absorb such an ugly loss. On the other hand, despite the Vikings’ 33-30 overtime victory at Buffalo, a lot of NFL fans are suspicious and doubtful despite the win-loss record.

The drubbing by Dallas will escalate that vibe.

The Vikings have precious little time for self-pity. They play host to future Hall of Fame coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots on Thanksgiving in a 7:20 p.m. game at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Patriots are coming off a thrilling 10-3 victory over the Jets in which Marcus Jones’ 84-yard punt return provided the game’s only touchdown. It was the NFL’s first punt return for a touchdown this season, and it came with five seconds in regulation to stun the Jets.

The Vikings need to figure it out or risk looking really bad in consecutive games. Belichick’s been known to do that to teams.

The Bears racked up 24 points but it wasn’t enough in a 27-24 loss at Atlanta on Sunday. It was a familiar refrain for the Bears. They’ve finally discovered an offense behind quarterback Justin Fields, only to see their eroded defense fail to stop anyone.

Fields gives Bears’ fans hope.

He is easily the franchise’s most talented quarterback since Jay Cutler, and the second-year quarterback’s upside is considerable. He completed 14 of 21 passes for 153 yards, a touchdown and an interception against the Falcons. He also rushed 18 times for 85 yards and another TD.

Fields’ 14 first-half carries were the most in a half by a quarterback since at least 2000. He ran four times for 12 yards in the second half, including twice on the final drive, but didn’t run nearly as much after the intermission. Then, late in the game, Fields injured his left shoulder. After the game, he said the pain was “pretty bad.”

Fortunately, it’s Fields’ non-throwing shoulder.

The Lions are the surprise of the division so far.

Detroit’s 31-18 victory over the Giants at East Rutherford, N.J., accounted for the team’s first three-game winning streak since November of 1017 when Jim Caldwell was the head coach.

The Lions’ Dan Campbell has his team believing right now. One of the catalysts is former Packers’ running back Jamaal Williams, who lit up the Giants’ defense for three rushing touchdowns.

In fact, Williams’ 12 rushing touchdowns are eight more than the Packers’ offense has mustered all season.

The Lions play host to Buffalo (7-3) on Thanksgiving Day. Common sense and Josh Allen’s talent suggest the Lions’ winning streak is due to end. Then again, in this crazy season, it would be a holiday treat – at least in my opinion – to see the “lowly Lions” rise up and bite the Bills.

It wouldn’t hurt the Packers’ draft position, either.

If there is a shred of good news to be cleaned for Green Bay from Sunday’s games it’s that the Eagles looked ordinary in Indianapolis. Philadelphia (9-1) escaped with a 17-16 victory over the feisty Colts and second-week head coach Jeff Saturday.

The Eagles struggled offensively throughout the game. It was apparent they dearly missed tight end Dallas Goedert, who is sidelined by a shoulder injury until later this season.

At this juncture of a Packers’ season, fans are typically talking about playoff seeding. Today, Green Bay is 12th in the conference and trails Washington (6-5) by two games, including the head-to-head tiebreaker.

This season the conversation is more likely to be, “So where is Green Bay picking in the draft if it were held today?”
The Packers would be selecting 11th overall, just ahead of the Lions (12th) and after the Saints (10th), in case fans want to know which teams to root for or against.

Despite the disappointing loss to the Titans, the Packers can fan the flames of hope with an upset of the Eagles at Philadelphia. The Packers opened as 6 ½-point underdogs. The total is 45 points.

The game will be featured on Sunday Night Football. It will be an opportunity for Rodgers to remind the NFL that the rumors of his demise have been great exaggerated. A late, game-winning drive capped by a laser to Watson in the back of the end zone ought to do it.

Prediction: Packers 27, Eagles 26.

By Chris Havel

Special to EVENT USA

GREEN BAY, Wis. –The Packers have united their fan base.

Today, many green-and-gold diehards are participating in synchronized blame-placing as a depressing season continues to swirl down the drain.

The Packers’ 27-17 loss to Tennessee on a snowy, chilly Thursday night left the Lambeau Field faithful shaking their heads in disbelief.

There was a time when Aaron Rodgers delivered passes with the accuracy of an atomic clock. Lately, it appears Father Time is catching up with the soon-to-be 39-year-old quarterback.

Rodgers was off-target on several crucial throws that might’ve been the difference between hope at 5-6 and despair at 4-7. It’s clear that Rodgers’ right thumb is troubling him, but that hasn’t kept fans from suggesting he use it to hitchhike his way to retirement.

Rodgers was 24 of 39 for 227 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions for a ho-hum 94.7 passer rating. He missed key throws to several open receivers, including an errant toss to Allen Lazard that could’ve set up a late field goal to make it a one-possession game.

“We’ve got to play up to our potential,” Rodgers said. “If we play up to our potential, we can win our last six games. I’m confident in that. Obviously, I’ve got to play up to my potential. Tonight wasn’t it.”

The Packers’ 31-28 overtime win against Dallas on Sunday was thought to be a momentum-builder.

Instead, it was an outlier.

The Packers’ grasp of “complementary football” appears to be similar to their understanding of quantum physics. They don’t get it.

When the Packers’ defense makes a great stand or forces a turnover, the offense routinely fails to take advantage. And when the offense starts to get on a roll, the defense tends to roll over.

It’s been that way much of the season.

“We haven’t been playing complementary football,” safety Adrian Amos said. “Sometimes the offense is doing well and the defense isn’t doing their job or vice-versa, or special teams. We’ve got to get all phases working good at the same time. That’s really what it’s been.”

In Green Bay, the notion of complimentary football is saying nice things about the team that just made you look bad.

After the game, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur looked like he was fresh out of straws to grasp at.

“Extremely disappointed right now to put on a performance like that,” he said. “I don’t even know what to say. It was nothing like a few days ago, and that’s why you’re only as good as your last game and every time you step out on that field, you’ve got to go out and do it.”

Thursday night’s first quarter foreshadowed what was to come.

The Titans (7-3) stuffed it down the defense’s throat on the opening drive as Tennessee marched 83 yards in eight plays. The key play was a third-and-7 at the Titans’ 20 when Ryan Tannehill hooked up with rookie Treylon Burks on a 51-yard bomb. Five plays later, Tannehill connected with Dontrell Hilliard on a 14-yard touchdown pass.

The Packers closed to within 7-6 when Rodgers hit Christian Watson on a 14-yard touchdown pass at the close of the first quarter. Rodgers seized the opportunity to catch the Titans with 12 men on the field by hustling his team to the line, snapping the ball and hitting Watson in the back left corner of the end zone.

In that moment hope was lit up like a Christmas tree.

Then slowly, unmercifully, it was snuffed out by off-target throws, blown assignments in the secondary and head-scratching play calls.

The Titans recorded season highs in points and yards (408) while scoring the first fourth-quarter touchdown of their season.

Tannehill finished 22 of 27 for 333 yards, two touchdowns and a 127.3 passer rating. Rasul Douglas got him for a second-half interception, but the Packers’ offense failed to produce points off it. Tannehill, who was playing on a sore ankle, was sacked three times but still got the ‘W’.

Derrick Henry, the NFL’s leading rusher, was held to a mild roar. Henry rushed for 87 yards on 28 carries (a 3.1 average), but also completed two passes, including a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Austin Hooper.

Titans coach Mike Vrabel deserves an ‘A’ for creativity.

He also gets kudos for having his team revved up and energized to meet the Packers more than halfway on their own frozen tundra.

In the second quarter, the Titans ran 27 plays to the Packers’ six while outgaining Green Bay 91-17.

Tennessee converted 7 of 13 third-down attempts to control the ball.

“We had plenty of opportunities to get them off the field, and they got the third-and-ones and fourth-and-ones or whatever the case may be,” Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark said. “So we’ve got to get them in negative situations and get them in third-and-long situations.”

Tennessee’s 18-play drive in the second quarter is a good example. The Packers’ Quay Walker stuffed Henry for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-1 from the Green Bay 4. But the Packers’ offense failed to generate a first down and was forced to punt.

The Titans got the ball back with good field position and needed nine plays to cover the 41 yards for a touchdown. Henry capped the scoring drive with a 4-yard jaunt to make it 14-6 at the half.
It was the first of three straight touchdown drives for the Titans.

Now, the Packers are left with a weekend off as they head into Thanksgiving with no margin for error. They trail San Francisco (5-4) by two games for the NFC’s seventh wild-card slot.

“Literally, it’s win or go home at this point,” Packers corner Jaire Alexander said. “So every game is a playoff game. Every game is the Super Bowl for us. So that’s how we’ve got to attack it now.”

That’s how to attack it now?

It would’ve been nice if the Packers had attacked it that way all along.

By Chris Havel

Special to EVENT USA

GREEN BAY, Wis. –The Packers hit rock bottom with a fifth straight loss last week at Detroit. On Sunday, they rallied to hit pay dirt with a gritty overtime victory against Dallas at Lambeau Field.

The Packers went 44 days between wins. It felt like 44 weeks.

The calamitous freefall finally ended when Mason Crosby hit a 28-yard field goal in overtime to secure a 31-28 victory. Afterward, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur seemed genuinely grateful to be unburdened.

“Man, it’s been a long time to stand up here and have a smile,” he said after the game. “It’s been too long to have that feeling to go into the locker room and see just the sheer joy.”

“I know for myself it was hard not to get emotional after that game,” he said before pausing to regain his composure. “We put a lot into this. And it is tough at times … It means a lot to us. And to be down and fight and continue to fight, that’s what you want to see.”

Indeed, the Packers (4-6) resuscitated their feint playoff hopes with the win over the Cowboys (6-3), who remain one of the NFC’s top teams.

For a mid-season game in the NFL, this Week 10 matchup between the Cowboys and Packers was especially emotional.

Cowboys’ coach Mike McCarthy expressed his affection for Green Bay long before the opening kickoff.

McCarthy choked up during his mid-week news conference when asked about returning to Green Bay, where he won a Super Bowl and became the franchise’s No. 2 all-time winningest coach.

Then, after the game, LaFleur’s eyes began to tear up when asked how it felt to see his team’s five-game losing streak come to a halt.

“You hope it propels you and gives you some confidence, because I do think it’s tough anytime you go through a stretch like that,” he said. “But it is only one win.”

During the game, Packers’ fans likely shed tears of joy as rookie receiver Christian Watson snagged three touchdown passes to lead Green Bay to an improbable win. The Cowboys had won 195 straight games when leading by 14 points going into the fourth quarter.

The Packers didn’t blink. They got busy.

Aaron Rodgers promptly led the Packers on a nine-play, 76-yard drive that was capped by a 39-yard Rodgers-to-Watson touchdown pass. That whittled the deficit to 28-21.

After the Packers’ defense forced a punt, Rodgers went back to work. He led the offense on an 89-yard, 10-play drive that was capped by Rodgers’ slick 7-yard touchdown toss to Watson.

That tied it and set the stage for Allen Lazard’s overtime heroics.

Lazard snagged a crossing route and went 36 yards to set up Crosby’s game-clinching field goal.

Rodgers believes the win can be a catalyst. He was proud of his team for not giving up despite trailing by 14 points going into the fourth quarter.

“That was a turning point for us, hopefully a turning point that leads us to go on a streak,” he said. “But this was a chance for guys to (go), ‘Ah, it’s not our season, 3-7, what are we doing in the offseason? It’s not going to be our year.’ ”

Watson, 23, personified the Packers’ resiliency.

The 34th pick overall was plagued by injuries and inconsistency before Sunday’s coming out party, which began with two mortifying drops and ended with four catches for 107 yards and three touchdowns.

The 6-foot-4, 208-pound speedster celebrated his first NFL touchdown reception by doing a back flip in the end zone. It came in the first quarter and erased the Cowboys’ early 7-0 lead.

He was at once thrilled and relieved.

“It meant the world to me,” he said. “It was a play called for me, a shot play for me, and just being able to contribute and set the tone for our offense and get some points on the board, that was huge.”

Watson’s impact proved beyond any doubt that the Packers’ offense only functions at its finest when it has a legitimate deep threat.

It also helps that Rodgers stayed with the game plan, which was to run the football to set up play-action passes, and after a slow start it paid off.

The Packers rushed 39 times for 207 yards. Aaron Jones knifed his way to 138 yards on 24 carries with a 12-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. A.J. Dillon added 65 yards on 13 carries, including a 17-yarder.

Rodgers had time to throw and completed 14 of 20 passes for 224 yards, three touchdowns and a season-best 146.7 passer rating. Watson’s historic display made it eminently clear the Packers’ offense NEEDS a speed receiver to take the top off the defense.

Watson’s three receiving touchdowns tied the franchise’s single-game rookie record. He joins James Lofton (Sept. 10, 1978), Max McGee (Oct. 30, 1954) and Billy Howton (Nov. 27, 1952).

“It feels amazing just to have all the guys rallying around me,” Watson said. “Obviously it wasn’t the way I wanted to start, but it’s not how you start, it is how you finish. I stayed with it. When more opportunities came my way I wasn’t down. I was calm, cool and collected.”

Defensively, Green Bay compensated for the loss of pass rusher Rashan Gary to a season-ending injury by being creative. Defensive coordinator Joe Barry put Rudy Ford at safety and moved Darnell Savage to the slot cornerback position. He also replaced Gary with a big body up front on obvious run downs, which kept Dallas from running it down their throat.

Ford responded with back-to-back first-half interceptions that undoubtedly kept Green Bay in the game.

The Cowboys’ Dak Prescott completed more passes (27) than Rodgers attempted (20), but it went for naught as the Packers’ defense rose up to make consecutive stops at the end of regulation and again in overtime.

Prescott finished 27 of 46 for 262 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions and a 78.6 passer rating. Tony Pollard replaced the injured Ezekiel Elliott and ran for 115 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.

CeeDee Lamb also made his presence felt by hauling in 11 catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns but it wasn’t enough.