By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Green Bay’s impressive win-loss record, returning talent reasons for optimism

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Za’Darius Smith is a natural born leader.

His stabilizing presence was pervasive throughout the Packers’ locker room all season. He and fellow outside linebacker Preston Smith ran the show by being terrific players and consummate pros.

It was much the same in the NFC locker room Sunday at the Pro Bowl.

The news of NBA legend Kobe Bryant’s death earlier that day hit the NFL’s greatest players like a tsunami. Some were reduced to tears just minutes before playing in the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

Za’Darius Smith stepped up.

He suggested players honor Kobe’s memory by mimicking his trademark fade-away jump shot following a big play. And so they did.

The “Kobe J” was just one of the NFL players’ tributes.

It’s not surprising that Smith led the way. Then he went out and recorded two sacks, a quarterback hit and a pass defended. He plays every bit as well as he talks, and he’s one heck of an orator.

The Packers’ 13-3 record is reflective of many things.

Great leadership may be at the top of the list.

It came from the Smiths as well as Kenny Clark, Blake Martinez and Adrian Amos. They formed the backbone of a Green Bay defense that clearly grew a spine this season.

Offensively, Aaron Rodgers’ willingness to buy into what first-year head coach Matt LaFleur had to sell was critical to the Packers’ success.

So was Davante Adams’ talent and steadying influence on offense.

That continued Sunday as Adams caught six passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns against the AFC’s best. He even completed a pass for 34 yards. Following his third-quarter touchdown catch he looked skyward and flashed Bryant’s No. 24 with his fingers in tribute.

Again, it’s Adams being a true pro and a class act.

There is tremendous reason for optimism going into the 2020 offseason. Here are the top three reasons:

** No. 1 – GM Brian Gutekunst and LaFleur are just getting started. In a single season they made the Packers relevant again. They retooled the defense by acquiring talent in free agency and the draft. They installed LaFleur’s new scheme as best they could with inexperienced receivers. They kept the roster healthy, and when they needed help they acquired tackle Jared Veldheer and return man Tyler Ervin in a heartbeat.

Most of all, they won 14 of 18 and are poised to make a Super Bowl run.

“We didn’t end the season the way we wanted to end the season, but I’m really excited about the foundation we laid last year, some of the strides we made,” Gutekunst said. “I have a lot of optimism going forward. We have a lot of work to do. (I’m) excited to get there. We’ve got a lot of decisions to make coming up.”

So far, Gutekunst has been right a lot more often than he’s been wrong.

** No. 2 – Rodgers, Adams and Aaron Jones provide impact skill players at the most critical positions. The offensive line is solid, and while right tackle Bryan Bulaga’s future here may be in doubt, it is clear Gutekunst and LaFleur will have it covered one way or another.

My hope is that Bulaga re-signs here.

In addition, the GM and coach are talking about adding more offensive talent – especially at receiver – while admitting they need help.

** No. 3 – No one at 1265 Lombardi Avenue seems satisfied. They were proud of 13-3 – and rightfully so – but they want more. The beauty is that the object of their desire is attainable.

They’ve got the coach, the quarterback and the defense. They’ve also got a GM who has another offseason to refurbish the roster.

Both Gutekunst and LaFleur held their post-season news conferences last week. What they offered was realistic expectations with a plan.

They admit there will be difficult decisions ahead.

“I’ve got a lot of Ted Thompson in me,” Gutekunst said. “I’d like to keep them all. I wish our roster size could be a lot bigger than what it is. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.”

Rest assured Gutekunst will actively explore all avenues to improve.

I was disappointed the Packers didn’t acquire Broncos veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders before the trade deadline. The 49ers pulled the trigger in October by sending their third- and fourth-round draft picks to Denver in return for Sanders and the Broncos’ fifth-round pick in 2020.

Gutekunst wasn’t speaking specifically about Sanders, but when asked if he considered adding offensive weaponry at the trade deadline, he said, “The opportunities weren’t or of sound value.”

Fair enough.

Clearly, Gutekunst has plans for the Packers’ third- and fourth-round picks this spring.

What is comforting to Packers fans is the knowledge that at least the team’s front office is considering every possibility to get better. They didn’t trade for Sanders, but they seriously considered it as an option.

Extending Clark’s contract tops the Packers’ offseason priority list.

The Pro Bowl defensive tackle is due to hit the jackpot.

“Kenny is a big part of what we do … very important to our defense,” Gutekunst said. “I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to come to some agreement at some point. These things don’t happen quickly, usually.”

Martinez is set to hit the open market, while tight end Jimmy Graham has one year at $8 million remaining on his contract.

I suspect the Packers either move on from Graham altogether, or ask him to return at a reduced cost. It’s likely the same for Marcedes Lewis, another veteran tight end whose leadership is coveted.

Reports suggest Martinez could sign for as much as $15 million a year. The Packers had a hole in the heart of their defense with Martinez. My guess is Martinez walks and Green Bay doubles down at the position.

Look for them to sign a free agent and add a draft pick of consequence at inside linebacker. If anyone doubts the need for speed on defense all they have to do is turn on the tape of the NFC championship game.

“Obviously Blake’s contract is up,” Gutekunst said. “We’re going to have to take a long look at inside linebacker and make sure we’re squared away there.”

The Packers’ GM added a free agent and a high draft pick to fill their greatest positions of need: Pass rush and safety. It’s likely they’ll do the same at inside linebacker and receiver.

Re-signing kicker Mason Crosby and defensive back Tramon Williams seems to make sense. Do the Packers actually want to risk dealing with anything similar to the Bears after they let Robbie Gould walk?

Most of all, Gutekunst was pleased with how the team came together. There’s no question the presence of players such as Za’Darius and Preston Smith made that happen.

“The thing that by far exceeded my expectations was how this group came together and worked together as a team,” Gutekunst said. “They put their individual stuff aside and put team above all else.

“That doesn’t always happen in the National Football League. This group and this group of leaders that were in that locker room decided that’s the way it was going to be.”

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

49ers running game and Packers own miscues spell defeat

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers have occasionally been charged with winning ugly this season. Well, if that’s true, winning ugly is still better than losing in the NFC championship game.
While they out gained the 49ers in yards, first downs and time of possession, unfortunately they also gave up three turnovers to none, falling to the 49ers by 37-20. Hence, the Packers, under the first campaign of Matt LaFleur, finish the season at 14-4 and one game away from their first Super Bowl berth in 9 years.

“Right now, (the 49ers) are the gold standard in the NFC,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said after the loss.

To win this game, the Packers had to play essentially perfect football. Unfortunately, Aaron Rodgers lost a fumble and threw an interception in the first half allowing San Francisco to score 10 points off the turnovers. That opened the floodgates. Similar to the first meeting between the teams when a fumble on the very first possession set the 49ers up on the 5 yard line for an easy touchdown. Throughout the season, the Packers have won 14 games, in part, by avoiding turnovers and forcing them on the other team. It was just the opposite unfortunately yesterday.

After that San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan served up a steady diet of handoffs and misdirection. And soon the Packers defense was gassed. On the other side of the ball, once the 49ers had a nice lead, they teed off on Aaron Rodgers. When you have five first round draft picks on your defensive front, you can pretty much dictate what you want to do in rushing the QB, as the run is no longer a threat

There were bright spots. Davante Adams had nine catches for 138 yards, including a 65-yard bomb against 49ers’ cornerback Richard Sherman. Aaron Jones rushed 12 times for 56 yards and a touchdown plus picked up a receiving touchdown.

“We just weren’t very consistent in the first half,” a subdued Rodgers said after falling to 1-3 in NFC title games. “Made a couple of mistakes personally that hurt us and kind of let it get away from us.”

Everyone knew going into this game that the 49ers had a strong rushing attack but no one expected this type of production. Raheem Mostert lit up the Packers’ defense.

In short, the 49ers’ offensive and defensive lines were superior to Green Bay’s on this day.

Packers’ cornerback Tramon Williams played with the much-traveled Mostert in Cleveland. He didn’t seem surprised by the back’s big day.

“Eight passes … the rest runs,” Williams said. “The first rule of football is ‘Stop the run’ and we didn’t do that. The kid’s fast – track-and-field fast. He made some money tonight.”

Williams chose to praise Mostert rather than point fingers. Shanahan rode Mostert all the way to the finish line, only calling 8 passing plays throughout the game.

“The lanes that we saw and the way he was running we just wanted to keep feeding him,” Shanahan said. “I know he was feeling it. That wasn’t too hard to see.”

The 49ers’ eight total pass attempts were the third-fewest in a playoff game in the Super Bowl era. San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo completed six passes for 77 yards for a 104.7 rating.

I’m not sure what’s more amazing: That Garoppolo only threw eight passes for the game? Or that Mostert only had eight carries in his first three NFL seasons?

The Packers’ wondrous 14-4 season can be divided into three parts:
** The team’s hiring of LaFleur and GM Brian Gutekunst’s solid moves in free agency and the draft leading into training camp.
** Green Bay’s unexpected but impressive 8-2 start that was quelled by a disheartening loss to the 49ers Nov. 24 at Santa Clara.
** The Packers’ six-game winning streak after that loss. It earned them the NFC’s No. 2 seed and included a home playoff win over Seattle. It also gave the Packers another shot at the 49ers – their measuring stick.

It was an opportunity to find out if the Packers were Super Bowl caliber, or merely a really good team whose health, cohesiveness, talent and desire carried it as far as it could.

This game showed that the Packets are not quite there yet. They are the class of the NFC North division, going 6-0, sweeping all division opponents, but they are not the class of the NFC. Not yet anyway. Rome was not built in a day. Gutekunst has been at the GM helm for two years and LaFleur for one year as coach.

Don’t dismay, Packers fans. Put yourself in the shoes of the Cleveland Browns fans. They haven’t sniffed a game of this significance since Abraham Lincoln was president…..well maybe not that long. In the meantime they’ve had a revolving door of coaches, it seems like at the rate of one per year.

Yet the 49ers went from four wins in 2018 to a berth in Super Bowl LIV. The Packers went from six wins in 2018 to 14 wins and an NFC championship berth this season. Take heart.
Change can happen, and it can happen fast, as the 49ers and the Packers demonstrate.

“It’s still kind of surreal,” 49ers linebacker Fred Warner said. “With the stuff this team has gone through, this organization, it’s special. It’s the pinnacle of football right here.”

So where do the Packers go from here?
Clearly, Green Bay’s shortcomings were exposed, thanks to the 49ers. There shouldn’t be any allusions. There is much hope and much to be proud of, of course, but there also is much work to be done.

A complementary receiver, a sideline-to-sideline hell-raiser at linebacker and reinforcements on the interior of both lines is necessary. It isn’t going to be easy replenishing the roster, especially with the Packers selecting 30th in each round of this spring’s NFL draft.
However, the cache of being a 14-win team might stir interest from prospective free agents. Furthermore, the vibe in Green Bay is excellent under the direction of Gutekunst and LaFleur.
Clearly, Rodgers was disappointed but not discouraged.

“The window’s open and I think we’re going to be on the right side of one of these real soon,” he said. “That’s the exciting thing. It doesn’t make this feeling any easier, but that is very exciting moving forward.”

Rodgers acknowledged the gap between Green Bay and San Francisco, but he doesn’t think it is insurmountable.

“They got us a couple times, but I don’t think (the gap) is that big. I think we’re really close.”

Packer fans everywhere are hoping he is right. Stay tuned, as we will find out more on this continuing saga in 2020.

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Rodgers-to-Adams clicks as Green Bay starts fast, does enough to stop Seattle

GREEN BAY, Wis. – This is where it gets really fun.

Aaron Rodgers’ post-game comment, like his third-down darts, was right on target Sunday night. Whether he was delivering passes or one-liners, he didn’t have time for throwaways.

The Packers’ charismatic quarterback was too busy converting third downs and throwing for touchdowns in Green Bay’s dramatic 28-23 victory over Seattle in the NFC divisional playoffs at Lambeau Field.

Rodgers enabled the Packers’ offense to convert 9 of 14 third down attempts (one was a kneel-down). He completed 16 of 27 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns for a 113.7 rating. Those are good numbers, but his poise and precision on pressure-packed third down throws was the difference.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur agreed.

“I thought (Rodgers) made some clutch throws – especially – I think a good indication of really good quarterback play is: Look at third down,” he said. “It was one of the best performances we’ve had all year on third down. …”

The Packers raced to a 21-3 halftime lead, but Seattle wasn’t about to throw in the towel. Led by the incomparable Russell Wilson, the Seahawks countered with touchdown drives of 69, 84 and 79 in their first three second-half possessions.

Seattle had a chance to close to within a field goal, but Packers’ cornerback Jaire Alexander flattened Wilson on the 2-point try. The Packers’ defense made the five-point lead stand up.

LaFleur wasn’t surprised by Seattle’s Wilson-led comeback, or his own defense’s ability to withstand the rally.

“Every time I looked up (Wilson) was making somebody miss in the pocket, creating and extending plays,” LaFleur said. “That’s what he’s done his whole career.”

The Packers’ defense was up to the task.

Kenny Clark had four tackles, a sack and a quarterback hit. It was great work for a big man with a sore back. Blake Martinez had 10 tackles and Alexander added nine.

Oren Burks had six tackles in nine snaps.

The Smiths – Preston and Za’Darius – each had two tackles, two sacks and a quarterback hit. Preston left briefly with an injury, but returned in time to register the game-clinching sack.

“Our defense … there were so many extended plays and they were giving great effort, but they were pretty exhausted by the end of the game,” LaFleur said. “We knew that was going to be the case so it was huge of (Preston) to go back in there.

“He’s an elite pass rusher. He was able to get to the quarterback and finish (the job) on the quarterback.”

Preston Smith didn’t gloat afterward. He merely smiled and offered succinct praise of Wilson.

“He tested our cardio and heart and endurance today,” he said.

The Packers’ defense answered on all three counts.

Afterward the game, Rodgers was asked about a return trip to Santa Clara, Calif., where the 49ers soundly defeated the Packers 37-8 in November. The Packers are undefeated in six games since then.

“It’s going to be loud,” Rodgers said of Levi’s Stadium. “But this is where it gets really fun. There are only four teams left, and we’re one of them. We’ve got a legitimate chance.”

The Packers (14-3) and 49ers (14-3) are set for a 5:40 p.m. kickoff at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. The 49ers come in as seven-point favorites to advance to Super Bowl LIV in Miami.

The Packers come in as considerable underdogs. That’s Ok. Green Bay expects to leave as NFC champions. If some Packers fans had to pinch themselves to make sure this surreal season isn’t all a dream, the players understand how they feel.

“Let’s be honest,” Rodgers said, “I don’t know that even our fans felt supremely confident in us.”

Fortunately the coaches and players bought in a long time ago.

LaFleur’s first-year success isn’t built on luck.

It is built on the notion that an NFL team, with the right coach and quarterback buoyed by a strong defense, can work wonders. It isn’t luck that the tight end position had 115 snaps to the receivers’ 134 snaps. It’s because LaFleur’s scheme calls for it.

Marcedes Lewis had 42 snaps and delivered several key blocks. Jimmy Graham had 24 snaps and caught three key passes, including the game-clincher. Jace Sternberger (28 snaps) and Robert Tonyan (21) also played key roles.

They joined the offensive line and right tackle Jared Veldheer – who started in place of Bryan Bulaga (flu) – to block well enough to enable Aaron Jones to rush for 62 yards and two TDs.

They also allowed Rodgers enough time to make plays.

And when Rodgers looked to pass, most times he had Davante Adams in the bull’s-eye. Adams caught eight passes in 11 targets for a franchise playoff record 160 yards.

Adams had touchdown catches of 20 and 40 yards sandwiched around Jones’ two touchdown runs. Graham and Geronimo Allison also hauled in two critical third-down receptions to help seal the victory.

Adams said he’d like to see Rodgers reach another Super Bowl.

“He’s definitely hungry for another Super Bowl,” Adams said. “He deserves it, so we’re doing everything in our power to put him in that position.”

The Packers are playing in their third NFC championship game in six seasons. That’s fairly remarkable considering they missed the playoffs each of the past two seasons.

“We don’t have an owner; we have thousands of people who have a piece of paper that’s a stock certificate,” Rodgers said. “But people feel like they’re invested in what we’re doing. And they stuck with us through a couple rough years. So to talk off the field being a 2-seed, where – let’s be honest – I don’t know that even our fans felt supremely confident in us … but to be able to walk off that field again victorious, there’s no feeling like it. I stopped myself in the second quarter and was looking around when there was a TV timeout and they’re waving flags, and I just couldn’t – it was a special moment, just seeing the whole stadium waving those white towels. I just think it was really, in that moment, just grateful for the opportunity and loving what I do. There’s nothing like having the ball in your hands in a clutch situation and knowing you’ve got 78,998 or whatever it was today, most of them cheering you on.”

It will be a different deal at Levi’s Stadium.

“Yeah, we’ve got to play a lot better, obviously,” Rodgers said, referring to the Packers’ 37-8 loss to the 49ers earlier this season. “They’re a great football team with a great (defensive) front. Obviously, they get after the passer and they’re really good on the back end, smart. It’s going to be one of those games where we know every possession is really important.”

LaFleur sounded at once confident and curious.

“We’ll see where we’re at and how far we’ve come,” he said. “(The 49ers) took care of the Vikings pretty handily. They’re a really good football team.”

So are the Packers.

“I couldn’t be happier for our guys,” LaFleur said. “They put in a lot of hard work. They’re a group that sticks together and when the pressure is on they don’t blink.”

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Seahawks stop Eagles 17-9 in tug-of-war; Minnesota takes on 49ers at Santa Clara

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers spent their bye week taking a long, hard look in the mirror.

What they saw gives rise to hope and cause for concern.

The Packers saw a team whose offense idles between unstoppable and unwatchable. They saw a quarterback whose talent and will to win elevates his teammates’ level of play, but the offense’s occasional inconsistency remains frustrating.

They saw a defense that can wreak havoc on the best offenses, and a tight-knit group that finds ways to win close games.

Frankly, they saw the Seahawks.

The teams’ similarities – both good and bad – are undeniable. It is what makes Sunday’s NFC divisional playoff game between the Packers (13-3) and the Seahawks (12-5) so compelling.

Kickoff is set for 5:40 p.m. under the lights at Lambeau Field.

Seattle’s 17-9 victory at Philadelphia in Sunday’s NFC wild-card playoffs – coupled with Minnesota’s 26-20 overtime upset at New Orleans earlier in the day – set the stage.

Afterward, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson was asked to share his thoughts on the Packers and traveling to Green Bay.

“We’re anticipating some snow,” Wilson said with a smile. “Obviously they have Aaron (Rodgers). They have a lot of great players … they have a great defensive line.”

Green Bay’s forecast calls for temperatures in the mid-20s with a slight breeze and an even slighter chance of precipitation.

Wilson may not get the snow he was hoping for, but he can expect to get everything the Packers and first-year coach Matt LaFleur can bring to bear against his Seahawks.

The Packers opened as 3 ½-point betting favorites. Las Vegas historically gives three points to the home team so the half-point spread sounds about right.

Make no mistake. The Seahawks are tough customers to handle. If you have any doubts just ask Carson Wentz and the Eagles.

Jadeveon Clowney’s legal helmet-to-helmet hit on Wentz knocked the Eagles’ quarterback out in the second series of Sunday night’s NFC wild-card game.

After that it was all Seattle.

Earlier Sunday the Vikings ousted the Saints 26-20 in overtime at New Orleans’ Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins hit Kyle Rudolph on a 4-yard touchdown pass to seal the win. Cousins’ 43-yard pass to Adam Thielen set it up.

Cousins’ reward for beating the “choker” label and winning his first playoff game: A trip to Santa Clara, Calif., where the No. 6 seeded Vikings (11-6) will play No. 1 seed San Francisco (13-3) Saturday in the NFC’s other divisional playoff game.

By kickoff Sunday the Packers will know whether the Vikings upset the 49ers, and if they are playing for the right to host Minnesota in the NFC Championship, or a trip to Santa Clara.

Either way, the Packers will have their hands full with Seattle.

Much has been made about Green Bay’s ability to “win ugly.” The same could be said of the Seahawks. But it’s like Rodgers said last week, “The key word is winning.”

Seattle is 8-1 on the road this season. Its only loss away from CenturyLink Field was at the Los Angeles Rams, 28-12.

Like Green Bay, the Seahawks know how to win close games. Seattle tied an NFL record with 10 single-digit wins this season.

Pete Carroll, the Seahawks’ gum-smacking head coach, is wicked smart and among the best in the business. He isn’t afraid to do whatever it takes to win, including the occasional fake. The Packers’ special teams’ units better be on their toes.

Wilson, their play-making MVP candidate, is as good a quarterback as there is in the NFL today. The former Badger completed 18 of 30 passes for 325 yards and a touchdown in the win at Philadelphia. He ran nine times for another 45 yards.

DK Metcalf, their stud rookie receiver, caught seven passes for 160 yards and a touchdown. His 160 receiving yards is the most by a rookie receiver in the Super Bowl era.

Last, but not least, is Seattle’s defense.

The Seahawks racked up seven sacks by six different defenders against the Eagles. Josh McCown, the Eagles’ 40-year-old backup quarterback, barely limped to the finish line – never mind finding a way to get his team across the goal line.

“We made up our mind to not let them score,” said Bobby Wagner, Seattle’s All-Pro linebacker. “It was a mental thing more than execution.”

One bit of good news is that the game is in Green Bay, where the Packers have defeated the Seahawks in five straight. Seattle hasn’t won in Green Bay since Nov. 1, 1999.

The Packers’ 34-27 loss to Philadelphia on Sept. 26 was their only setback this season at Lambeau Field.

Green Bay is at home, healthy and well-rested.

The Packers’ offensive line is especially healthy, whereas Seattle was down three starters at Philadelphia. Left tackle Duane Brown (knee), left guard Mike Iupati (neck) and center Justin Britt (on injured reserve) were out. In addition, the Seahawks’ top reserve, Ethan Pocic, also is on injured reserve.

Furthermore, the Seahawks’ backfield has been decimated with running backs Chris Carson (hip), Rashaad Penny (ACL) and C.J. Prosise (arm) all out. Seattle is down to its No. 4 running back, Travis Homer, and a 33-year-old Marshawn Lynch.

Meantime, the Packers’ running back tandem of Jones and Jamaal Williams will be ready to roll. So will a Green Bay defense led by Za’Darius and Preston Smith.

Packers’ defensive coordinator Mike Pettine has been moving Za’Darius Smith all along the line. It has created mismatches and confusion for opposing offenses. In fact, the Vikings’ Mike Zimmer took a page out of Pettine’s playbook by lining up ends Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffin as inside pass rushers.

The Packers worked hard to earn the home-field advantage.
The payoff comes Sunday night.

Prediction: Packers 27, Seahawks 19.

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Green Bay’s defense, just enough offense key narrow 23-20 victory at Ford Field

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The coach is too young. The quarterback is too old. The defense can’t be rewired in a single off-season, and certainly not by diving helmet-first into free agency.

Naysayers offered a litany of reasons to doubt Green Bay every win of the way during this amazing, nerve-racking season.

Today it is the Packers’ fans turn to have their say.

“How do you like us now?” they can ask proudly, rhetorically, without the slightest need for a response.

To them, the answer to most questions these days is 13 – a number that is neither ugly nor unlucky – but rather the Packers’ stunning win total after what has been a wildly incredible ride for the NFL franchise with 13 world championships.

Next stop in 13 days: Lambeau Field and the playoffs.

Thanks to the Packers’ 23-20 victory over the Lions Sunday at Detroit’s Ford Field, the 2019 NFC North champions enter the postseason as the conference’s No. 2 seed.

The Packers (13-3) await the NFC’s highest-seeded wild-card winner for their NFC Divisional Playoff matchup set for 5:40 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12, at Lambeau Field.

Green Bay’s last-second victory Sunday was its fifth straight. It sealed a sweep of the NFC North, and it clinched a first-round bye in the playoffs following a two-year postseason absence.

That the game-winner came on Mason Crosby’s 33-yard field goal shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Packers needed a late Crosby field goal to beat Detroit 23-22 earlier this season.
Before his last-second kick on Sunday, Crosby said he was thinking, “Let’s get this team a bye.”

Crosby pulled it left, but it stayed just inside the left upright, and the Packers had cause for celebration. After sleepwalking their way to a 17-3 halftime deficit, the Packers awoke just in time.

“We haven’t always made it easy and we haven’t always made it pretty,” Packers receiver Davante Adams said Sunday. “But for the most part, we’ve found a way to win.”
They’ve won 13 of 16 and counting.

Congratulations are in order for Packers president Mark Murphy, who hired Matt LaFleur, as well as GM Brian Gutekunst, who retooled the roster through the draft and free agency, and LaFleur, who pulled it all together.

A year ago, the Packers were conducting a coaching search. Today, they’re looking for ways to advance in the playoffs. The contrast between then and now couldn’t be starker.

LaFleur, 40, is tied for the third-most wins by a rookie head coach in NFL history. Only the Colts’ Jim Caldwell (14 in 2009) and the 49ers’ George Seifert (14 in 1989) had more wins in their first season.

However, neither Caldwell nor Seifert inherited a 6-9-1 mess. The 2008 Colts were a 12-4 playoff team under Tony Dungy. The 1988 49ers were Super Bowl champions under Bill Walsh.

In LaFleur’s case, the 2018 Packers were spiraling downward after a two-year playoff drought under Mike McCarthy.

Now, they see themselves as serious Super Bowl contenders.

“We’re going to be a tough team to deal with in the playoffs,” Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said Sunday.

“The NFC is wide open with six really good teams that are in,” he added. “I think home-field advantage can be very important. I feel like this team can utilize the cold more than the past teams.”
That’s due to Green Bay’s running attack and attacking defense. The long-range forecast for northeast Wisconsin on Sunday, Jan. 12, is a daytime high of 27 and a 30-percent chance of flurries.

However, a lot can change between now and then, and that’s not only in terms of the weather. The Packers’ bye week allows them to get healthy and fine-tune their hot-and-cold offense.

“It gives us a great chance to do a lot of self-scout,” LaFleur said. “It gives your guys a chance to heal up. That was an exhausting game and we lost a couple of guys.”

The offensive line lost Corey Linsley (back) and Bryan Bulaga (concussion) to injuries. Lucas Patrick, who signed a contract extension Saturday, filled in admirably at center. Massive veteran Jared Veldheer handled his business at right tackle, reflecting another shrewd acquisition by Gutekunst.

Returner/running back Tyler Ervin is another in-season acquisition that has paid dividends. It is especially important to feature a legit return game, especially when the Packers’ offense is sputtering like it did during the first half Sunday.

Still, they managed to put up 20 second-half points and escape with the win. So what’s wrong with the offense? Rodgers said he was “just a little bit off.”

Rodgers said he missed too many throws and the receivers “didn’t come down with a few of them” but that he “felt good about a lot of them.”

Rodgers was 27 of 55 for 323 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He was pressured frequently but sacked just once and finished with a pedestrian 72 quarterback rating.

Clearly, Rodgers and the offense must be much sharper if the Packers hope to win a playoff game. Drops by Jimmy Graham and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are unacceptable.

Adams caught seven passes for 93 yards and a 20-yard touchdown, while Allen Lazard hauled in four passes for 69 yards, including a game-tying 28-yard touchdown.

“When we had to make a play, we made the play,” Rodgers said.

Aaron Jones made one of the biggest plays on the final drive. The Packers had first-and-10 at their 49 with 45 seconds to play. Rodgers found Jones on a screen pass and the running back raced 31 yards to the Lions’ 20 to set up the winning field goal.

The Lions (3-12-1) closed the season with nine straight losses, but not before pushing the Packers to the brink.

It was another case of a narrow escape for the Packers, who have more wins against teams with winning records than any other NFL team.

Blake Martinez had seven tackles, the Packers’ lone sack and a crucial second-half interception to spark the rally.

Lions quarterback David Blough was 12 of 29 for 122 yards and the interception. He also caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from receiver Danny Amendola on a first-half flea flicker.

That put the Lions up 7-0. They stretched it to 17-3 at half, but Rodgers began hitting more throws down the stretch and Jones took over in the run game.

Jones finished with 25 carries for 100 yards. He also caught two passes for another 43 yards, including the key 31-yard grab. The return of a healthy Jamaal Williams will help in two weeks.

Now it’s on to the playoffs for the Packers and their first-year head coach, with at least one game at Lambeau Field as they try to add to their NFL-best 13 world championships.

It’s crazy, but it’s true.

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Green Bay’s formula for success relies on suffocating defense and running the ball

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Just win ugly, baby!

The awkward play on Al Davis’ legendary quip describes the Packers’ passing attack these days, but who’s complaining?

The absence of a stifling defense and a stellar running attack in Green Bay may have turned the basics of championship football into re-acquired tastes, but make no mistake – they are the key ingredients in the Packers’ recipe for sweet success.

It has taken the Packers (12-3) further than most NFL observers – “expert” or otherwise – predicted they could go. And like their 2019 NFC North title T-shirts read, “The North is not enough.”

The Packers’ 23-10 victory over the Vikings on Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium clinched their first division title since 2016. It also placed the Packers in position to capture the NFC’s top seed with a win at Detroit and a 49ers’ loss at Seattle on Sunday.

The Vikings (10-5) are assured the No. 6 seed with the loss.

Three first-half turnovers by Green Bay’s offense breathed life into the Vikings’ faithful. The Packers’ defense snuffed it out.

After scoring twice off the Packers’ turnovers to take a 10-3 lead, the Vikings and quarterback Kirk Cousins were smothered by Green Bay’s attacking defense.

Minnesota mustered seven first downs, its fewest in a game since 1971 when the Packers’ defense held the Vikings and quarterback Gary Cuozzo to five first downs in a 3-0 loss.

Za’Darius Smith spearheaded a Packers’ defense capable of turning back time and the Vikings’ offense on the same night.

Cousins completed 16 of 31 passes for 122 yards (3.9 per completion) with one touchdown and an interception. He was sacked five times and finished with a 58.8 quarterback rating.

The Packers’ defense stayed the course when it got dicey early.

Za’Darius Smith had 3 ½ sacks – the most by a Packers’ player since Clay Matthews in 2012 versus the Bears – to go with seven tackles and five tackles for loss and five pressures. He boosted his NFL-leading total of QB pressures to 57.

Kenny Clark registered a sack and routinely collapsed the pocket, while Preston Smith added a half-sack.

Cornerback Kevin King’s second-half interception thwarted a promising Vikings’ drive with Minnesota leading 10-9.

Cousins arched a deep pass intended for Stefon Diggs, but King left his man and swooped in to make the interception. His 39-yard return set up the Packers’ offense at Green Bay’s 47.

“That was a big-time play when we needed it,” Za’Darius Smith said.

Rodgers promptly directed the offense on a five-play, 53-yard touchdown drive capped by Aaron Jones’ 12-yard sprint to the end zone. Rodgers connected with Geronimo Allison for the 2-point conversion to make it Green Bay 17, Minnesota 10.

“I liked the 2-point thought,” Aaron Rodgers said. “That was an important spot. Matt (LaFleur) letting us go for it showed trust and then he dialed up a really good play. The Kevin King interception was a big play for us – not just the interception but the return close to midfield was important.”

The loss drops Cousins to 0-9 on Monday Night Football.

Meantime, Aaron Jones rushed 23 times for 154 yards and two touchdowns to fuel the Packers’ offense.

Jones’ 54-yard touchdown gallop in the fourth quarter sealed the victory. It was blocked up beautifully, including a tremendous block by Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

“I think it says a lot about our character,” Packers’ head coach Matt LaFleur said. “We’ve won a lot of tight games this year and we’ve won in so many different ways. That’s what this game is about.”

LaFleur acknowledged the offense has been sluggish.

“Sometimes it hasn’t always been pretty,” he said, “but that’s ok. We’ve built a belief within this team that no matter what happens out there we’ll find a way to win.”

Frankly, some Packers fans spend as much time fussing about the passing offense as they do fretting over the outcome. They delight in a defensive slugfest, but they crave a blowout keyed by an offensive explosion to get them thinking Super Bowl.

It’s understandable.

An entire generation of Packers fans was weaned on the notion that great offense is the path to Super Bowl salvation. It can be nerve-racking watching the defense trying to close a game out.

It’s ok. The worrying makes the winning all the more satisfying.

No one looked more satisfied than Aaron Rodgers.

The Packers’ quarterback completed 26 of 40 passes for 216 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. His quarterback rating of 68.3 was wrought by a halting combination of inaccurate throws and imprecise routes.

Nonetheless, Rodgers relished the victory.

“To win this game feels pretty good – especially in a place where I was jeered as I was leaving with a broken collarbone,” he said with a gleam. “It feels good.”

DaVante Adams caught 13 passes – one shy of Don Hutson’s single-game team record – for 116 yards on 16 targets.

Allen Lazard added five catches (nine targets) for 45 yards with a long of 15 yards. It was important that Lazard got volume, in terms of targets, going forward.

Clearly, LaFleur established Lazard as the No. 2 receiver. It sets the pecking order going forward and gives Lazard a better chance to succeed.

LaFleur also made sure Jones touched the football.

Rodgers was 8 of 10 passing in the second half. LaFleur stayed with the running game and it paid dividends.

LaFleur is the 10th rookie coach in NFL history to reach 12 wins.

Now he wants more.

“The first time we got together our No. 1 objective was to win the North,” LaFleur said. “Our guys accomplished that tonight. I’m very proud of them.

“Now it’s time to reassess and have new goals. We took care of the first goal. Now we have another big game against the Detroit Lions.”