In the biting cold of their home, Lambeau Field, the Green Bay Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings 37-10 and with the win secured home field throughout the playoffs. “This year has been met with certain unforeseen challenges…we’ve had to weather our fair share of adversity in terms of injuries…our guys have rallied around one another and found a way to continue to stack wins,” said Packers head coach Matt LaFleur in his post game presser.
The win, the Packers’ 13th of the season, guaranteed that Green Bay will have the most wins by any NFL team this year. LaFleur had this to say of securing home field, “When you come into our stadium…it plays to our advantage…it doesn’t guarantee anything, but it definitely plays in the favor of the home team.”
The game was efficient by the Packers offense and stingy by the defense. QB Aaron Rodgers threw for 215 yards and 2 TDs in the first half, and the D allowed just one last second field goal as Green Bay led 20-3 at the half. The Pack then put the game in cruise control in the second half, easily beating the Vikings, whose starting QB Kirk Cousins missed the game for Covid19 protocol. “I like the vibe of this team,” Rodgers said in his post game presser. He continued speaking of the Packers’ personnel, “I really feel like it’s a possibility to get a few of those guys [some of the many injured Packers’ starters] back for the stretch run.”
Rodgers also indicated that despite the conference being clinched, that he expects both he and Davante Adams to play next week in Detroit. “I’m gonna play next week and I expect Davante to play,” Rodgers said.
One interesting aspect of the game was the Packers recent (this week) addition of David Moore who returned punts and kicks and actually looked promising. Green Bay has struggled all season with Amari Rodgers as the return man. Following the game LaFleur mentioned that the position is open for competition – possibly an interesting late season development in Green Bay.
The Facts:
Vikings 10 Packers 37
Turnovers: 0 vs 0
Sacks: 2/15 vs 0/0
First Downs: 11 vs 29
3rd&4th DN: 3/16 vs 7/14
Rushing: 11/27 vs 32/174
Passing: 24/39 for 179 vs 31/42 for 307
Penalties: 3/23 vs 1/5
The Feelings:
Home Sweet Home???:
While the Packers will again enter the postseason with home field advantage, this same advantage didn’t help them make the Super Bowl last season. The Buccaneers won at Lambeau in an unseasonably mild January NFC playoff game a year ago. This will no doubt have Packers’ fans tempering their usual playoff excitement.
Get Back:
LaFleur, Rodgers, WR Davante Adams and RB Corey Dillon all mentioned during post-game interviews that they are hopeful some of the injured Packers’ starters will return for the stretch run. Green Bay fans are sure to share the hope and excitement as well with players like all-pros CB Jaire Alexander, LT David Bakhtiari and OLB Za’darius Smith all possibly returning.
Mistake Free:
Once again the Packers committed zero turnovers in the win over the Vikings Sunday. Pack fans can feel confident that even if they don’t make it to the Super Bowl, it won’t be because of QB Aaron Rodgers or TOs. Rodgers is amassing another MVP season and now has 35 TD passes to just 4 interceptions on the season. Meanwhile no RB has lost a fumble since Corey Dillon fumbled in a Packers’ win against Washington in week 7, nine games ago.
Rebounding Kicker:
Packers’ kicker Mason Crosby, who struggled mid-season and leads the NFL with 9 missed field goals, has made every kick, 22 of them in total (both extra points and field goals) during the Packers’ last 4 games. Packers’ fans are bound to feel better about seeing Crosby’s leg and kicking game shaping up going into the postseason.
The Packers next play Sunday at noon in Detroit to end the regular season.
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