Jim Biever / Green Bay Packers
Coach Mike McCarthy knows that the Pack needs to rise above challenges in order to win the division.
Green Bay Packers fans, who only one week earlier were booing at Lambeau Field, celebrated Thanksgiving five days early this year.
When the Packers marched into TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Nov. 22, and beat the NFC North-leading Minnesota Vikings, 30-13, they halted a three-game skid that saw the team lose to a pair of unbeaten teams (Denver and Carolina) on the road and a one-win team (Detroit) at home. The Lions had not been victorious in Wisconsin since 1991, when Brett Favre was a first-round draft choice for the Atlanta Falcons.
Two-thirds of the way through the 2015 season, Green Bay appeared to be falling apart. And granted, the team is not completely back together again. But running back Eddie Lacy found new life in Minnesota after sitting out the Detroit game with a groin injury, rushing for a season-high 100 yards on 22 carries. Green Bay’s defense sacked Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater six times. And kicker Mason Crosby was on target all afternoon, booting five field goals.
No wonder quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who hasn’t smiled much lately, raised his arms high above his head and let loose an epic grin after Sunday’s post-game interview with Fox Sports sideline reporter Erin Andrews.
That said, the Vikings outgained the Packers in total yardage. Injured wide receiver Jordy Nelson continues to be missed, as wide receiver Randall Cobb caught only two passes (and dropped at least that many). Time of possession for both teams was almost identical.
“It’s a game of ebb and flow,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy told Packers.com. “There are a lot of variables that go into being successful each week. Our guys rose above the challenges today. We played well, but I’m not naïve to the fact there are things we can do better.”
If the Packers are to win the NFC North for the fifth consecutive year — as of Sunday, Green Bay and Minnesota are each 7-3 — they must play more consistently.
The renewed march to a division title begins with a prime-time Thanksgiving night showdown at Lambeau Field against Chicago. The Packers have dominated in the previous three meetings with the Bears, but the stakes are higher this time.
Green Bay’s schedule over the season’s final six weeks is more favorable than Minnesota’s, which means the Packers need to establish early leads and sustained drives in games against struggling teams like Dallas, Oakland and, especially, Detroit.
Everything could come down to the final regular season game, a rematch between the Packers and Vikings in Green Bay on Jan. 3. Let’s hope Rodgers is still flashing that grin.